Josephine Baker is remembered for her jazzy and tribal moves and comedic stage routines. As an African-American women she has open many doors and opportunities for young, inspired women. Known for her banana skirts and nudity, Baker dared women to inhibit their sexuality and embrace their feminine side. She found her greatest success in Paris with her famous revue called Shuffle Along, she was able to obtain and achieve international fame as the first African-American woman entertainer. Baker has contributed to civil rights by refusing to perform for segregated audiences, becoming the first American - born woman to be awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Rosette de la Resistance, and speaking up at the 1963 March in Washington DC.
Baker was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3rd, 1906. She was
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raised by her mother, Carrie McDonald out of wedlock with Eddie Carson (Plummer 160).Growing up, Baker began her schooling and attended Lincoln Elementary School. At age eight, her mother agreed to hire her to a lady name Mrs. Keiser, who would provide her with room and board in exchange for Baker’s domestic chores. Her employment ended dramatically when Keiser plunged Baker’s hand in boiling water ( Plummer 160).Baker ran away a few years later at age thirteen and entered a whole new world called Vaudeville, which was know for burlesque comedy and dance. She started working and performing at various clubs until the leader of The Jones Family Band had seen her dance and sing at a club and instantly invited her to join his group (Plummer 161). She was inspired by the Jones Family Band. Baker left her waitressing job and went on the road to perform with the Jones Family and along with Chestnut and Maker Streets (Plummer 161). At the age of fifteen, Baker was on her own. She ended up getting married to a foundry worker name Willie Baker. Within months she became pregnant however she had an abortion. She continued her dream and headed to Broadway at a chance for success and fame. Unfortunately, Baker was also rejected many times from companies because of her dark skin and tender age (Plummer 161). Around this time Baker quoted,” A violinist had a violin, a painter his palette. All I had was myself. I was the instrument that I must care for”(White 104). Baker was known for her stage presence and sophistication, but she was still wild and embraced freedom in the new age. Josephine Baker refused to perform for segregated audiences as an African-American singer and dancer.
Viewers viewed Baker as a sensual entertainer who was black, which caused controversy (Clandestine Women: The untold stories of women in Espionage). When she returned from Paris to New York in 1963 to star in the Ziegfeld Follies, she was criticized for her performance because of her race (“Josephine Baker”) The New York Times called and considered her to be a “Negro Wench”. She continued to be bombarded by Americans in the media by being called”a communist sympathizer”. She was refused service at New York’s famous stork club (“Josephine Baker”). Defending her reputation, Baker continued to stand by equality and refused to perform at segregated clubs and theatres. An example of this action was her stance against racial integration at nightclubs in Las Vegas (“Josephine Baker”). “I ran away from home. I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States of America, because of that terror of discrimination, that horrible beast which paralyzes one's very soul and body”quoted Baker when heading to Paris to seek international fame (BrainyQuote
1). Baker started to make a difference when she marched and spoke up at the 1963 March in Washington D.C. Leaving her adopted homeland country, Baker attended the March at Washington D.C which consisted about 250,000 people.Baker reminisced and detailed her experiences with a segregated America and her commitment to the Civil Rights Movement (Williamson 1). During her speech ,she commented on how she had hopes for individual freedom and civil rights for the broader community( Williamson 1). She wore her French Resistance uniform and was the only woman to address the crowd with a speech stating her hardships and struggles of being a young, black woman ( Papich 1). Baker became a known civil rights activist. She became involved in two particular civil rights cases in which one of them involved a young fellow name Willie McGee. The day of his execution, Baker refused to perform because she believed that one of her people were killed unjustly. Another racial trial involved six African-Americans from Trenton, New Jersey being accused of murder. Baker’s strong verbal defense and strong appeals won them the trial ( Plummer 162). Baker went against the Jim Crow laws and the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People(NAACP) named her outstanding woman of the year in 1951. Baker was the first African-American born woman to also be awarded the Croix de Guerre and Rosetta de la Resistance. Baker made many contributions during wartime to the soldiers in France. During her travel time she helped cover for other intelligence (“Josephine Baker”). She used her charm and charisma to achieve visas for many women and men (“Josephine Baker”). President Charles de Gaulle named Baker star Chevalier of the Legion of Honor because of her contributions and her involvement in the French Resistance, which took place during World War two ( Plummer 162). Baker became a spy for the French and completed many risky task and assignments when the Nazis took control of France ( Plummer 162). During her free time, Baker would entertain troops in Africa and the