Page 49 - All About History - Issue 70-18

Breaking Down Barriers
America was locked in the Cold War against the
USSR and denounced the communism of the
latter, maintaining that democracy was the far
better political system of the two.
Yet Josephine was announcing to the world that
African-Americans across the South were denied
the right to the vote and the right to be heard by US working visa was revoked. With no option
their government – pointing out the hypocrisy of
her native land.
The international media spread stories of racial States across the pond.
segregation and abuse in America as a result,
which the Soviet Union quickly seized upon to different approach. Having previously suffered a
use in its anti-America propaganda. Aside from
Josephine, other prominent African-Americans
such as WEB Dubois and William Patterson
had also spoken their mind. Trying to take
control of the situation, the government
revoked the passports of Dubois, Patterson and
other key African-Americans who openly criticised
the United States.
In her later performances, Josephine was known
for descending the stairs in an eye-catching dress received a standing ovation with rave reviews to
However, they could not do the same to
Josephine since she held a French passport.
Their successful propaganda campaign removed
the platform that Josephine had carved out for
herself and to ensure she could not return to
the States with her outspoken comments, her
left, Josephine returned to home to Paris and
persevered with openly denouncing racism in the
Now in France, Josephine decided to take a
number of miscarriages, Josephine had to have
a hysterectomy during the war and never had
biological children of her own. Hoping to show
that different races could live together peacefully,
between the early 1950s and the mid 1960s, she
adopted 12 children from all over the world
Affectionately naming them her ‘rainbow tribe’,
the family lived in her château at Les Milandes,
which she had officially purchased in 1947.
Turning her home into a theme park, Josephine
welcomed the public so that they could witness
her family project. Before adopting her 12th child,
she separated from Bouillon and they finalised
their divorce in 1961.
After a decade away, Josephine returned to
America to give her speech at the 1963 March
on Washington alongside Martin Luther King.
When King was assassinated five years later his
wife, Coretta Scott King, offered Josephine the
unofficial leadership of the Civil Rights Movement.
Josephine was tempted but she ultimately refused,
scared that as the head of the movement her
children would be in danger. Her fears were
justified considering that the FBI was still gathering
information on her, even though they had
determined that she was not a communist.
By the mid-1960s, Josephine remained a
renowned star but she suffered from serious
financial difficulties. In June 1964, French
actress Brigitte Bardot appealed on television for
contributions to save Josephine’s home, which was
on the brink of being repossessed. Unfortunately,
Josephine and her children were eventually evicted
from Les Milandes and the estate was sold, but
she refused to leave. Remaining sat on the steps
outside of her home, pictures of Josephine’s plight
were plastered all over the world.
With her friend, Princess Grace of Monaco,
helping her to get back on her feet, Josephine
took up performing once again. Since the war, her
days of performing in a banana skirt and indulging
racial stereotypes had long gone. Now, Josephine
graced her audiences by descending down long
staircases in glamorous, sophisticated gowns that
marked the transition of her lengthy career.
On 8 April 1975, Josephine held a performance
in Paris to celebrate 50 years of her career and
match. This was the last time she would star on
the stage as just four days later, Josephine sadly
passed away following a cerebral haemorrhage,
aged 68. She was given a funeral in France with
full military honours, with thousands of people
turning out to pay their respects to the woman
who dedicated her life to breaking down barriers,
both on and off the stage.
Josephine with her fourth
husband, Jo Bouillon, outside
the château in Les Milandes
Josephine had
a menagerie
of animals
including her pet
cheetah, Chiquita
© Alamy, Getty Images
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