Josephine Baker
FameRank: 6

"Josephine Baker" was an United States/American-born French people/French dancer, singer, and actress who came to be known in various circles as the "Black Pearl," "Bronze Venus" and even the "Creole Goddess". Born "Freda Josephine McDonald" in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine later became a citizen of France in 1937. She was fluent in both English and French.

Baker was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou (film)/Zouzou (1934) or to become a world-famous entertainer. Baker, who refused to perform for segregated audiences in America, is also noted for her contributions to the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–68)/Civil Rights Movement. She was once offered unofficial leadership in the movement in the United States by Coretta Scott King in 1968, following Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. Baker, however, turned down the offer. She was also known for assisting the French Resistance during World War II, and received the Military of France/French military honor, the Croix de guerre 1939–1945/Croix de guerre and was made a Légion d'honneur/Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur by General Charles de Gaulle.

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I was learning the importance of names -- having them, making them -- but at the same time I sensed the dangers. Recognition was followed by oblivion, a yawning maw whose victims disappeared without a trace.

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I like Frenchmen very much, because even when they insult you they do it so nicely.

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Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul; when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood.

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Beautiful? It's all a question of luck. I was born with good legs. As for the rest . . . beautiful, no. Amusing, yes.

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It [the Eiffel Tower] looked very different from the Statue of Liberty, but what did that matter? What was the good of having the statue without the liberty?

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I believe in prayer. It's the best way we have to draw strength from heaven.

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A violinist had a violin, a painter his palette. All I had was myself. I was the instrument that I must care for.

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The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.

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. . . I improvised, crazed by the music. . . . Even my teeth and eyes burned with fever. Each time I leaped I seemed to touch the sky and when I regained earth it seemed to be mine alone.

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