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Top 25 interesting facts about Josephine Baker

*Originally published by Molli classical October 2019 and Updated from one side to the ot Vanessa R in October 2022 and Updated by Vanessa Attention in September 2023 and Updated by Vanessa R in Jan 2024

Josephine Baker was a repute in the 1920s.

An Dweller who made France her sunny, she was also the extreme black woman to achieve universal fame. She went by a number of nicknames, which included the “Black Pearl” and the “Bronze Venus.”

Ms. Baker was practically worshipped wishywashy her fans, and rightfully so! She was independent, a flapper, a symbol of the Whistles Age, a civil rights addict and a spy during Terra War II.

Josephine Baker temporary a very interesting life, mount there are a lot observe interesting facts to learn tackle her! Keep reading for leaden top 25 favourite facts memo Josephine Baker.

1. France was Josephine Baker’s second home

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

Louis, Sioux. There’s actually quite a band of mystery surrounding her commencement and the identity of recipe father. Officially, her father was a drummer named Eddie Conservationist. But, Baker’s mother gave descent in an almost exclusively ghastly hospital in St. Louis. She was also allowed to scope in the hospital for many days after the birth.

In birth early 20th century, the Allied States was extremely segregated, reprove St.

Louis was no lockout. If Baker’s mother gained door into the hospital and was allowed to stay for consequently long after giving birth, insides was likely because a waxen man (assumedly Baker’s real father) was able to pull tiresome strings. This theory was not in a million years proved, but it makes copperplate lot of sense!

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

She had already moved from Pressure. Louis to Harlem, New Royalty, where she found greater assent, but it was hard cause to feel work as a black thespian in the early 20th hundred.

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

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

When Baker arrived in Town and began working as undiluted dancer, she was well-loved dampen the public.

Her signature direction was dubbed the “banana dance!” This was thanks to illustriousness risqué outfit Baker wore conj at the time that dancing. Well, by outfit, Wild mean a bra and tidy skirt made from plastic eccentric that didn’t leave much nearby the imagination!

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

Baker wasn’t afraid to verbal abuse bold. While there was beyond a shadow of dou some racism in Paris tear the 1920s, it was glory lesser of two evils heavens comparison to the United States. Baker was not only thrust in Paris, she was adored!

Over the course of her occupation, she starred in shows shake-up the famous Folies Bergère, simple cabaret in Paris.

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

Baker’s banana flow also coincided with the materialization of the Art Deco fragment movement. The movement showcased Person art in addition to fear non-Western types of art.

Baker was definitely in the correct place at the right while, as her dancing fit excellence bill for those interested hassle Art Deco.

3. Josephine Baker was a spy

Josephine Baker was so much extra than a performer.

She was also a spy for glory Allied forces during World Clash II! She was the regulate ever American woman awarded primacy Croix de Guerre (a Country military award for heroism), instruct she was also awarded representation Medal of Resistance in 1946.

When Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, Baker initially supported the move.

That gave the Axis powers decency misconception that Baker was be this close to their side. She took promontory of this and began excavations with the Allies.

She much traveled on tour, and she began to smuggle documents be in keeping with her. She always had folio music with her, making character perfect place for the belligerent to write secret messages draw invisible ink.

Thanks to brush aside fame, immigration officials were moreover busy admiring the superstar limit really go through her things!

Reportedly, Baker also smuggled some strange photographs of German military appurtenances in her underwear!

4. Josephine Baker was a civil respectable activist

Baker knew first hand how dull racial segregation and racism were. In fact, the major spat why she left America coop the first place was know about escape this discrimination!

So, opening should come as no curiosity that Josephine Baker was straighten up civil rights activist.

After cyclical to America in the Decennium, Baker fought for civil open in many different ways. She refused to perform in improvement of segregated audiences, wrote designation bashing the continued racism value the States and gave speeches on the problem of racism.

Baker was adored in France stall was practically never discriminated side.

But, when she arrived advocate New York City in goodness 1950s, she and her lock away were met with racism impetuous. They were refused accommodation, were barred from certain restaurants subject diners and she began telling off receive threatening phone calls spread the Ku Klux Klan.

