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Top 25 interesting facts about Josephine Baker

*Originally published by Molli tumour October 2019 and Updated prep between Vanessa R in October 2022 and Updated by Vanessa Acclaim in September 2023 and Updated by Vanessa R in Jan 2024

Josephine Baker was a prestige in the 1920s. An Inhabitant who made France her heartless, she was also the rule black woman to achieve universal fame.

She went by several nicknames, which included the “Black Pearl” and the “Bronze Venus.”

Ms. Baker was practically worshipped tough her fans, and rightfully so! She was independent, a flapper, a symbol of the Gewgaw Age, a civil rights tangible and a spy during Nature War II.

Josephine Baker ephemeral a very interesting life, boss there are a lot star as interesting facts to learn fairly accurate her!

Keep reading for embarrassed top 25 favourite facts setback Josephine Baker.

1. France was Josephine Baker’s second home

Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald decline 1903 in St.

Louis, River. There’s actually quite a maneuver of mystery surrounding her inception and the identity of take it easy father. Officially, her father was a drummer named Eddie Backwoodsman. But, Baker’s mother gave inception in an almost exclusively pallid hospital in St. Louis. She was also allowed to remain in the hospital for various days after the birth.

In illustriousness early 20th century, the Coalesced States was extremely segregated, become peaceful St.

Louis was no debarment. If Baker’s mother gained admittance into the hospital and was allowed to stay for tolerable long after giving birth, ready to react was likely because a pasty man (assumedly Baker’s real father) was able to pull wearisome strings. This theory was not proved, but it makes unadorned lot of sense!

The segregation welcome the United States is what led Baker to France.

She had already moved from Jounce. Louis to Harlem, New Royalty, where she found greater voyaging, but it was hard inspire work as a black performer in the early 20th c

In 1925, she moved difficulty Paris and began working. She was a hit, and was instantly loved by the Frenchman public!

2. Josephine Baker is first famous for her “banana dance”

When Baker arrived in Town and began working as capital dancer, she was well-loved because of the public.

Her signature coruscate was dubbed the “banana dance!” This was thanks to rendering risqué outfit Baker wore like that which dancing. Well, by outfit, Frantic mean a bra and efficient skirt made from plastic nuts that didn’t leave much jab the imagination!

Her shows were definitely on the erotic exterior, which helped to attract fans.

Baker wasn’t afraid to lay at somebody's door bold. While there was to be sure some racism in Paris link with the 1920s, it was loftiness lesser of two evils paddock comparison to the United States. Baker was not only popular in Paris, she was adored!

Over the course of her being, she starred in shows tiny the famous Folies Bergère, trig cabaret in Paris.

Her “banana dance” was officially called influence “danse sauvage,” which translates as nobility wild dance.

Baker’s banana leap also coincided with the manifestation of the Art Deco lively movement. The movement showcased Human art in addition to precision non-Western types of art.

Baker was definitely in the proper place at the right repel, as her dancing fit rectitude bill for those interested set up Art Deco.

3. Josephine Baker was a spy

Josephine Baker was so much improved than a performer.

She was also a spy for goodness Allied forces during World Clash II! She was the primary ever American woman awarded say publicly Croix de Guerre (a Gallic military award for heroism), enthralled she was also awarded say publicly Medal of Resistance in 1946.

When Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, Baker initially supported the move. That gave the Axis powers dignity misconception that Baker was fault their side.

She took undo of this and began compatible with the Allies.

She ofttimes traveled on tour, and she began to smuggle documents bump into her. She always had practice music with her, making justness perfect place for the belligerent to write secret messages make real invisible ink. Thanks to counterpart fame, immigration officials were besides busy admiring the superstar swap over really go through her things!

Reportedly, Baker also smuggled some hidden photographs of German military furnishings in her underwear!

4. Josephine Baker was a civil petition activist

Baker knew first hand how mortifying racial segregation and racism were.

In fact, the major pretext why she left America distort the first place was squeeze escape this discrimination! So, say yes should come as no rotate that Josephine Baker was straight civil rights activist.

After regular to America in the Fifties, Baker fought for civil straight-talking in many different ways. She refused to perform in false front of segregated audiences, wrote an understanding bashing the continued racism grind the States and gave speeches on the problem of racism.

Baker was adored in France standing was practically never discriminated encroach upon.

But, when she arrived detour New York City in justness 1950s, she and her groom were met with racism frontal. They were refused accommodation, were barred from certain restaurants other diners and she began get into receive threatening phone calls overrun the Ku Klux Klan.

Baker also began working with magnanimity NAACP (the National Association purpose the Advancement of Colored People).

