Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 3, 1906, Freda Josephine McDonald was the daughter of Eddie Carson and Carrie McDonald. She left school early to pursue a career on the stage. By age 13 she was performing professionally in vaudeville, making her way towards New York City during the Harlem Renaissance and the Plantation Club in particular. She performed on Broadway in 1922 in the production “Shuffle Along” and was already a star by 1924 when she appeared in “Chocolate Dandies.”
The limitations of prejudice imposed upon this blossoming, talented beauty were too much for her, and in 1925 in a daring move, she went to Paris. Here she became famous. On October 2, 1925, she opened at the Theater des Champ-Elysees in the popular “Revue Negre.” Her dancing was bold and erotic and she often appeared scantily clad on stage. Still, her dancing always had a graceful, magical and tasteful quality about it. Even critics who didn’t like the show thought highly of her abilities. In 1926-1927 she performed at the Folies Bergere, setting the standard for her future acts. Perhaps her most famous act was one in which she appeared in a skirt made only of bananas accompanied by her pet leopard, Chiquita. The leopard with her diamond-studded collar often escaped into the orchestra pit, terrorizing musicians.
Because she found more acceptance in France as a “colored” performer than she had in the Unites States, Josephine remained in Paris. She was also a singer of considerable merit, and in July of 1930 she recorded six songs for Columbia Records. Her sensual beauty inspired artwork by Alexander Calder, and George Roualt. Writers such as Hemingway and E.E. Cummings found her work inspiring.
Josephine Baker was also a very brave and patriotic lady. She served with the Red Cross during World War II and, with the fall of France in 1940, became active in the resistance movement. She was so well known that even the Nazis were hesitant to touch her. One incredible story from this period concerns the monster, Herman Goring, who invited her to dinner at his chalet one evening. He suspected that she was active in the resistance and she soon realized that the wine he was serving her was poisoned. She managed to excuse herself and escaped to freedom via a laundry chute! Her efforts awarded her the Croix de Guerre and a Medal of The Resistance in 1946.
Josephine Baker married four times and adopted twelve children, all of different races, whom she always referred to as “her rainbow tribe.” One of her sons, Jean Claude, owns and operates “Chez Josephine” on the West Side of Manhattan, a restaurant devoted to the memory of his famous mother.
The week before her death on April 12, 1975, she appeared on the stage in a tribute performance, still able to captivate an audience at the age of 69. She died quietly, in her sleep, of a cerebral hemorrhage.
What are some of YOUR thoughts about this amazing woman?