Josephine Baker

@Dancers, Birthday and Life ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Josephine Baker was an American-born French dancer and actress Missouri African American Singers Bisexual Black Female Singers French Dancers Singers Gemini Celebrities Proclaimed to be 'the most sensational woman anyone ever saw' by Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker was one of the most successful entertainers in France and other parts of Europe. She scintillated audiences with her mesmerising dance performances and went on to become ‘the highest-paid chorus girl in vaudeville’. Much revered for her exotic beauty, Baker enjoyed celebrity status for 50 almost years. She also acted in a few films. Unfortunately, racism laid constraints in her career and she was not well received in the United States of America. She served as a source of intelligence during the World War II, gathering secret information about German troops, supporting the French Resistance movement. This earned her one of the highest French military honours, the ‘Croix de guerre'. She made several notable contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, blatantly refusing to perform in segregated clubs and participating in active demonstrations. She also delivered a speech alongside Martin Luther King, Jr at the ‘March on Washington’. She had a huge fan-following and was given the nicknames, 'Black Pearl', 'Bronze Venus' and ‘Creole Goddess’.

Personal Details

Birthday: June 3, 1906 Died on: April 12, 1975 Nationality: French Famous: African American Singers, Bisexual, Black Female Singers, Dancers, Singers City/State: Missouri Nick names: Black Pearl, Bronze Venus and Creole Goddess Spouses: Jean Lion (m. 1937–1938) William Howard Baker, Joe Bouillon (m. 1947–1957) Information Detail Birthday June 3, 1906 Died on April 12, 1975 Nationality French Famous African American Singers, Bisexual, Black Female Singers, Dancers, Singers City/State Missouri Nick names Black Pearl, Bronze Venus and Creole Goddess Spouses Jean Lion (m. 1937–1938) William Howard Baker, Joe Bouillon (m. 1947–1957) Known as Freda Josephine McDonald Childrens Aiko, Brahim, Janot, Jari, Jean-Claude Baker, Koffi, Luis, Mara, Marianne, Moïse, Noël, Stellina Birth Place St. Louis, Missouri, U.S Gender Female Father Eddie Carson Mother Carrie Sun Sign Gemini Born in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S Famous as Dancer Died at Age 68

St. Louis, Missouri, U.S

Josephine Baker born at Unsplash Birth Place

In 1918, when she was 13, she married Willie Wells. The marriage did not last very long and the couple divorced in a short span of time. Unsplash Personal Life

In 1921, she married Willie Baker. The couple eventually legally separated. Despite the separation, she kept her last name as she was recognised by that name. Unsplash Personal Life

In 1937, he married French citizen Jean Lion. Through the marriage she was also granted French citizenship. The couple separated and he passed away later. Unsplash Personal Life

She was born as Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, to Carrie McDonald, a washerwoman and Eddie Carson, a vaudeville drummer. Her father abandoned the family soon after her birth. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

She started working as a domestic help when she was eight. She was often abused and poorly treated by her employers. After a brief time in school, she lived as a street child in the slums of St. Louis, often eating from garbage.. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

At 15, she became a part of a vaudeville show in the St. Louis Chorus. She soon landed in New York City, where she performed at the 'Plantation Club'. In 1921, she was part of the Broadway revue, 'Shuffle Along'. Unsplash Career

In 1924, she was part of the Broadway revue, 'The Chocolate Dandies'. The next year, she went to Paris to be a part of the show in 'La Revue Negre', which opened at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees. Unsplash Career

In Paris, she earned fame and popularity for her erotic dancing. She went on a Europe tour, performing at various places. She later performed, ‘Dansesauvage', wearing a skirt made of artificial bananas. Unsplash Career

In 1926, she performed at the Folies Berg�re music hall for 'LaFolie du Jour'. With this show, she became one of the most popular and highly paid dancers. She was also appreciated by literary figure, Ernest Hemingway. Unsplash Career

In 1927, she starred in the silent film, ‘Siren of the Tropics’. The film was not successful outside Europe. After four years, she sang, ‘J'aideux amours', which gained immense success. Unsplash Career

In 1961, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour, highly esteemed French military honours for her role in the French Resistance movement. Unsplash Awards & Achievements

Information	Detail
Birthday	June 3, 1906
Died on	April 12, 1975
Nationality	French
Famous	African American Singers, Bisexual, Black Female Singers, Dancers, Singers
City/State	Missouri
Nick names	Black Pearl, Bronze Venus and Creole Goddess
Spouses	Jean Lion (m. 1937–1938) William Howard Baker, Joe Bouillon (m. 1947–1957)
Known as	Freda Josephine McDonald
Childrens	Aiko, Brahim, Janot, Jari, Jean-Claude Baker, Koffi, Luis, Mara, Marianne, Moïse, Noël, Stellina
Birth Place	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S
Gender	Female
Father	Eddie Carson
Mother	Carrie
Sun Sign	Gemini
Born in	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S
Famous as	Dancer
Died at Age	68

Josephine Baker

French

Jun 3, 1906

Biography

Personal Details

St. Louis, Missouri, U.S