josephine baker

Born June 3, 1906. At twelve years old, Josephine left an abusive environment to dance the streets of St. Louis. At 15, she danced the vaudeville circuit before becoming a chorus girl on Broadway. She established herself as a dancer, singer, and actor in both the U.S. and France, which eventually became her home. The daughter of mixed parents, Josephine advocated civil rights and mothered twelve adopted children from across the world: Janot, Akio, Luis, Jari, Jean-Claude, Moise, Brahim, Marianne, Koffi, Mara, Noel and Stellina.

“A violinist had a violin, a painter his palette. All I had was myself. I was the instrument that I must take care for.”