Josephine Baker
Dancer, Film actor
1906 – 1975
Who was Josephine Baker?
Josephine Baker was an American-born French dancer, singer, and actress who came to be known in various circles as the "Black Pearl," "Bronze Venus" and even the "Creole Goddess". Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine later became a citizen of France in 1937. She was fluent in both English and French.
Baker was the first African-American female to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou, the first to integrate in an American concert hall, as well as to become a world-famous entertainer. Baker, who refused to perform for segregated audiences in America, is also noted for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. She was once offered unofficial leadership in the movement in the United States by Coretta Scott King in 1968, following Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. Baker, however, turned down the offer. She was also known for assisting the French Resistance during World War II, and received the French military honor, the Croix de guerre.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Jun 3, 1906
St. Louis - Also known as
- Freda Josephine McDonald
- Black Pearl
- Tumpie
- Black Venus
- Joséphine Baker
- Créole Goddess
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouses
- Willie Wells
(1919 - 1920) - William Howard Baker
(1921 - 1923) - Jean Lion
(1937/10/30 - 1938) - Joe Bouillon
(1947 - 1957) - Robert Brady
(1973 - 1974) - Count Pepito di Abatino
(1926 - 1936)
- Willie Wells
- Children
- Religion
- Catholicism
- Ethnicity
- African American
- French people
- Nationality
- United States of America
- France
- Profession
- Lived in
- New York City
- Paris
- St. Louis
- Died
- Apr 12, 1975
Paris
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Josephine Baker." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/josephine_baker>.
Discuss this Josephine Baker biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In