BLACK IN TIME: A Moment In OUR History
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker, One Of America's Most Legendary Expatriates, Was Born On This Date In 1906, In St. Louis Missouri.
In The 1920's, Baker Earned The Title, "The Toast Of Paris," As She Sang And Danced Her Way Throughout France. At Various Times In Her Career She Was Also Called The "Black Pearl" The "Creole Goddess" And "Black Venus."
Her Trademark Role Was "Dark Star" In The Folies Bergere, In Which She Appeared Topless, Wearing Only A Skirt Of Rubber Bananas. Critics Of Her Day Called Her "A Complete Artist" And "Master Of Her Tools."
As Flamboyant Offstage As She Was On, Baker Owned Pet Leopards That She Took For Strolls Down Champs-Elysees, The Main Thoroughfare Of Paris. She Worked As A Spy During World War II, For Which She Was Awarded The French Legion Of Honor.
In The 1950's She Adopted 14 Children Of Different Nationalities And Called It Her Rainbow Tribe. Unfortunately, The Care And Schooling Of The Children Caused Baker Financial Problems And She Was Consequently Evicted From Her $2 Million 15th Century French Chateau, By The Authorities.
Her Home Was Auctioned Off To Pay Her Debts And Baker Was Forced To Continue Performing Well Into Her Twilight Years, In Order To Provide For Her Children.
Baker Worked With The NAACP And Was The Only Woman To Speak At The Historic March On Washington In 1963.
Josephine Baker Died In Paris, In 1975, While Attending A Show Honoring Her 50 Years In Entertainment. She Was The First Black Female To Have A 21-Gun Salute Fired At Her Funeral.
She Is Also Noted For Being The First Black Woman To Star In A Major Motion Picture, Integrate An American Concert Hall And Become A World Famous Entertainer.
JOSEPHINE BAKER
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breath Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
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