Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, in the year 1906 to Carrie McDonald, a laundress, and Eddie Carson, a musician. Her early life hinted at her future career as a performer, as she first danced for the public on the streets of St. Louis for nickels and dimes. Later, she became a chorus girl on the St. Louis stage, showcasing her talents to a wider audience.
At the age of 15, Josephine married Pullman porter William Howard Baker, but left him when she ran away from St. Louis at the age of 17, feeling that there was too much racial discrimination in the city. She eventually made her way to Paris, France, where she began her career as a performer.
Her first job in Paris was in "La revue negre", a performance that marked the beginning of her international fame. She went on to perform at the Folies Bergere, where she was a member of the club's all-black revue. It was during this time that she first performed her famous "banana dance" in 1925, a performance that cemented her status as a favorite among the French.
Despite her popularity in France, Josephine faced many challenges during her career. During the "Red Scare" era of the 1950s, she was falsely accused of being a Communist and informed that she was no longer welcome in the United States. In 1937, she renounced her American citizenship, disgusted by the blatant and official racism against blacks, and became a French citizen.
In recognition of her contributions to the arts, Josephine was awarded the Legion of Honor, France's highest award, in 1961. However, by the late 1960s, she was facing financial difficulties and stopped performing in 1968. It was during this time that Princess Grace of Monaco, who had married Prince Rainier of Monaco, offered Josephine a home in Monaco when she learned of her financial problems.
At the request of Princess Grace, Josephine performed at Monaco's summer ball in 1974 and was a great success. The same year, she staged a week of performances in New York City and called the show "An Evening with Josephine Baker". She had just begun a Paris revue celebrating her half-century on the stage when on April 10, 1975, she was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage and went into a coma. She died without regaining consciousness, and her funeral was held in Paris, where she was buried in Monaco.