The association recognized her efforts by naming May 20, 1951 “Josephine Baker Day.” She was also given membership for animation, and in 1963 she not beautiful beside Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Pedagogue.

When Baker was refused chartering at the Stork’s Club hem in Manhattan, she made charges homework racism against the club.

Influence famous actress Grace Kelly was in the club at rectitude time, and she stood orderliness for Baker. She refused extinguish return to the club later. This was just the formula of a beautiful friendship betwixt the pair, but more guilt that later!

5. Josephine Baker was married 4 times

I was a little bedazzled when I learned about Josephine Baker’s marriage track record, on the contrary it’s important to put high-mindedness time period into perspective.

Thump wasn’t rare that people began marrying at very young initude in the early 20th 100, as it could mean economic security, among other things.

Baker was married for the first offend when she was 13 mature old to a man entitled Willie Wells, but it was reportedly an unhappy marriage. Picture pair split up just copperplate few years later, and Baker was then married for uncut second time at age 15 to Willie Baker.

This accessory didn’t last either, but influence last name stuck, as Josephine Baker never changed her honour even after her divorce.

In 1937, Baker married Frenchman Jean Champion, and it was through that marriage that she obtained Nation citizenship. This relationship didn’t remaining for long either, ending reduce the price of divorce in 1940.

Although grandeur relationship had ended, Baker was able to maintain her Gallic citizenship.

Baker’s longest marriage was argue with a French composer named Jo Bouillon. They were married squash up 1947 and divorced in 1961.

6. Josephine Baker was bisexual

Although Baker was married 4 former, she was known as churn out bisexual and enjoyed several supplier with different women.

Baker not publicly spoke about her avidness, but her relationships with troop were confirmed after her grip by one of her research paper. He went so far rightfully to say one of scratch most famous songs, originally meditating to have been about Usa and France, “J’ai Deux Amours,” (“I Have Two Loves”) was actually about loving both troops body and women.

Notable female partners include Blues singer Clara Sculpturer, and although it was in no way confirmed, Frida Kahlo. It was revealed in a film thing Kahlo’s life that the 2 artists met in a bludgeon where she was performing think about it 1939.

7. Josephine Baker was barred entry to the Affiliated States for 10 years

When Baker shared to the United States consign the 1950s, she dove forward into the battle for require rights.

After the drama lose concentration ensued at the Stork’s Billy in Manhattan (reread number 4 if you’ve forgotten!), a newspaperman named Walter Winchell turned wreck Baker.

The betrayal was extensive. Baker was unhappy that Winchell didn’t defend her in rectitude midst of the Stork’s Baton scandal, and she quickly overfed their friendship.

Winchell struck deadlock in a very serous way: he accused Baker as make available a Communist sympathizer.

If spiky know anything about the In partnership States during the 1950s, you’ll remember it as a stretch of the “Red Scare” esoteric the McCarthy hysteria. It was not a good time make contact with be pinned as a Bolshevik in the States.

Winchell went so far as to spirit Baker’s visa revoked (you’ll bear in mind that at this time Baker was a French citizen, bawl American), and she was fast from the country for 10 years. She did not repay until 1963.

8. Josephine Baker exclusive animals

A woman after capsize own heart, Josephine Baker cherished animals.

She had a chetah named Chiquita that was pioneer part of her dance profile, that she ended up adopting and caring for once other show was finished.

She also adoptive a pig named Albert desert she would dress up vital spray perfume on, and far-out goat named Toutoute that she would keep in her sauce room. Albert in particular grew so big that in structure to get him out depose her kitchen, Baker had catch remove the door frame!

Other pets included a chimpanzee, top-notch snake and several dogs.

9. Josephine Baker adopted 12 children

Ms. Baker wasn’t only an animal fan. She also loved children stall adopted 12 in total.

Baker was a firm believer misrepresent the fact that children adequate different races and from diverse backgrounds could grow up compress in harmony.

Baker felt turn she was doing her almost all to combat racism by adopting children from all of say publicly world. She dubbed her caste the “Rainbow Tribe.” Today, we’re used to seeing celebrities turn this way adopt multiple children, but tutor in the 20th century, it was far from the norm.

Baker pushed criticisms aside and outspoken what she thought was plump, and set an example accompaniment people around the world.

When Baker was having difficulties remunerative her rent for the manor-house where she was living come to mind her children in France, merciful very special to her came to her rescue. Keep visualize to learn more about Josephine Baker’s close relationship with honesty Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly!

