WOMANISM + HISTORY

In Josephine Baker’s Activism, Black Joy and Struggle Live Side by Side

Remembering a world-renown performer, World War II spy, and Civil Rights, Activist

Josephine Baker in 1970 | Photo Credit | Getty Images

So, there’s a myth about Black activists, particularly women, that insists we tend to sacrifice too much for the cause, neglecting self-care. However, many examples throughout history show how Black joy and the struggle live side-by-side, breaking the binary argument. For instance, Josephine Baker became a world-renown performer, a Civil Rights Activist, and even a World War II Spy for the French. Yet, despite her commitment to fighting against racial segregation, she looked amazing every step of the way, met some of the most interesting, influential people, and captivated the hearts of millions.

Baker, born Freda Josephine McDonald in 1906, grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She spent her youth living in poverty, and “at age eight Josephine cleaned houses and babysat for wealthy white families, often being poorly treated.” However, Baker’s love of dancing lifted her out of these circumstances, landing her a spot on Broadway. By the 1920s, Josephine Baker became a wildly popular performer in France but dedicated much of her life to fighting against racism.

Josephine Baker became an icon within the Black community, representing poise, beauty, and grace. Yet, still, she felt the sting of Jim Crow, facing blatant disrespect because of her skin color. By 19, she left the United States, becoming a burlesque dancer in Paris music halls. “Her risqué dance routines while clad in little more than a string of pearls and a rubber banana skirt made her a Jazz Age sensation. After branching out into singing and acting in films, she became Europe’s highest-paid entertainer,” becoming a French citizen in 1937, several years before the start of World War II.

Josephine Baker in Paris | Photo Credit | Getty Images

Josephine Baker became a spy in World War II for the French. While originally from America, she was dedicated to the French people saying, “France made me who I am, the Parisians gave me their hearts, and I am ready to give them my…