Middle East. Baker became a well-known humanitarian after her marriage to a white, french man name Jo Bouillon. Prior to her marriage, Baker was proposed to approximately 1,500 times mostly from men she had never met or even seen. Later on in her life, Baker and her husband adopted twelve children which was known as the Rainbow Tribe because of their diversity of races. Towards the end of Baker’s life, her last performance was with chorus girls who were in their twenties (Plummer 162). At age sixty-nine, Baker died calmly and peacefully in her sleep from cerebral hemorrhage (“ Josephine Baker”). At Baker’s funeral an estimation 20,000 admirers lined up to view her burial. The French government saluted her and made the first African-American woman to be buried on French soils by military troops with military honors ( “Josephine Baker”). After Baker’s death, admirers started to expose her African-American rhythmic styles to European audiences. Her dance influenced European choreographers which resulted in popularity amongst many races and cultures ( Schroeder 109). Baker’s confidence caused her to gain attention and her nickname “Black Venus”. Many artists such as Picasso, Man Ray, and Jean Cocteau painted pictures of her because they adored her beauty and her skin tone. Author Ernest Hemingway quoted and claimed she was “the most beautiful woman there is, there ever was, or ever will be”( White 104). Many women admired her and tried darken their skin and changing up the style of their hair so they could resemble Josephine (Schroeder 110). Baker was a women who had strong beliefs and was very strong-willed. She was against discrimination and demonstrated that celebrities such as her were not exempt from prejudice and bias views because of their wealth. Baker struggled with equality growing up and continued to fight for it until she was able to become a civil rights leader. Baker articulated her journey as a woman and vision for a new world that could exist for African Americans. To this day, women and men of all race continue to embrace various types of dances because Baker was able to open the path for them. Baker’s strong-willed attitude inspired many people to join hands and fight against discrimination and Jim Crow laws. Many people remember Baker for her sultry and promiscuous dance routines, but she was more than just a dancer. She helped make a difference in our country by expressing that races, cultures and religious difference should not separate the concept of mankind (Plummer 162). Many celebrities and legends such as Beyonce and Diana Ross continue to portray Baker during their performance. One of Baker’s last quotes stated,”Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul, when birthplaces have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood (BrainyQuote 1).
Annie Turnbo Malone was an entrepreneur and was also a chemist. She became a millionaire by making some hair products for some black women. She gave most of her money away to charity and to promote the African American. She was born on august 9, 1869, and was the tenth child out of eleven children that where born by Robert and Isabella turnbo. Annie’s parents died when she was young so her older sister took care of her until she was old enough to take care of herself.
When most people think of Texas legacies they think of Sam Houston or Davy Crockett, but they don’t usually think of people like Jane Long. Jane Long is known as ‘The Mother of Texas’. She was given that nickname because she was the first english speaking woman in Texas to give birth.
One famous quote from Barbara Jordan is “If you’re going to play a game properly, you’d better know every rule .” Barbara Jordan was an amazing woman. She was the first African American Texas state senator. Jordan was also a debater, a public speaker, a lawyer, and a politician. Barbara Jordan was a woman who always wanted things to be better for African Americans and for all United States citizens. “When Barbara Jordan speaks,” said Congressman William L.Clay, “people hear a voice so powerful so, awesome...that it cannot be ignored and will not be silenced.”
Josephine Baker was an African American woman who had to overcome discrimination and abuse in achieving her dream of becoming a singer and dancer. She did this during the 1920s, when African Americans faced great discrimination. She had a hard childhood. Her personal life was not easy to handle. Furthermore, she overcame poverty and racism to achieve her career dream.
Ella was born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25, 1917. When alled “The First Lady of Song” by some fans. She was known for having beautiful tone, extended range, and great intonation, and famous for her improvisational scat singing. Ella sang during the her most famous song was “A-tiscket A-tasket”. Fitzgerald sang in the period of swing, ballads, and bebop; she made some great albums with other great jazz artists such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong. She influenced countless American popular singers of the post-swing period and also international performers such as the singer Miriam Makeba. She didn’t really write any of her own songs. Instead she sang songs by other people in a new and great way. The main exception
Many RnB singers rank among the highest paid celebrities in the world. This isn’t a surprise, as RnB and its various sub-genres have been leading the popular music charts for decades. Big voices and slick dance moves often translate into successful careers and big paychecks. Here is a list of the 10 richest RnB singers in the world, who have earned extensive success through their music, tours and other various ventures.
