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Josephine baker was born
Josephine Baker was born on june 3rd 1906 to Carrie McDonald and Eddie Carson.Her mother Carrie McDonald worked as a washerwoman and had given up her aspirations to perform in music halls. Eddie Carson, her dad, was a drummer in a variety show. -
She began working to make ends meet
For living expenses, she performed street dancing. She began working as a waitress at the Old Chauffeurs Club at the age of 13 and performed domestic duties for white households. -
She began offically dancing
Her public dances caught the attention of a certain performance group so she began touring the country in 1919, doing comic skits with the Jones Family Band and the Dixie Stepper -
First official dancing role landed
Around the outset of the renowned Harlem Renaissance, Baker arrived in New York. She made an appearance in "Shuffle Along" on Broadway and again in "The Chocolate Dandies." After appearing in these events for more than a year, Baker's unique dance technique and talent earned her individual billing, earning her the title of highest-paid chorus girl in the world. -
She moves to paris
In pursuit of her dreams, baker moves to paris. Baker traveled to Paris to perform in "La Revue Nègre" for the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées because she felt she had accomplished everything as a dancer in the United States. There were just black performers in that concert. Her performance made a great impression on the french -
First black woman to lead a movie
One of the first African actors to play the lead role in a movie was Baker. She plays a West Indies native and dancer who follows a businessman to France in the silent French film "Siren of the Tropics.". -
First black woman to perform in Yugoslavia
Baker traveled to Yugoslavia's Belgrade. Baker was at the time the first Black celebrity to travel to and perform in the nation. She performed in accordance with the national traditions and donated some money to Serbian youths. -
She was a World war 2 spy and aider
Bakers popularity initiated her to be called to a mission. To give France an advantage, a French military agency hired Baker to gather intelligence during her soirees and report back. As Nazi German troops invaded France, Baker provided housing at her residence, the Château des Milandes, for individuals assisting the Free French government forces. -
She was a GAY ICONNNNN
She was reported to have dated Frida Kahlo, singer Clara Smith, and actress Mildred Smallwood, among others. Many rumors were circulating around this time. -
Became popular in America
She traveled back to America with the intention to perform for many people. Due to segregation, black people were not to enjoy her performance to the best of their abilities. She fought to be seen by a intergrated audience and succeeded. Due to her success, Baker briefly traveled the country while doing a number of profitable shows. She infamously persisted in refusing to perform in any city that required segregated audiences. -
Baker day: activist
In 1951, the NAACP declared May 20 to be Josephine Baker Day as a result of her efforts with the organization and as a civil rights worker. -
She was a women civil rights activist
She was the only female speaker at the March on Washington in 1968, where she honored women civil rights activists. -
Last performance
At the first of several performances marking the 50th anniversary of her Paris debut, Baker appeared at the Bobino Theater in Paris. She received excellent praises for her performance, and several high-profile celebrities were there. -
Josephine baker dies
at age 68, Josephine slipped into a coma and dies of a cerebral hemorrhage, in France.