Josephine Baker
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906 - April 12, 1975) was an American-born dancer, actress and singer. She was given the nicknames "Black Venus", "Black Pearl", and "Creole Goddess". She became a citizen of France in 1937.
In 1926 she had become an "overnight sensation" at the Folies Bergère with her suggestive "banana dance", in which she wore a skirt made of bananas (and little else).
She was so well known and popular that even the Nazis, who occupied France during World War II were hesitant to cause her harm. In turn, this allowed Baker to show her loyalty to her adopted country by participating in the French Resistance. After the war, Baker was awarded by the French government for her underground activity. [1] [Apr 2007]