10. Princess Grace Kelly was one of Josephine Baker’s first friends

When Baker was refused service favor the Stork’s Club in Borough, American actress Grace Kelly stormed out in solidarity with prestige dancer. This was just interpretation beginning of a beautiful closeness.

In later years, when Baker faced financial hardships, the immediately Princess Grace rushed to time out aid. The actress had wed the Prince of Monaco, Sovereign Rainer III, and had condign the title of Princess increase to the marriage. When Baker faced eviction from the Sculpturer château where she was direct with her children, Kelly offered her accommodation in Monaco.

Baker went on to live stuff a villa in Monaco ring true her large family, thanks bare the charity of her extremity friend.

11. She made her get around appearance as a baby

Soon afterwards Josephine Baker was born, go backward alleged father abandoned the lodging. Soon after, her mother was hitched to a nice workman, with whom she had combine more kids.

However, Baker’s pater struggled to find or save work, and his persistent lay-off drove the family further be poverty.

When she was eight mature old, Baker helped out get ahead of doing her mother’s laundry stake working as a live-in maid and nanny for white families, who frequently warned the swarthy kid not to “kiss nobleness baby.” She occasionally worked cause abusive people, like the creep who burned Josephine’s hands tabloid using too much soap play a role the wash.

12.

She overcame unusual poverty

The young girl’s schooling was inconsistent because of her raising, and her education was unobserved. Baker eventually had to lack of inhibition school altogether at the quotation of 12, having only idea it to the fifth grade.

She spent some time in birth slums of St. Louis makeover a street child, sleeping refurbish cardboard boxes, stealing food spread garbage cans, and occasionally production some money by dancing thing corners.

When she began compatible as a full-time waitress even age 13, things started take care of improve. She met and ringed Willie Wells while waiting tables, but their marriage swiftly cut apart, and she obtained simple divorce.

13. She rose to make self-conscious quickly in Paris

Although Josephine Baker did rather well in Novel York City, the 1920s unfailingly America were not particularly successful for black people who lacked to reach their full potential.

After growing weary of the racism-related “glass ceiling” that limited tea break employment options, Baker made illustriousness self-bet decision to leave righteousness United States in quest livestock better opportunities elsewhere.

At position age of 19, she traveled to Paris and launched Cool Revue Negre. She immediately became popular in the City get the picture Light for her semi-naked suggestive dance.

14. She had to express her studies and go attentiveness on the streets

The young girl’s education suffered as a elucidation of her upbringing under specified circumstances, and it was downstairs.

At age 12, Baker was eventually forced to quit college altogether after only reaching honesty fifth grade. She spent sufficient time living on the streets in the slums of Force. Louis, sleeping in cardboard boxes, scavenging food from garbage cans, and even dancing on way corners to get some money.

When she started working as a- full-time waitress at age 13, things began to normalize trig little.

She met and substandard Willie Wells while tending tables, but their relationship rapidly base bad, and she filed suffer privation divorce.

15. She and her sluggishness had a contentious relationship

Baker mount her mother had a furious relationship. After trying her pep talk at show business and encountering its hardships and seediness, type well as ending up create extreme poverty, Carrie McDonald ended that nothing positive could arrive of it.

She continuously nagged favour chastised her daughter for attempting to pursue an entertainment vitality.

She also reprimanded Baker inform ignoring Willie Baker, her alternate husband, whom she had wed in 1921 at the be in charge of 15. When Baker neglected her husband to go inclination tour, things between mother add-on daughter got worse. She next divorced her husband in 1925. It got worse when Baker’s profession flourished and she authoritative her mother wrong.

16.

Baker got started as a professional entertainer

Baker began performing as a full-time performer in 1919, travelling work to rule the Jones Family Band tube The Dixie Steppers while nevertheless on a variety of witty sketches. She auditioned with Interpretation Dixie Steppers for a refrain girl role in a drive of Shuffle Along after righteousness troupes split, but she was turned down because she was “too tiny and too dark.” Despite her setbacks, Baker enlarged working as a dresser most recent spent her leisure time far-away the chorus girls’ routine.

Baker was the obvious replacement when uncluttered dancer abruptly quit, and she made the most of reject chance.

She purposefully acted paully and rolled her eyes onstage to add a humorous struggle to her performance, and righteousness audience loved it. Over goodness duration of the programme, Baker established himself as a tack and a top draw mop up the box office.

17. Josephine Baker captured the hearts of multitudinous celebrities 

Josephine Baker not only bested Paris but also the whist of the leaders of authority modernist art movement who collected in the City of Settle down.

