Josephine Baker

American-born French dancer, singer and actress (1906–1975)

Fame69.9
Momentum17.4
Wikipedia160.3K

Source-basedRising

Lived 1906–1975, aged 69United States

United States

MusiciansSinger / Musician

Wikipedia
82 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1906–1975
Aged 69
Known for
Zouzou
1934

Summary

Updated 2026-06-10

She danced in a skirt of artificial bananas at the Folies Bergère and became the face of Jazz Age Paris — then ran intelligence for the French Resistance, refused segregated stages back home, and turned down leadership of the civil rights movement to protect her twelve adopted children.

Biography

About

Born in St. Louis in 1906, Freda Josephine McDonald left America and became the sensation of Paris in 1927 when her Folies Bergère performance — beaded necklace, banana skirt, nothing else — stopped the city cold. She starred in Siren of the Tropics that same year, the first Black woman to lead a major motion picture, and the era's artists called her the Black Venus, the Bronze Venus, the Creole Goddess. She married French industrialist Jean Lion in 1937, renounced her U.S. citizenship, and became French. During World War II she aided the Resistance and worked with British and American intelli…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker

said27 Feb 1964

I believe in action. … I believe in doing rather than talking.

— "Jo Baker helps civil rights groups : Renowned star 'deeply concerned', Jet Vol. 25, No. 19 (27 February 1964), p. 60

Josephine Baker

said28 Aug 1963

I want you to know that this is the happiest day of my entire life. And as you all must know, I have had a very long life and I'm sixty years old.

— From her address to the March on Washington, 28 Aug 1963

Josephine Baker

said1949

I cannot see that I did anything extraordinary to merit this honor. Everything was just as it had to be.

— On receiving the Resistence Medal for her work on behalf of France during World War II, 1949 (Josephine Baker’s Secret War by Hanna Diamond)

Josephine Baker

said25 Jul 1943

First, I want to do what I can to help win the war and thus perform whatever duty I can for my native land. Second, I want to help those of my own race.

— On why she was performing for Allied troops against doctor's orders, Atlanta Daily World 25 Jul 1943

Josephine Baker

saidundated