Josephine+Baker+(entertainer)

Topic claimed by Ingrid D., Pd.7


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Josephine Baker was born on June 3,1906 - April 12,1975 in St.Louis, Missouri. Her original birth name was Freda Josephine McDonald, while growing up she cleaned houses and did babysitting for white rich families. Josephine's favorite hobby was swimming and was well known from her banana dance, civil rights activism, and the "Rainbow Tribe". At the age of 13 she worked in a club/restaurant known as "The Old Chauffeur's Club". In this club/restaurant Josephine worked as an waitress, while attending some tables she met this one guy named Willie Wells, which later she married but did not last long. Although she was married Josephine did not depend on her husband. During this time she was independent, never hesitated to leave a relationship. Josephine was married and divorced more than three times. Later during the year of 1921 she got divorced from Willie Wells and married to American Willie Baker (whose last name she decided to keep). After couple of years she got divorced and married Frenchman Jean Lion in 1937 (whom she had got French citizenship). Then again got divorced and married a french leader in orchestra named Jo Bouillion in the year of 1947(thanks to his help Josephine was able to raise her 12 adopted children).
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Baker was well-known in the 1920s as the first woman of Africa to become a star in major pictures, participated in American Concert Hall, and became a world famous entertainer. Although she was known as a star, Josephine also inspired African-American woman entertainers. Josephine Baker had a lot to do in the 'Jazz Age". A famous dance that she did was called "The Charlestone", with this dance women were able to wear any type of clothes that made them feel good and comfortable. Since in the 1920s women clothes were very covering and less revealing; Do you think women felt comfortable going to parties and trying to dance with tight clothes on? Truth is they really didn't, because of this women got help from legendary fashion designers during this time. Now since the women are getting help on wearing whatever they want, the men are feeling that it's a bad idea and that they can be the only ones dressing however they please. Well ladies back in the 1920s said if gentlemen can have fun why can't us ladies not? Then this was when Josephine and many other entertainers decided to make posters and take pictures to motivate the people that having some fun it's not bad. Later in life Josephine became a very famous actress and dancer everything that she did helped women realize that having fun and not depending on their husband all the time was good. Although men didn't like the idea in the beginning, later on they got used to it and joined the ladies.

media type="youtube" key="ag-yGpGpkOI?fs=1" height="385" width="480" Yes Josephine Baker was many things but was more of a talented and beautiful women.