Josephine Baker Research Paper

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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
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