Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker
Josephine Bakerwas an American-born French dancer, jazz and pop music singer, and actress, who came to be known in various circles as the "Black Pearl," "Bronze Venus" "Jazz Cleopatra", and even the "Creole Goddess". Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker became a citizen of France in 1937. She was fluent in both English and French...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionDancer
Date of Birth3 June 1906
CountryFrance
men
All men can live together, if they wish to.
believe brothers colored expect preaching respect treat
Americans, the eyes of the world are upon you. How can you expect the world to believe in you and respect your preaching of democracy when you yourself treat your colored brothers as you do?
beast home horrible ran soul states terror united
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.
followed importance learning names time victims whose
I was learning the importance of names -- having them, making them -- but at the same time I sensed the dangers. Recognition was followed by oblivion, a yawning maw whose victims disappeared without a trace.
fun men people
Oh, you young people act like old men. You have no fun.
strong tired intelligent
I think they must mix blood, otherwise the human race is bound to degenerate. Mixing blood is marvelous. It makes strong and intelligent men. It takes away tired spirits.
white imagination
The white imagination is sure something when it comes to blacks.
country america devil
I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too.
performing dies
I love performing. I shall perform until the day I die.
america funeral promise
What am I most ashamed of in my life? Not keeping my promise to my sister and being too scared of America to attend her funeral.
christian party cities
The old Catholic parties hounded me with a Christian hatred from station to station, city to city, one stage to another.
prayer believe african-american
I believe in prayer. It's the best...
heart fire joy
Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?
savages daily-life stage
Since I personified the savage on the stage, I tried to be as civilized as possible in daily life.