Josephine Baker by Adams, Kayla L https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0 en-us 2022-06-06 18:22:40 UTC 2022-06-14 01:35:01 UTC hello@padlet.com skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2213925840 Born: June 3rd, 1906
St. Louis, Missouri 
Died: April 12th, 1975

Josephine was born into poverty, the ghetto of St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother Carrie MacDonald hoped to be a musical hall dancer but was forced to make a living as a laundress, and her father Eddie Carson was a drummer for vaudeville shows; a theater. Josephine never really seen her father much he abandoned Carrie and Josephine shortly after she was born. Her mother remarried and had three other children. To help support her family financially Josephine got a job at the age of eight she was was hired by wealth white families to work as a maid, often being treated poorly. She briefly returned to school two years later before running away from home at age 13 and finding work as a waitress at a club. While working there, she married a man named Willie Wells, from whom she divorced only weeks later, and to Will Baker for a short time she took her second husbands name as her own. She was involved with activism, in the 1950s she returned to the United States to support the Civil Rights Movement. She refused to take part in segregated clubs and concert venues, arguing that if African-Americans could not attend her shows, she would not perform. She also participated in the march in Washington, with Martin Luther King where she gave a speech as well. She was even awarded by the NAACP for her efforts as a Civil Rights Activist, May 20th was named "Josephine Baker Day".]]> 2022-06-07 17:47:41 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2213925840 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2215377153 Major Events of the 1920s
-The Decade of Women’s Rights, the decade saw significant improvements in women’s rights.
-The Great Crash of 1929. The end of the 1920s saw one of the most significant economic downturns in history.
-Jazz Was Born. One of the best musical fun facts about the 20s is that this decade was also known as the “Age of Jazz.”
-TV was invented, the decade saw the invention of what eventually became a staple in American culture: television.
-Tulsa Race Massacre, the 1920s saw one of the worst incidents of racial violence ever in the United States.
-Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, is founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.


Foreign Policy in the 1920s in relation to the rest of the world, the United States drew into isolation, as reflected through its foreign policy during the twenties. New restrictions on immigration and a lack of membership in international organizations, such as the League of Nations and the World Court, contributed to this isolationist period of America.]]> 2022-06-08 19:24:08 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2215377153 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217573920 In 1936, riding the wave of popularity she was enjoying in France, Baker returned to the United States to perform, hoping to establish herself as a performer in her home country as well. However, she was met with a generally hostile, racist reaction and quickly returned to France because of her mistreatment. Upon her return, Baker started working for the Red Cross during the French Occupation. She turned the Chateau des Milandes and turned her home in the south of France into a major hun for the French Resistance, and she continued until France was completely liberated. She also moved to Morocco to keep up the Resistance from abroad. She entertained troops in Africa and the Middle East. During this time, she smuggled secret messages in her sheet music, and even in her underwear for the French Resistance. When World War II ended, Baker earned the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor, France’s highest military honors.]]> 2022-06-10 14:42:35 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217573920 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217601463 During the 1950s, she returned to the United States and supported the Civil Rights Movement. In particular, Baker participated in various demonstrations. She boycotted segregated clubs and concert venues, arguing that if African-Americans could not attend her shows, she would not perform. In 1963, she participated in the March on Washington, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., and spoke to a crowd of 250,000 people with the many other notable speakers that day. ]]> 2022-06-10 15:07:19 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217601463 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217750134 Josephine Baker secretly served as an undercover operative for the Free French movement during WWII. She was ultimately awarded the Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor, France’s highest military honors. Having found in France the freedom that America promised on parchment, Baker agreed to spy for her adopted country. “France made me what I am,” she told Abtey. “The Parisians gave me their hearts, and I am ready to give them my life.” She had heard “Go back to Africa!”  from fascists while performing across Europe also fueled her decision. “Of course I wanted to do all I could to aid France, my adopted country,” she told Ebony magazine decades later. Baker started her espionage career by attending diplomatic parties at the Italian and Japanese embassies and gathering intelligence about the Axis powers possibly joining the war. Showing no fear of being caught, the neophyte spy wrote notes of what she overheard on the palms of her hand and on her arms under her sleeves. “Oh, nobody would think I’m a spy,” Baker said with a laugh when Abtey warned her of the danger.

 
]]> 2022-06-10 18:25:23 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217750134 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217753438 She worked for the French Resistance during World War II, and during the 1950s and '60s devoted herself to fighting segregation and racism in the United States. After beginning her comeback to the stage in 1973, Baker died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1975, and was buried with military honors for her commitment and loyalty to France. ]]> 2022-06-10 18:30:42 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2217753438 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2220131285 Even though most U.S. history textbooks teach a narrative that the Civil Rights Movement abruptly ended in 1965 with the passage of federal legislation, the civil rights movement did not end it shifted into a new phase. There are still black female dancers advocating for the same thing as Josephine Baker. She was Baker became one of the most sought-after performers on the European stage and became a successful entertainer who reconceptualized the image of Black performers through her distinct dancing style and unique costumes. Although her audiences were mostly white, Baker's performances followed African themes and style. Her work helped Black entertainers come to be recognized as artists. 

Question: Did you know this story/movement prior to this project?
No, I did know of the Civil Rights Movement but i didnt know of other dancers involvment with it.

Question: Is this still a prominent issue and how has the movement changed?
Yes, especially for black people and black dancers. The movement has changed and led to greater social and economic mobility for African-Americans across the nation and banned racial discrimination, providing greater access to resources for women, religious minorities, African-Americans and low-income families. The modern Civil Rights Movement believes opportunity in America should mean everyone has a fair chance to achieve his or her full potential. Our country hasn't yet fulfilled that promise.

]]> 2022-06-14 01:13:33 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2220131285 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2220136543 2022-06-14 01:17:56 UTC https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2220136543 skadams2 https://padlet.com/skadams2/z378533zc76yr2f0/wish/2220140904 Timeline of Josephine Baker's Career (thoughtco.com)
Josephine Baker - Children, Death & Facts - Biography
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2021/04/12/josephine-baker-entertainer-activist
Josephine Baker's Double Life as a Spy for the French Resistance - HISTORY
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/eyesontheprize-civil-rights-today/

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