Josephine Baker Research Paper

Words: 435
Pages: 2
Open Document
Josephine Baker, born in St. Louis Missouri on June 3rd, 1906, became a symbol of beauty, dance, activism, and humanitarianism for Black culture in the 20’s and in Paris where she reached massive fame. Josephine explored her talents and gifts in her home city of St. Louis, a city known for its rich music and culture. Filled with gambling halls, theaters, and gangster hideouts, St. Louis had a piano in every bar and parlor. Baker saw local musicians on the streets and imitated them at home by dancing to her own beat. This is where she created her own style of dance. Josephine Baker was a pioneer because her early life, career, and civil rights activism left a rich legacy for Black culture. Josephine grew up in extreme poverty in St. Louis. Her parents were Carrie McDonald and Eddie Carson, a drummer. Her parents (not married) would take her and her brother Richard to Vaudeville houses up until her parents split apart. Very shortly after, her mother married Arthur Martin who adopted them and had two more half sisters. Unfortunately, due to the extreme poverty the family experienced, Josephine often had to walk miles to get food and climb trains to get pieces of coal to keep the family warm. The problems Josephine faced fueled her art and her want to escape the devastating poverty her family faced at thirteen years old. …show more content…
She left St. Louis at thirteen, married Willy Wells and was divorced two weeks later. Despite her quick marriage and divorce, Josephine would go on to tour with a dance troupe from Philadelphia called “the Dixie Steppers.” She joined the chorus in a Road company performing the black musical comedy Shuffle Along where she made a splash. Then she was chosen for "La Revue Negre" in Paris to dance at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. She performed topless, in feathers, and turned Paris upside down. Baker soared to stardom and never looked
Show More

Related Documents: Josephine Baker Research Paper

Josephine Baker Research Paper

“If an orchid could sizzle, it would be something like Josephine Baker” -L.A Examiner Josephine Baker was an american born french entertainer, french resistance agent and civil right advocate. Her inventive method of dance shocked her audience with her creative costumes made unique ideas like feathers and bananas. Being french resistance agent and a civil right advocate, Baker tried to make a difference outside the dance community. She adopted many…

Words 890 - Pages 4

Josephine Baker Research Paper

Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis Missouri. Her mother Carrie McDonald, a laundress, and her father Eddie Carson, a musician. Josephine Baker was multi-talented, she could sing, dance, and act. The careers she obtained was entertainer. She was also known as an activist and a spy. She went around town making others and her family laughed because she was such a comedian. A “natural comedian” is what they called her. She came from a family of art lovers…

Words 1431 - Pages 6

Josephine Baker Research Paper

Josephine Baker was a popular exotic Dancer in France during the 1920’s. She was a singer,civil rights activist and a dancer. . Born on June 3,1906 and dancing at the age of 13, She was one of the many pioneers of dance. She continued dancing until two days before her death from a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12,1975. Josephine Baker is the best pioneer because she was very loved dancing in France, the first American to be buried in France with an honor, and she adopted many kids that were…

Words 411 - Pages 2

Josephine Baker Research Paper

Josephine Baker was an African American performer, who performed in France and the United States around the middle of the 1900s. Josephine Baker was also known as “Black Venus”, “Black Pearl”, and “Creole Goddess”. She became famous when she was about 30 years old. Her fame lasted for 50 years until she died in 1975. Josephine Baker’s full name was Freda Josephine McDonald She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1906. She was raised by her mother, because her dad left them we she was young…

Words 683 - Pages 3

Josephine Baker Research Paper

Josephine Baker Freda Josephine McDonald, daughter of Eddie Carson and Carrie McDonald, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1906. She was an American-born French entertainer, activist, and French Resistance agent, she was married 4 times and adopted 12 children that she nicknamed ‘The Rainbow Tribe’ to prove that children of different ethnicities and religions could still be siblings. Her first marriage was at the age of 13, to Willie Wells. She then got divorced and married Willie Baker…

Words 453 - Pages 2

Josephine Baker Research Paper

Joséphine Baker made significant contributions to black history in France and beyond. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker rose to fame as a dancer and singer in Paris during the 1920s. She became the first African-American woman to star in a major motion picture and to become a world-famous entertainer. Baker used her platform to advocate for racial equality and cultural diversity, becoming a symbol of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties in France. As a civil rights activist, Baker boldly fought…

Words 271 - Pages 2

Josephine Baker Research Paper

Born into poverty and extreme racism, Freda Josephine McDonald was able to prove many wrong and overcome adversity as she became well known dancer, Josephine Baker, as well as an advocate for equality in multiple countries. Baker was born on June 3rd, 1906, in St. Louis Missouri to parents Carrie McDonald and Eddie Carson. After many years of working to help her mother and little siblings she ended up dropping out of school early, running away, and getting married to Willie Wells at the age of 13…

Words 408 - Pages 2

Apollo Shoes Case Essay

[pic]APOLLO SHOES, INC. An Audit Case to Accompany AUDITING AND ASSURANCE SERVICES SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS Prepared by Professor Cal Christian East Carolina University Professor Tim Louwers James Madison University Introduction We designed the Apollo Shoes audit case to introduce students to the entire audit process, from planning the engagement to drafting the final report. Students are asked to assume the role of a veteran of two-to-three “busy” seasons, “in-charging”…

Words 33687 - Pages 135

The Age of Innocence and Edith Wharton Essay

EDlTH WHARTON AT THE CINEMA In 1921 Edith Wharton sold the film rights to her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “THE AGE OF INNOCENCE”, for $15,000. Seventy-two years later, Martin Scorsese has filmed Edith Wharton’s novel at a reputed cost of $30 million. In 1920 Edith Wharton was paid $18,000 by the New York monthly “PICTORIAL REVIEW”, a popular journal of the day, for the rights to publish her next serial. She was at this time an established literary figure, a writer of travelogues, novels, novellas…

Words 5545 - Pages 23