JOSEPHINE BAKER
Were you shocked when Madonna pushed the envelope in the 90's? Jospehine did it on the 20's! Does Lady Ga Ga's eclectic ways make you do a double take? Josephine tuned heads first. Angelina Jolie adopting kids of other races from a round the world? Josephine did it 60 years ago! A woman ahead of her time she was an unforgettable icon.
She was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis Missouri.Having to fend for herself at a young age, she was abused by the women she worked for, rather than continue to allow herself to be abused,Baker dropped out of school at the age of 12 and lived an orphan in the slums of St. Louis, sleeping in cardboard shelters and scavenging for food in garbage cans She performed on street corners and eventually attracted attention and she was recruited for the St. Louis Chorus vaudeville show at 15. She then headed to New York City during the Harlem Renaissance,to perform at the Plantation Club and in the chorus of the popular Broadway revues Shuffle Along (1921) and The Chocolate Dandies (1924) her comedic antics lead to her becoming the highest paid chorus girl in the show.
Josephine decided to try her luck in Paris,and France was never the same, in her first show, she performed completely nude except for a single feather. Her stage act made Madonna's cone bra's look like nun attire. Her performances made her the toast of Paris; Ernest Hemingway called her "… the most sensational woman anyone ever saw. She never failed to keep her audience on their toes. Her pet cheetah, Chiquita clad in a diamond collar often accompanied her on stage and often escaped into the orchestra pit scaring her band half to death and the audience as well.
Wind of her success reached her home country America and Flo Zigfield of the Zigfield Follies asked her to join his show. The still present staunch racism however made Josephine's return to the United States a bitter one. Her time in the follies was short lived and she decided to return to the place where she was celebrated and not tolerated; France. She became a citizen, married and used her celebrity to help France during WWII. A little known fact about Josephine was that she was the one that promoted Haute Couture in War impoverished France after WWII reviving the industry and saved the house of Dior from financial ruin? Not bad for a woman who made a living wearing a skirt made of bananas!
Read the the whole article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesley-m-m-blume/josephine-baker-fashion-h_b_601072.html
In 1951, Baker made charges of racism against Sherman Billingsley's Stork Club in New York, where she had been refused service. Actress Grace Kelly, who was at the club at the time, rushed over to Baker, took her by the arm and stormed out with her entire party, vowing to never return (and she never did). The two women became close friends after the incident. Testament to this was made evident when Baker was near bankruptcy and was offered a villa and financial assistance by Kelly (who by then was princess consort of Rainier III of Monaco).
Still fighting the sting of racism, she had adopted 12 children of different races who she affectionately called her "rainbow tribe" to prove to the world that people of all races can live in harmony and love. Josephine continued to perfrom until her death in 1975. So greatly loved by her adopted country, her funeral received the honors usually reserved for heads of state. Burlesque star Dita Von Teese considers Jospehine one of her inspirations proving that even 35 years later, she is still an inspiration and my Di'Vicon of the month.
Josephine, you go girl!!
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