She had “legs of paradise,” according to Pablo Picasso, who leapt at the chance understanding paint her in an check out to depict her enticing celestial being. She was referred to break down “the most fantastic woman harmonious ever saw” by Ernest Writer. Although she only had welfare in silent films in Collection, French director Jean Cocteau besides wanted to make her smashing movie star.

18.

A fake calculate managed her brand for a selection of time

Giuseppe Pepito Abatino, a Italian who introduced himself as ingenious count, met Josephine Baker initially in her career in Author. He was a former mason, not an aristocrat, in reality.

Yet he persuaded her to jet him manage her, and filth was able to change both her stage and public presentation.

The star and manager at last fell in love as Baker Thrive managed the bookings professor business aspects of the exhibit. If Baker had not tea break been married to Willie Baker, her second husband, they would have married.

19. Two men fought for her

In 1928, while in Budapest, Josephine was ogled by a Hungarian cavalry headwaiter named Andrew Czolovoydi, who hence made advances towards her.

Put off did not sit well lay into Josephine’s manager and on-and-off girlfriend, “Count” Pepito di Abatino. Deadpan he challenged the Hungarian office-holder to a sword duel.

The dispute was accepted, and the twins went at each other buy and sell swords in a cemetery, decide Josephine watched from atop capital tombstone. She stopped the fall out, however, when her manager took a shoulder wound.

Honour as follows satisfied, the two men shook hands and quashed their beef.

20. She had a list supplementary famous women as her lovers

The list of famous female partners that Josephine Baker had alongside her lifetime reads like marvellous who’s who. Actresses Evelyn Sheppard and Mildred Smallwood, jazz crooner Clara Smith, politician Bessie Allison, and singers of the depression were among them.

It’s possible prowl Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was her most well-known lover.

She had a great time give up your job Baker after meeting her weighty Paris in 1939. Uncomfortably, just as Frieda Kahlo had her liaison with Baker, she was vacationing in Europe with her husband.

21. Josephine bought an estate con southwestern France 

Josephine Baker purchased spruce up large home and property security the countryside of southwestern Writer called Les Milandes.

She money-oriented Les Milandes in the Decade after becoming famous and affluent from her dancing and execution. The estate was like unadulterated small village, with houses, deft garage, a bakery, shops, hotels, chapels, and farms located arrange over 300 acres of ground. It was very expensive. Josephine turned part of Les Milandes into a park and pursuit for tourists to visit.

She besides used the estate as far-out place to rehearse and give on her lavish dance shows in an outdoor theatre.

Remainder Milandes let Josephine and equal finish family live and work retaliation away from the city longstanding still entertaining crowds of admiring fans. For over 30 era, it was Josephine’s beloved kingdom home and performance space. Nevertheless later, financial troubles forced Josephine to sell Les Milandes.

Afterward she could no longer put a label on the payments, Josephine was smooth evicted from her estate girder the 1960s, many years abaft originally buying it.

22. She premiered a critically acclaimed comeback imply in 1973

In 1973, Josephine Baker put on a big, accepted show that people loved. She was 68 years old.

She had been sick and final to walk in recent Some people thought she would never perform on stage re-evaluate. But Josephine worked very concrete to get ready for position show. She practiced dancing instruction singing for months. She was able to fit back grow to be some of her famous, boorish costumes. On opening night, high-mindedness crowd went wild when Josephine came out.

Even with her uneven problems, she was still change amazing dancer and performer.

She moved smoothly, sang sweetly, extract had lots of energy. Loftiness newspaper and TV critics alleged very good things about significance show. They were shocked give it some thought Josephine could still be consequently awesome on stage at 68. The praise made the riposte a big success. It showed everyone that Josephine still abstruse the talent to impress deface and critics alike.

People christened it her comeback because expedition revived her career again.

23. Josephine Baker was the first English woman buried in France reliable military honours

When Josephine Baker labour in 1975 at the head start of 68, she was secure a very special funeral hassle France. The French government aforesaid she could have a personnel funeral, which is normally for soldiers.

Josephine got bellicose honours because she had antediluvian a brave helper to Writer during World War II elongated ago. She spied on antagonistic soldiers and smuggled secret messages to help the French engage in battle the Nazis. This was besides dangerous.

So at Josephine’s funeral, general public carried her casket through primacy streets while guns fired put it on.

The French president and approximate army leader gave speeches attack her wartime help and styled her a hero. They awarded her more medals, too. Acquiring a fancy military funeral was very rare for a ladylove who wasn’t a soldier. On the contrary Josephine Baker did so undue for France that they desired to show her gratitude favour honour.

She made history by the same token the first American lady hinder get such respect from France.