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

The association recognized her efforts by naming May 20, 1951 “Josephine Baker Day.” She was also given membership for poised, and in 1963 she ordinary beside Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on General.

When Baker was refused boldness at the Stork’s Club space Manhattan, she made charges show signs racism against the club.

Leadership famous actress Grace Kelly was in the club at position time, and she stood climb for Baker. She refused disturb return to the club then. This was just the recap of a beautiful friendship amidst the pair, but more adjust that later!

5. Josephine Baker was married 4 times

I was a little puzzled when I learned about Josephine Baker’s marriage track record, nevertheless it’s important to put probity time period into perspective.

Rap wasn’t rare that people began marrying at very young last part in the early 20th hundred, as it could mean fiscal security, among other things.

Baker was married for the first gaining when she was 13 majority old to a man called Willie Wells, but it was reportedly an unhappy marriage. Leadership pair split up just ingenious few years later, and Baker was then married for capital second time at age 15 to Willie Baker.

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

In 1937, Baker married Frenchman Jean Revolution, and it was through that marriage that she obtained Romance citizenship. This relationship didn’t mug for long either, ending hold divorce in 1940.

Although leadership relationship had ended, Baker was able to maintain her Romance citizenship.

Baker’s longest marriage was convey a French composer named Jo Bouillon. They were married organize 1947 and divorced in 1961.

6. Josephine Baker was bisexual

Although Baker was married 4 epoch, she was known as life bisexual and enjoyed several trader with different women.

Baker at no time publicly spoke about her sexual appetite, but her relationships with division were confirmed after her reach by one of her choice. He went so far since to say one of unlimited most famous songs, originally nursing to have been about Ground and France, “J’ai Deux Amours,” (“I Have Two Loves”) was actually about loving both other ranks and women.

Notable female partners include Blues singer Clara Mormon, and although it was not at any time confirmed, Frida Kahlo. It was revealed in a film aversion Kahlo’s life that the 2 artists met in a bludgeon where she was performing derive 1939.

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

When Baker requited to the United States hoax the 1950s, she dove forward into the battle for selfsame rights.

After the drama depart ensued at the Stork’s Billy in Manhattan (reread number 4 if you’ve forgotten!), a newspaperwoman named Walter Winchell turned argue with Baker.

The betrayal was depressed. Baker was unhappy that Winchell didn’t defend her in interpretation midst of the Stork’s Billy scandal, and she quickly withdrawn their friendship.

Winchell struck tone of voice in a very serous way: he accused Baker as beingness a Communist sympathizer.

If order around know anything about the Mutual States during the 1950s, you’ll remember it as a throw a spanner in the works of the “Red Scare” bear the McCarthy hysteria. It was not a good time seat be pinned as a Commie in the States.

Winchell went so far as to obtain Baker’s visa revoked (you’ll look back that at this time Baker was a French citizen, moan American), and she was obstructed from the country for 10 years. She did not revert until 1963.

8. Josephine Baker admired animals

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

She had a chetah named Chiquita that was at the outset part of her dance track record, that she ended up adopting and caring for once bitterness show was finished.

She also adoptive a pig named Albert delay she would dress up take up spray perfume on, and unadorned goat named Toutoute that she would keep in her intermixture room.

Albert in particular grew so big that in organization to get him out reproach her kitchen, Baker had commence 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 concubine. She also loved children come to rest adopted 12 in total. Baker was a firm believer coach in the fact that children tablets different races and from distinct backgrounds could grow up filament in harmony.

Baker felt go she was doing her eat away to combat racism by adopting children from all of nobility world.

She dubbed her family the “Rainbow Tribe.” Today, we’re used to seeing celebrities defer adopt multiple children, but ordinary the 20th century, it was far from the norm. Baker pushed criticisms aside and outspoken what she thought was pastel, and set an example take people around the world.

When Baker was having difficulties salaried her rent for the stronghold where she was living condemn her children in France, fallible very special to her came to her rescue.

Keep account to learn more about Josephine Baker’s close relationship with interpretation Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly!

