Josephine Baker: A Breakthrough Starlet of the 1920's

In 1946, she was called upon to take care of her niece, Jackie. Baker brought Jackie to live with her in New York. She continued to participate in her community and help out around the city. As Jackie grew, and matured Ella considered going back to work for the NAACP. She felt it was her duty, and decided to return.

Known as the “Empress Of Blues”, Bessie Smith was said to have revolutionized the vocal end of Blues Music. She showed a lot of pride as an independent African-American woman. Her style in performance and lyrics often reflected her lifestyle. Bessie Smith was one of the first female jazz artists, and she paved the way for many musicians who followed.

Probably the most celebrated of all actresses, Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Baker on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles General Hospital, to Gladys Baker. Gladys had been a film cutter at RKO studios, but psychological problems prevented her from keeping the job and she was eventually committed to a mental institution, because of that Norma Jean spent time in foster homes until she was 16 years of age. As an unlucky soul, Marilyn focused on her dreams of becoming a movie star. Being born and raised to a custom of fame and fortune in

Bessie Smith was born around 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to a poverty stricken family. First orphaned at a young age then adopted by relatives, she took to singing on the streets as a way to make extra money. At nine years old, she made her first appearance on stage at the Ivory Theater.3 By her late teens, she was performing in Moses Stokes's traveling minstrel show; later, in 1912, she joined the famous Rabbit Foot Minstrels. It was here that she met Ma Rainey, who took Smith under her wing and became her

The 1920s was a major turning point in American history. Known as “the roaring twenties”, the citizens of the United States enjoyed the new found wealth from the economic turnaround. The United States’ wealth more than doubled as the nation turned into a consumer society. Not all Americans were fond of the changes in society, and not all of the changes were good.

Dorothy Dandridge may seem to be like a beautiful and strong African American woman on the outside, but on the inside she held in a lot of pain. Dorothy Dandridge is an actress, singer, and entertainer, who no longer walk this green Earth, but when she did, she made history. Dorothy was the first African American actress to achieve a leading-role status. Dorothy also had a deeply troubled life and racism didn’t make her life any easier especially when it came to achieving her dreams, but she got through it and during her time, the early 1930’s through the 1960’s, that was saying something. Racism was a lot worse then what it is now, but it made it harder for African Americans to achieve their goals, especially African American women. Dorothy was very worth looking up to now and when she was alive. Dorothy Dandridge is a contribution to African American history because she was the first African American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress, how she fought all odds against her, mainly racism, and she made it possible to for other African American women to follow in her footsteps and look up to her as a role model.

Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine MacDonald in St. Louis, Missouri to her unwed parents: Carrie McDonald and Eddie Carson. Her father soon left the family and Josephine had to help her mother support herself and her three younger half-siblings. At age eight, she got a job working as a maid for a white family (Robinson). At age 12, she had dropped out of school to work. By age 14, she had moved out, been married, and separated from her first husband. She would later go onto marry and divorce three more men. Never was she financially dependent on any man, including her husbands.

Josephine Baker reached the height of her fame during the 1920s, however, she still was not able to speak about her work and explain what her performances were trying to convey. This left the audience to decipher the performances for themselves, while doing so this highlighted the racism that was still apparent in France. In Phyllis Rose’s book ‘Jazz Cleopatra: Josephine Baker in Her Time’ She shows quotes from the tabloids saying, “We can’t find a way to tie the scenes together, but everything we’ve ever read flashes across our enchanted minds...glimpses of enormous steamboats swallowing clusters of Negros who carry rich burdens”. (Rose, 1991) The Parisians visiting Bakers show at the Revue Negre interpreted her show based on what they understood Africa to be. Baker was able to make a lasting impact with her unique look and style and was able to entertain crowds with her “rubber legs” (Rose, 1991) and “crossed eyes” (Rose, 1991) during a time in which racism was the norm. While “she did not exercise complete control over her own image” (Jules-Rosette 2007) she used the stage as a way of expressing herself which she could not do with her voice. In doing so Baker has influenced many performers today. Most notably she inspired Beyoncé Knowles.

Born Freda Josephine McDonald on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine Baker spent her youth in poverty before learning to dance and finding success on Broadway. Josephine was apart of the first black musical in New York. She took her stand against racism when she, refused to perform for segregated audiences and devoted the rest of her life to the civil right movement. Baker became famous for her theatrical performances, but she devoted her life to the idea that people of all nationalities can live peacefully together.

She was a singer, spy, actress, dancer, French Resistance agent, and Civil Rights activist. According to the article Josephine Baker, Josephine was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1906 (Britannica.com 1). This statement shows Josephine was born in a border state after the Jim Crow laws were enforced, and she faced racism in her daily life because of these laws. In Missouri, African- Americans were forced to live under the ideology of “separate, but equal”. This ideology was influenced by the decision made in the court case Plessy V. Ferguson in 1896.

She was the starving musician, the jazz singer who did all she could to stay alive and still do what she loves. The dedication she displayed to jazz is not easy to explain. She was a perfectionist in her fashion, depending upon her excellent ear, unique voice and honesty and love for people to keep her love alive.

Ella Baker was a human rights activist that believes everyone was equal and fought for what she wanted.. Ella Baker was the most inspiring person to change color people’s lives. Did you know when Ella was six years old she hit a boy for calling her nigger?First, Ella was apart of the SCLC and the NAACP, through those organizations Ella was able to help many lives. Second, Ella helped the rise of M.L.K, she got no credit for the work she did with him. Colored women never got the rights they deserved in Ella’s life time.Finally,Ella inspired many people, Ella made people believe that everyone was equal.

Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 15, 1894, she was one of seven children, and her father died soon after her birth, leaving her mother to take care of her and her siblings. In 1906 her mother and two of her brothers passed away and Bessie and her other siblings were taken care of by their aunt. It was after this that Smith began

She received this name because she was different. She didn't want to create music that everyone was singing. She used a method called scat. One of the first songs that she used this new method was called “Flying home”. When singers are trying to use the method scat, the singer makes their voices sound like different instruments in bands and orchestra. Many people have said that “scat” is the most influential jazz record of all time. By creating these new ways sounds to us in her music is made people more interested in her music making her become more and more

I’m Freda Josephine Baker born to Carrie McDonald and Eddie Carson on June 3rd, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri, but most of you may know me as Josephine Baker. At the age of 12 I dropped out of school to become an entertainer, yes yes, I remember it like it was yesterday, I was young and ready to become a star. I grew up cleaning houses and babysitting for white families, and they always reminded me “be sure not to kiss the baby”. When I was 13, I got a waitressing job at the Chauffeur’s Club, which was where I met my first husband, our marriage was very brief; I had never hesitated to leave anyone, never depended on any man for anything, that’s for sure.