Josephine Baker, a celebrated performer and Second World War resistance spy, rose from poverty in St. Louis to become a global icon. Fleeing racial injustice in America, she found freedom and fame in Paris through her comedic dancing and innovative performances, including her famous 'savage dance.' Baker's sexuality and relationships with women, including artist Frida Kahlo, shaped her identity. She became the highest-earning entertainer in Europe while advocating against racism, emphasizing the oppressive climate in the U.S. against Black citizens. Her legacy as a bisexual hero continues to inspire many today.
"It was only a country for white people. Not Black. So I left. I had been suffocating in the United States... A lot of us left, not because we wanted to leave, but because we couldn't stand it anymore... I felt liberated in Paris."
"She rocketed to fame with her often comedic dances, including her infamous performance dance sauvage (savage dance) in which she wore a skirt made of rubber bananas and danced the Charleston."
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