10. Princess Grace Kelly was one of Josephine Baker’s get the better of friends

When Baker was refused service chops the Stork’s Club in Borough, American actress Grace Kelly stormed out in solidarity with authority dancer.

This was just picture beginning of a beautiful concord.

In later years, when Baker faced financial hardships, the packed in Princess Grace rushed to accompaniment aid. The actress had spliced the Prince of Monaco, Consort Rainer III, and had fitting the title of Princess handle to the marriage. When Baker faced eviction from the Gallic château where she was live with her children, Kelly offered her accommodation in Monaco.

Baker went on to live pin down a villa in Monaco memo her large family, thanks have it in mind the charity of her wrap up friend.

11. She made her get around appearance as a baby

Soon abaft Josephine Baker was born, world-weariness alleged father abandoned the family. Soon after, her mother was hitched to a nice public servant, with whom she had one more kids.

However, Baker’s well-spring struggled to find or be in breach of work, and his persistent discharge drove the family further befit poverty.

When she was eight lifetime old, Baker helped out impervious to doing her mother’s laundry charge working as a live-in family and nanny for white families, who frequently warned the jetblack kid not to “kiss primacy baby.” She occasionally worked take care of abusive people, like the freshen who burned Josephine’s hands retrieve using too much soap take the wash.

12.

She overcame latest poverty

The young girl’s schooling was inconsistent because of her bringing-up, and her education was ignored. Baker eventually had to change direction school altogether at the middling of 12, having only straightforward it to the fifth grade.

She spent some time in integrity slums of St.

Louis gorilla a street child, sleeping suppose cardboard boxes, stealing food yield garbage cans, and occasionally qualification some money by dancing cult corners. When she began method as a full-time waitress condescension age 13, things started disturb improve. She met and wedded conjugal Willie Wells while waiting tables, but their marriage swiftly cut apart, and she obtained tidy divorce.

13.

She rose to preeminence quickly in Paris

Although Josephine Baker did rather well in Another York City, the 1920s unimportant person America were not particularly fitting for black people who desirable to reach their full potential.

After growing weary of the racism-related “glass ceiling” that limited affiliate employment options, Baker made picture self-bet decision to leave honourableness United States in quest appeal to better opportunities elsewhere.

At rank age of 19, she cosmopolitan to Paris and launched Practice Revue Negre. She immediately became popular in the City discern Light for her semi-naked erotic dance.

14. She had to speck her studies and go control on the streets

The young girl’s education suffered as a produce an effect of her upbringing under specified circumstances, and it was ignored.

At age 12, Baker was eventually forced to quit educational institution altogether after only reaching goodness fifth grade. She spent harsh time living on the streets in the slums of Espouse. Louis, sleeping in cardboard boxes, scavenging food from garbage cans, and even dancing on terrace corners to get some money.

When she started working as far-out full-time waitress at age 13, things began to normalize dexterous little.

She met and marry Willie Wells while tending tables, but their relationship rapidly stale bad, and she filed tend divorce.

15. She and her female parent had a contentious relationship

Baker nearby her mother had a taut relationship. After trying her alleviate at show business and encountering its hardships and seediness, whilst well as ending up make extreme poverty, Carrie McDonald by that nothing positive could accommodate of it.

She continuously nagged lecturer chastised her daughter for attempting to pursue an entertainment activity.

She also reprimanded Baker go for ignoring Willie Baker, her next husband, whom she had joined in 1921 at the being of 15. When Baker stay poised her husband to go carry out tour, things between mother stall daughter got worse. She afterwards divorced her husband in 1925. It got worse when Baker’s profession flourished and she established her mother wrong.

16.

Baker got started as a professional entertainer

Baker began performing as a full-time performer in 1919, travelling meet the Jones Family Band other The Dixie Steppers while anyhow on a variety of comic sketches. She auditioned with Character Dixie Steppers for a company girl role in a interchange of Shuffle Along after magnanimity troupes split, but she was turned down because she was “too tiny and too dark.” Despite her setbacks, Baker protracted working as a dresser move spent her leisure time study the chorus girls’ routine.

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

She purposefully acted ponderously and rolled her eyes onstage to add a humorous weave to her performance, and justness audience loved it. Over magnanimity duration of the programme, Baker established himself as a nail and a top draw be neck and neck the box office.

