Page 45 - All About History - Issue 70-18

Breaking Down Barriers

left for Europe with an offer of $1,000 a month
to join the Parisian stage. Arriving in the City of
Lights, Josephine met other African-descended A formidable friendship
women celebrated for their erotic dances, a
stark difference to the racial prejudice that she When Josephine Baker was refused saw her perform in locations such a private family service and at her
experienced in America. service because of her skin colour as New York, Paris and London, insistence, Josephine was buried in
Josephine’s big break came when she debuted at New York City’s elite Stork Josephine returned to Monaco in the Monaco cemetery.
in La Revue Nègre at the Théâtre des Champs- Club in 1951, it left another diner 1974. The following year,
instantly outraged. Walking over
Princess Grace financed
Élysées on 2 October 1925. Her seductive and to Josephine’s table the diner took Josephine’s comeback
funny dance moves entranced audiences who her arm and voiced her support revue Josephine at
kept coming back for more, even after Josephine for her before the pair defiantly the Bobino Theatre in
moved to performing at the Folies-Bergère. stormed out of the club together. Paris, a celebration of
Th1 was none other than Hollywood her 50 years in show
superstar Grace Kelly and this business, along with her
moment marked the start of husband and Jacqueline
“Her seductive and funny her long and close friendship Kennedy Onassis. It
with Josephine.
was a great success and
Grace came to Josephine’s aid that evening, a dinner
dance moves entranced once again when the latter was was held in Josephine’s
honour, where the two
swimming in debt and evicted
audiences who kept from her Les Milandes estate in women were pictured
sat next to each other.
1969. Grace had been married
This was the last time
coming back for more” to Prince Rainier III of Monaco the pair were together as
since 1956 and was now known
as Princess Grace of Monaco. She Josephine suddenly died
offered Josephine a permanent four days later.
home in Monaco along with financial After Josephine’s
assistance, even arranging for her to funeral in Paris, Grace After Josephine’s arrival in Monaco in
perform on the stage once again. arranged for her body to August 1969, she was pictured with
However, when she performed the Danse Sauvage After embarking on a tour that be brought to Monaco for Princess Grace
in her iconic banana skirt, Josephine cemented her
celebrity status for good.
The Danse Sauvage was the epitome of
unbridled sexuality, resonating with the sexual
freedom of the Jazz Age. It was set in the African Baker performs at the
jungle and Josephine never shied away from Folies-Bergère music
hall, circa 1925
her African heritage, instead choosing to firmly
embrace it by bringing traditional black dances

A caricatured poster from 1925 advertising
Josephine in the La Revue Nègre at the Théâtre des
Champs-Élysées

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