Who is Josephine Baker and what is she known for?
Josephine Baker 1905 – 1975 Josephine Baker, immensely popular in Paris as sensuous yet comical dancer in the 1920’s, was unfortunately not accepted in racist America until 1973. Famous for her almost non-existent clothing and uninhibited dances, Josephine was known as “Black Venus”, “Creole Goddess” and “Black Pearl”. Men bestowed on her a myriad of gifts such as diamonds and cars, and she supposedly had 1,500 marriage proposals. She continued her successful stage career for fifty years until her death in 1975. Coming from humble beginnings, Josephine was born as Freda Josephine Carson in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1906 to Carrie McDonald, a washerwoman, and Eddie Carson, a vaudeville drummer. Eddie soon abandoned them and Carrie married Arthur Martin, who was kind but usually without work. The young Josephine found work cleaning houses and babysitting for wealthy white families. When she was thirteen she became a waitress, met a man there named Willie Wells whom she married. She
Sara Josephine Baker (November 15, 1873 – February 22, 1945) was an American physician notable for contributions to public health in New York City. She is best known for commenting on urban conditions for the poor in her statement that a person was more likely to die by being born in the United States than as a soldier in World War I. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.
Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975) was an African American expatriate entertainer and actress. She became a French citizen in 1937. Most noted as a singer, Baker also was a celebrated dancer in her early career. She was given the nicknames the “Bronze Venus” or the “Black Pearl”, as well as the “Créole Goddess” in anglophone nations. In France, she has always been known as “La Baker”. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.
