JOSEPHINE BAKER
When you have wanderlust, sometimes you do not know where you will go. That has never been my problem. As most of you know, I always travel to France and land in Paris, even if only for a few minutes en route to some other destination. To me, there is no better place in the world than Paris; I have traveled to many places, but I have not been anywhere as welcoming to African Americans and to other people of color.
African Americans have long immigrated to Paris. After World War I, many Black American soldiers remained in Paris. Some soldiers returned stateside and returned to France. Who were those soldiers? Many of them were jazz musicians who played for the U.S. Army. They settled in the Pigalle area on the Right Bank That area was dubbed “Little Harlem” with bars, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, and even a boxing club, owned and operated by Black Americans.
Among all these “Little Harlem” jazzmen, there was one female club owner called “Bricktop”. She was an original DIVA, a Black American woman who had red hair, who left the States and established and ran a successful nightclub. Supposedly, Bricktop taught the Prince of Wales, who abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, how to dance the “Charleston”.
The most famous original DIVA who also made Paris her own was Josephine Baker. She started as a street corner dancer and joined a vaudeville troupe in St. Louis, Missouri. Josephine got married for the second time at 15 years old and found her way to New York City to become a dancer in a successful Broadway show which landed her an opportunity to tour in Paris.
At 19 years old, Josephine Baker took Paris by storm and became an instant success. She is known for her famous comic “banana dance” and became the most successful American entertainer working in France. At that time in history, a person could be fully oneself in Paris without the boundaries of race.
Josephine Baker was BOSS! She was the “Beyonce” of her time without a Jay-Z; instead, she was often accompanied on stage by her pet cheetah who was adorned with a diamond collar. She was even photographed walking her cheetah on a leash up Champs d’ Elysees. Josephine Baker starred in movies. She had it going on: so much so that Ernest Hemingway called her “the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.” Picasso drew paintings depicting her tantalising beauty.
During WWII, many Black Americans left France to escape being interned in concentration camps. Yet Ms. Baker demonstrated amazing courage, joining the French Resistance and becoming a spy. Strong as she was, she had the biggest heart; she adopted many children of every race, creed and color. One again, Josephine was a forerunner and perhaps inspired Mia Farrow, Angelina Jolie, and others in creating a new kind family. In the 60’s, Ms. Baker became a civil rights activist returning to America several times; she spoke and stood next to Martin Luther King, Jr. wearing her French army uniform at the March on Washington. If anyone had a “dream” and knew how to live to the fullest potential and possibilities, Josephine Baker did.
Even with such tremendous success, Josephine lost her wealth. After she and her children were evicted from her chateau, Princess Grace offered her a chateau and an apartment near Monaco. During her last performances, she was found unconscious in bed surrounded by opened newspapers with glowing reviews. Josephine Baker died on April 12, 1975 at the age 68 years old; she was the only American born woman to be honored and given a French state funeral.
Travel with Paris Soul and Beyond, and explore the streets walked by the “Little Harlem” Jazzmen, as well as by Baker and Bricktop, and feel the welcoming atmosphere of Paris.