Key points
- 01 Born in Missouri in 1906, Joséphine Baker rose from poverty to become the star of the Folies Bergères, transforming Paris with jazz and the Charleston from 1925 onwards.
- 02 During the Second World War, she served as a counter-espionage agent and joined the French Resistance, embodying the courage of those who risked everything for freedom.
- 03 In November 2021, Joséphine Baker became the first Black woman inducted into the Panthéon, cementing her legacy as a symbol of resistance, anti-racism, and French national identity.
01
First an icon of cabarets...
Joséphine Baker, born on 3 June 1906 in Missouri, came from a large and poor family. She left home at an early age and arrived in France in 1925. The African-American dancer took Paris by storm. She became the star of the Folies Bergères and introduced jazz and the Charleston to France. " _Didn't I become the darling of the Parisians? They gave me everything, especially their hearts. I gave them mine._ "
02
... She became a symbol of the French Resistance
Naturalised as a French citizen in 1937, Josephine Baker joined the French troops when the Second World War broke out. In September 1939, she was recruited as a counter-espionage agent. After the defeat in June 1940, she joined the Resistance and the _France libre_ in the secret services, in Morocco.
03
Tireless anti-racism activist
An iconic figure in the fight against racism, Joséphine Baker joined the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) in 1938 and became its international ambassador for propaganda. In 1963, she joined Martin Luther King on the great march for civil rights in Washington, during which he delivered his famous speech " _I have a dream_ ".
04
Elevation to the Pantheon
Joséphine Baker died on 12 April 1975 in Paris, after having been awarded numerous medals for her actions, including the Legion of Honour. On 30 November 2021, she receives France's highest national honour upon her induction into the Panthéon in Paris.
« I am not intimidated by anyone. Everyone is made with two arms, two legs, a stomach and a head. Think about it. »
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