Freda Josephine Carson, better known as Josephine Baker, was born on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis Missouri. Her father left her at a young age so she was determined to seek jobs to help her family financially. She was very strong and independent as a young woman and very ambitious.
Today she’s remembered as a well known artist, but during her time she was a civil rights activist. She was faced with prejudice when she tried auditioning to become a chorus girl for The Dixie Steppers in Sissle and Blacke’s production. She was denied for appearing too skinny and for having too dark of a complexion. Instead she earned a job as a dresser and was soon hired as an official dancer once they need a replacement her since her fate of becoming a chorus dancer, the audience fell in love wither and she became a staring actress.
She was grateful for her success at that time and was able to tour in Italy.
In Europe, she was able to express and show off “jazz age” from
America. Josephine Baker truly gave America their identity. Apart from her career,
she did much charity work. Since it was the time of War World II, she entertained
and performed for the troops while also worked as a Red Cross nurse for the
French Resistance.
Josephine Baker demanded to go back to the United States, around the 1950’s,
to help fight back racism. A victim herself, she was once refused to dine in
a restaurant. She took this all the way to media to fight this unfair dispute
with pro-segregation columnist Walter Winchell. For that incident, she is honored
for her efforts each year on May 20th.
Josephine Baker had a 50 year career of great entertainment and performed until
her dying day. With a life time full of great achievements, Baker will always
be remembered as the talented woman the stood up for what she believed in and
always wanted to right the wrongs.
For more information visit these sites:
womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_baker_josephine.htm
www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/bake-jos.htm
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Bibliography
"Biography." Josephine Baker. Online. Internet. 9 Mar 2004. Available: <http://www.cmgww.com/stars/baker/home.htm>
"Achievements." Josephine Baker. Online. Internet. 9 Mar 2004. Available: <http://www.cmgww.com/stars/baker/home.htm>
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