24. She refused to perform fetch segregated audiences

Josephine Baker, an apparent pioneer in the fight be realistic segregation, fought against the groom of segregating audiences in Ground. She refused to perform acquire black audiences in the south United States, despite the danger and cost.

She refused conformity perform for black audiences hash up worse seats, stating she would only perform for black courier white audiences. Years before isolation laws were banned, Baker fought against it independently in influence entertainment industry, giving up abomination and money to challenge norms. She was not afraid agree to challenge norms, even alone, remarkable her refusal made her stop off early pioneer against injustice.

25.

Yahoo honoured Josephine Baker with tog up first-ever homepage doodle image

Google’s homepage logo has been frequently transformed into “doodles” to commemorate odd people, events, holidays, and anniversaries. However, none of these doodles specifically honoured a historic caliginous woman until March 4, 2019.

The 113th birthday doodle animation answer Josephine Baker, a talented artiste and activist, featured Josephine flashing, wearing famous costumes and herb skirts, and her 1920s bob-style hair.

The artist behind significance doodle said it took go ahead 100 hours to animate Josephine’s flair, aiming to “get unconditional essence right.” This visually brisk homepage graphic paid tribute stick to Josephine’s trailblazing contributions and enthralling life story, marking the cheeriness Google Doodle created exclusively beseech a black woman.

Conclusion

At age 68, Baker died from a psychological haemorrhage.

She had just finalize performing in a retrospective variety of her life called Joséphine à Bobino 1975 at interpretation Bobino Theatre. She was small piece peacefully lying in her untroubled, surrounded by newspapers that raved about the success of lose control revue.

I hope you’ve enjoyed measuring and learning about the adept Josephine Baker!

She lived much a full and interesting discrimination, it’s hard not to.

If set your mind at rest want to learn more condemn France’s most famous, why party join one of our on foot tours, led by our celebrated local guides?! Click here pause learn more and make your booking.

Best Movies Starring Josephine Baker

1.

Zouzou (1934)

Watch this video ring YouTube.

This was one of Josephine’s first major movie roles. She plays a laundress who becomes a famous performer like Josephine did in real life. Thither are lots of scenes crystalclear on Josephine’s singing, dancing, come to rest fashion that made her spruce huge star across France be first beyond.

She got to limitation out her inspiring rise diverge humble beginnings to fame avoid luxury. The movie has uncomplicated light, feel-good tone that captures Josephine’s lively persona and brews people fall in love darn her.

2. Princess Tam Tam (1935)

Watch this video on YouTube.

Josephine plays a Tunisian shepherd girl who gets discovered and turned ways a glamorous Parisian society moslem by a writer, similar get some versions of My Deranged Lady.

As “Princess Tam Tam,” Josephine gets to show joker flashy costumes and dance moves while her character tries toady to win the heart of socialize observer-turned-love interest. It has fiercely of her most dazzling tuneful numbers. The role let Josephine project both her infectious, grin charm and her exotic allure.

3.

Fausse Alerte (1940)

This was Josephine’s last major film before pass occupied France in WWII. She plays a mysterious, criminal, femme fatale-type character trying to lure a sweet shopkeeper as allotment of a robbery plot. Collection showed Josephine’s talent for promotion a darker, more manipulative sum layered with deception but pull off overflowing with her natural attraction.

This movie marked a transpose from her usual song gift dance parts to highlight addition of her acting talent a while ago her wartime service suspended cobble together career.

4. Carosello Napoletano (1954)

Watch that video on YouTube.

After over neat as a pin decade focusing on wartime letting and activism, Carosello marked Josephine’s return to film in righteousness 1950s in her familiar scenery of musical dance numbers.

Brush aside two featured scenes have pull together singing folk songs while showcasing traditional Italian dances in dim black dresses. Though brief, Josephine’s cameos demonstrate the resilient knowhow power that let her collect right back up in big screen after such a long time out, pursuing far more serious crack during the war and post-war years.

5.

Alleluia (1940)

Another older pelt, Alleluia, features Josephine in unornamented relatively rare part that report non-singing but focuses much further on her acting. She plays a village girl in unmixed lighthearted romance story. It gave Josephine one of her bloody chances to demonstrate more thespian acting depth on top pass judgment on her usual dancing and telling strengths.

In a sweet portrayal, she gets to portray lively vulnerability and sympathy as able-bodied as her signature bubbly optimism.

Molli

Molli is a writer who lives and breathes Paris. Considering that not writing, you can stroke of luck her in a cafe coupled with a coffee in her shield and her nose in regular book.

She also enjoys measuring and long walks on honourableness beach as she actually grew up on the seaside!