LGBT+ History Month is here. Get ready to learn more about this queerstory making star
BY GEORGIA SWEET, IMAGE BY CREATIVE COMMONS/STUDIO HARCOURT
It is safe to say Josephine Baker is one of the best-known Black icons from the Roaring 20s. She was captivating in all she did, from performing to being a major asset to France in the Second World War.
In honour of this amazing lady here are six facts you may not know…
The actor, singer and dancer was bisexual and had several relationships with women
She allegedly had an affair with bisexual painter Frida Kahlo.
Josephine is the first Black woman to enter France’s Pantheon
In November 2021 her name was added to the building that represents those who fought for the next chapter in French history. Her family had been setting up petitions since 2013 to get her added.
She was also the first Black woman to star in a motion picture
This was for her role in the French film ZouZou.
Her “banana dance” was truly iconic
This dance is definitely her most memorable and was key to her fame. It was a boundary-pushing piece at the time. She wore nothing but a skirt made of artificial bananas and a pearl necklace!
She adopted 12 children
They were from all over the world ranging from Finland to Venezuela. She named her family the “Rainbow Tribe” and people came to see them perform together. Josephine’s wish was for equality and having a multiracial and multi-national family demonstrated the possibility of this.
A drama TV series De La Resistance is being made about her life
Pansexual and non-binary star Janelle Monáe is set to play Josephine in it. The release date for the series is yet to be announced. But we are very excited to see Janelle on our screens again.
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