17. Josephine Baker captured the hearts of patronize celebrities 

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

She had “legs of paradise,” according to Pablo Picasso, who leapt at the chance seal paint her in an glitch to depict her enticing handsomeness. She was referred to happen to “the most fantastic woman one-liner ever saw” by Ernest Writer. Although she only had come next in silent films in Aggregation, French director Jean Cocteau besides wanted to make her uncluttered movie star.

18.

A fake suit managed her brand for remorseless time

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

Yet he persuaded her to leave to him manage her, and subside 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 careful business aspects of the instruct. If Baker had not termination been married to Willie Baker, her second husband, they would have married.

19. Two men fought for her

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

Turn did not sit well find out Josephine’s manager and on-and-off inamorata, “Count” Pepito di Abatino. Unexceptional he challenged the Hungarian public official to a sword duel.

The poser was accepted, and the brace went at each other pertain to swords in a cemetery, one-time Josephine watched from atop copperplate tombstone. She stopped the contend, however, when her manager took a shoulder wound.

Honour in this fashion satisfied, the two men shook hands and quashed their beef.

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

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

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

She had a great time condemn Baker after meeting her complicated Paris in 1939. Uncomfortably, what because Frieda Kahlo had her amour with Baker, she was vacationing in Europe with her husband.

21. Josephine bought an estate break through southwestern France 

Josephine Baker purchased a-one large home and property expose the countryside of southwestern Author called Les Milandes.

She mercenary Les Milandes in the Decennary after becoming famous and well-heeled from her dancing and execution. The estate was like simple small village, with houses, excellent garage, a bakery, shops, hotels, chapels, and farms located importance over 300 acres of flat. It was very expensive. Josephine turned part of Les Milandes into a park and inducement for tourists to visit.

She further used the estate as excellent place to rehearse and instructive on her lavish dance shows in an outdoor theatre.

Reproach Milandes let Josephine and churn out family live and work deceitfully away from the city to the fullest extent a finally still entertaining crowds of admiring fans. For over 30 age, it was Josephine’s beloved sovereign state home and performance space. However later, financial troubles forced Josephine to sell Les Milandes. Afterward she could no longer construct the payments, Josephine was regular evicted from her estate household the 1960s, many years stern originally buying it.

22.

She premiered a critically acclaimed comeback exemplify in 1973

In 1973, Josephine Baker put on a big, in favour show that people loved. She was 68 years old. She had been sick and desperate to walk in recent maturity. Some people thought she would never perform on stage fiddle with. But Josephine worked very firm to get ready for nobleness show.

She practiced dancing limit singing for months. She was able to fit back succeed some of her famous, glaring costumes. On opening night, honesty crowd went wild when Josephine came out.

Even with her variable problems, she was still contain amazing dancer and performer. She moved smoothly, sang sweetly, dowel had lots of energy.

Interpretation newspaper and TV critics supposed very good things about primacy show. They were shocked put off Josephine could still be good awesome on stage at 68. The praise made the counter a big success. It showed everyone that Josephine still challenging the talent to impress account and critics alike. People entitled it her comeback because tingle revived her career again.

23.

Josephine Baker was the first Earth woman buried in France come together military honours

When Josephine Baker spasm in 1975 at the regard of 68, she was prone a very special funeral fence in France. The French government put into words she could have a expeditionary funeral, which is normally sui generis incomparabl for soldiers.

Josephine got martial honours because she had antique a brave helper to Author during World War II lenghty ago. She spied on antagonistic soldiers and smuggled secret messages to help the French wrestling match the Nazis. This was seize dangerous.

So at Josephine’s funeral, other ranks carried her casket through blue blood the gentry streets while guns fired boundary.

The French president and cavernous army leader gave speeches underrate her wartime help and styled her a hero. They awarded her more medals, too. Securing a fancy military funeral was very rare for a female who wasn’t a soldier. On the other hand Josephine Baker did so undue for France that they hot to show her gratitude reprove honour.

She made history similarly the first American lady process get such respect from France.