Josephine Baker was an exceptional woman who never depended on a man. She never hesitated to leave a man when she felt good and ready. In her lifetime she accomplished many great things. She adopted 12 children, served France during World War II, and was an honorable correspondent for the French Resistance. She fought against fascism in Europe during World War II and racism in the United States. She grew up poor and left home at an early age and worked her way onto the stage. Baker was more popular in France than in the states. Audiences in America were racist towards Baker and that’s when she vowed she wouldn’t perform in a place that wasn’t integrated.
...ng to this day, she is one of few who could compete with the men of hip-hop, but she never pretended to be anything but a woman. She not only sang about female empowerment, but she wrote about being a woman from the insecurities that we as women sometimes feel to the nirvana of being in love. Sensuality and femininity were always as important to her which was her strength, and message to get out to women especially those of color.
Mary Bryant was in the group of the first convicts (and the only female convict) to ever escape from the Australian shores. Mary escaped from a penal colony which often is a remote place to escape from and is a place for prisoners to be separated. The fact that Bryant escaped from Australia suggests that she was a very courageous person, this was a trait most convicts seemed to loose once they were sentenced to transportation. This made her unique using the convicts.
After moving to Rochester, NY in 1845, the Anthony family became very active in the anti-slavery movement.
Ella Baker was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1903. She always had strong opinions, and “followed her own mind”. However, she was influenced by her grandmother growing up, and this contributed to her sense of social justice and racism. Her grandmother, who had once been a slave, told her granddaughter stories of her own years in slavery. Her grandmother had been whipped for refusing to marry a man picked by her slave owner (SNCC). This story and others like it inspired Baker throughout her life, and led to many of the incredible things she did. Ella and her parents moved to Littleton, North Carolina when she was eight. Sadly, her father stayed behind for his job. The public schools for black children during this time were not sufficient. Her parents wanted to send her and her brother and sister to boarding schools. They both worked hard to acquire this. Finally, when Baker turned fifteen she was sent to Shaw University, in North Carolina (SNCC). Being the bright, intelligent student that she was, she had excellent grades, and was top in her class. She expressed an interest in being a medical missionary, but this would not have been realistic. After graduating in 1927 as valedictorian, Baker headed to New York City (Richman). She was quite brilliant and hoped to find some opportunities in New York that would help her do something worthwhile with her life.
According to Ruth Feldstein “Nina Simone recast black activism in the 1960’s.” Feldstein goes on to say that “Simone was known to have supported the struggle for black freedom in the United States much earlier, and in a more outspoken manner around the world than many other African American entertainers.” Her family ties to the south, her unique talent, her ability to travel and make money are similar to the Blues women movement that preceded her. It can be said that Nina Simone goes a step further the by directly attacking inequities pertaining to race and gender in her music. However, what distinguishes her is her unique musicianship and that is what ultimately garners her massive exposure and experiences over those of her past contemporaries.
She performed at top places all over the world. Her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range and they all loved her. To commemorate Black History Month, I have decided to do research on an exceptionally talented musician, Ella Fitzgerald. She was essentially the Aretha Franklin of the Jazz Age. She was an incredibly talented jazz singer who was considered the best by almost everyone.
Shirley Chisholm was one of the most influential women from the Civil Rights Movement. From looking at specific details, background information, the larger role she played in the Civil Rights Movement, and the great success she has accomplished for the movement; Chisholm became the first African American Congress-woman and four years later she became the first major- party black candidate to make a bid for the U.S. presidency and last but not least she fought for rights of African American women.
Legendary jazz songstress Billie Holiday once said in response to the exclusion of African Americans from jazz clubs on the notorious 52nd Street, “You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.” The comparison between the jazz world, or more specifically 52nd Street, and a plantation show the immense racial tension between blacks and whites in the early to mid part of the twentieth century. In the height of the time leading up to the Civil Rights Movement, Billie Holiday was a prominent African American singer who was one of the most well known amongst white Americans. Holiday was tough enough to survive in a racist, phallocentric world where she was frequently objectified and trivialized. However, she was not strong enough to resist the allure of alcohol and narcotics, which ultimately led to her death in 1959. In addition to her usage of drugs and alcohol, Holiday faced many other challenges in her life, which inspired the beautiful music that she left as her legacy. Despite her heavy abuse of drugs and alcohol, Billie Holiday redefined jazz for the world and instated new sense of equality in with it.