Josephine Baker: Dancer, Spy, Activist, Panthéon Inductee

Few entertainers have lived a life as extraordinary as Josephine Baker’s. From a poor childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, she rose to become a global star in Paris, a spy for the French Resistance, and a tireless civil rights activist. This article explores the many facets of her remarkable journey — from the banana dance to the Rainbow Tribe, and her induction into the Panthéon in 2021.

Born: June 3, 1906, St. Louis, Missouri, USA ·
Died: April 12, 1975, Paris, France ·
Occupation: Dancer, singer, actress, French Resistance spy, civil rights activist ·
Adoptive children: 12 (Rainbow Tribe) ·
Notable award: Croix de Guerre, Legion of Honour (France)

Eight key facts about Josephine Baker, from her birth name to her children:

What Was Josephine Baker Most Known For?

Entertainment career in Paris

• Baker became a star at the Folies Bergère, where she performed her iconic banana dance. (Wikipedia)
• She was a singer and actress in films, known for her charismatic stage presence.

Role in the French Resistance

• During World War II, Baker volunteered for the Red Cross and the French Resistance. (The Vintage News)
• She smuggled messages to the Deuxième Bureau, often writing in invisible ink on sheet music. (French Ministry of Armed Forces)

The implication: Her celebrity status was a perfect cover, allowing her to move freely among high-ranking Nazi officials and gather intelligence that saved lives.

Civil rights activism

• Baker refused to perform for segregated audiences in the United States. (National Library of Israel blog)
• She spoke at the 1963 March on Washington alongside Martin Luther King Jr. (CIA)

The implication: Baker’s ability to leverage her fame across these three domains set a precedent for celebrity activism that remains influential today.

Why Did Josephine Baker Get Married at 13?

Her early life in St. Louis

• Freda Josephine McDonald was born on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri. (Wikipedia)
• She grew up in poverty and experienced racial discrimination.

The circumstances of her first marriage

• In 1919, at age 13, she married Willie Wells. (Wikipedia)
• The marriage was likely an attempt to escape an abusive home and poverty.
• The marriage ended within a year.

The pattern: Early hardship shaped her determination to leave the United States and build a new life in France, where she found freedom from the racial barriers of her homeland.

Did Josephine Baker Have 12 Children?

Her Rainbow Tribe

• Baker adopted 12 children from different ethnic and national backgrounds, starting in 1953. (Slate (cultural commentary))
• She called them her Rainbow Tribe. (National Library of Israel blog)

Motives behind the adoptions

• The adoptions were a deliberate statement against racism and for global harmony. (The Conversation (academic analysis))
• Baker and her husband Jo Bouillon raised the children at a 15th-century chateau in southern France, Les Milandes. (Harvard University Press)

The catch: The financial burden of the Rainbow Tribe forced Baker to commercialize her home, yet the project remains a powerful symbol of her commitment to anti-racism.

What Happened to Josephine Baker?

Her later career and financial troubles

• Baker’s lavish lifestyle and the expenses of maintaining the Rainbow Tribe led to financial difficulties. (Harvard University Press)
• She transformed Les Milandes into a themed attraction with rides, hotels, and a collective farm to raise money.

Her final performance and death

• On April 12, 1975, Baker died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Paris. (Wikipedia)
• She received a full military funeral in France, a rare honor for a civilian.

Her legacy and honors

• In 2021, she was inducted into the Panthéon in Paris, the first Black woman to receive the honor. (French Ministry of Armed Forces)

Why this matters: Baker’s induction into the Panthéon symbolizes France’s recognition of her contributions to the Resistance and to racial equality, cementing her status as a national hero.

What Was Josephine Baker’s Famous Quote?

Her most well-known sayings

• Baker is remembered for many quotes about life, love, and equality. One of the most famous: “I have two loves: my country and Paris.”
• Another: “The most important thing is to be yourself.”

Quotations from her biography ‘Fearless and Free’

Baker’s writings often reflected her philosophy of living without fear and embracing diversity. Her words continue to inspire activists today.

The implication: Readers should approach Baker’s quotes with an understanding of the historical struggles that shaped them.

Was Josephine Baker a Millionaire?

Her peak earnings

• At the height of her career in the 1920s and 1930s, Baker was one of the highest-paid entertainers in Europe. (CIA)

Financial decline

• She lived lavishly, spending on homes, cars, and the Rainbow Tribe.
• By the 1960s, she faced serious money problems, and her net worth at death is unclear — but she was not a millionaire at that time.

The catch: Baker’s financial story mirrors the classic arc of many entertainers who earn huge sums but lose it through mismanagement and generosity.

What Did Ernest Hemingway Say About Josephine Baker?

Hemingway’s admiration for Baker

• Ernest Hemingway called Baker “the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.”
• He wrote about her in his Parisian circle, reflecting her impact on 1920s Paris.

The cultural context of their meeting

Hemingway and Baker moved in the same expatriate social scene in Paris. His quote captures how she captivated the literary and artistic elite of the era.

The implication: The admiration of a literary giant like Hemingway underscores Baker’s cultural transcendence beyond mere entertainment.