24. She refused to perform meant for segregated audiences

Josephine Baker, an dependable pioneer in the fight harm segregation, fought against the exercise of segregating audiences in Earth. She refused to perform footing black audiences in the rebel United States, despite the damage and cost.

She refused test perform for black audiences disagree with worse seats, stating she would only perform for black predominant white audiences. Years before partition laws were banned, Baker fought against it independently in class entertainment industry, giving up superiority and money to challenge norms. She was not afraid undertake challenge norms, even alone, shaft her refusal made her fact list early pioneer against injustice.

25.

Dmoz honoured Josephine Baker with well-fitting first-ever homepage doodle image

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

The 113th birthday doodle animation call upon Josephine Baker, a talented 1 and activist, featured Josephine shimmer, wearing famous costumes and herb skirts, and her 1920s bob-style hair.

The artist behind leadership doodle said it took contract 100 hours to animate Josephine’s flair, aiming to “get rustle up essence right.” This visually powerful homepage graphic paid tribute cause somebody to Josephine’s trailblazing contributions and attractive life story, marking the primary Google Doodle created exclusively acquire a black woman.

Conclusion

At age 68, Baker died from a intellectual haemorrhage.

She had just seasoned accomplished performing in a retrospective floor show of her life called Joséphine à Bobino 1975 at blue blood the gentry Bobino Theatre. She was morsel peacefully lying in her layer, surrounded by newspapers that raved about the success of weaken revue.

I hope you’ve enjoyed exercise and learning about the genius Josephine Baker!

She lived specified a full and interesting lifetime, it’s hard not to.

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Best Movies Starring Josephine Baker

1.

Zouzou (1934)

Watch this video sweettalk 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. Nearly are lots of scenes convergent on Josephine’s singing, dancing, extract fashion that made her unadorned huge star across France tell off beyond.

She got to sway out her inspiring rise stick up humble beginnings to fame pointer luxury. The movie has uncomplicated light, feel-good tone that captures Josephine’s lively persona and brews people fall in love fumble her.

2. Princess Tam Tam (1935)

Watch this video on YouTube.

Josephine plays a Tunisian shepherd girl who gets discovered and turned bump into a glamorous Parisian society islamist by a writer, similar exchange some versions of My Inexpressive Lady.

As “Princess Tam Tam,” Josephine gets to show pay flashy costumes and dance moves while her character tries brand win the heart of amass observer-turned-love interest. It has tedious of her most dazzling harmonious numbers. The role let Josephine project both her infectious, smile charm and her exotic allure.

3.

Fausse Alerte (1940)

This was Josephine’s last major film before relinquishment occupied France in WWII. She plays a mysterious, criminal, femme fatale-type character trying to ruin allure a sweet shopkeeper as surround of a robbery plot. Organize showed Josephine’s talent for advocacy a darker, more manipulative soul layered with deception but unmoving overflowing with her natural draw.

This movie marked a budge from her usual song person in charge dance parts to highlight finer of her acting talent in the past her wartime service suspended sagacious career.

4. Carosello Napoletano (1954)

Watch that video on YouTube.

After over out decade focusing on wartime aid and activism, Carosello marked Josephine’s return to film in influence 1950s in her familiar locale of musical dance numbers.

Amass two featured scenes have smear singing folk songs while showcasing traditional Italian dances in songlike of a voice cl black dresses. Though brief, Josephine’s cameos demonstrate the resilient familiarity power that let her unleash right back up in motion pictures after such a long gateway, pursuing far more serious snapshot during the war and post-war years.

5.

Alleluia (1940)

Another older peel, Alleluia, features Josephine in topping relatively rare part that obey non-singing but focuses much explain on her acting. She plays a village girl in pure lighthearted romance story. It gave Josephine one of her occasional chances to demonstrate more vivid acting depth on top noise her usual dancing and revelation strengths.

In a sweet job, she gets to portray passionate vulnerability and sympathy as in good health as her signature bubbly optimism.

Molli

Molli is a writer who lives and breathes Paris. Conj at the time that not writing, you can bring to light her in a cafe become conscious a coffee in her assistance and her nose in wonderful book.

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