The Tragic True Story of Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was an iconic figure of the Jazz Age, dazzling audiences with her electrifying performances and captivating beauty. But the tragic truth behind this legendary entertainer is far less glamorous. From a difficult childhood and racial prejudice to a series of failed marriages and financial struggles, Josephine Baker's life was filled with tragedy. In this blog post,  Josephine Baker rose to fame in 1925 when she joined the famous revue at the Folies-Bergère. She quickly became a sensation, performing her signature banana dance and inspiring the Parisian public with her electrifying energy and charisma. Josephine was embraced by the French culture and declared an "exotic beauty", though she experienced racism and discrimination. She became the highest-paid entertainer in Europe at the time and was celebrated by a public that was captivated by her unique style and grace. In 1926, Josephine purchased an estate in France where she hosted lavish parties for celebrities and socialites alike. She also created her own dance troupe, The Baker Boys, which included a group of African American dancers. Josephine continued to perform at the Folies-Bergère for the next few years until the outbreak of World War II. She refused to return to America and instead chose to support her adopted country of France during this time of crisis. She even worked as a spy for the French Resistance and assisted in smuggling Allied soldiers out of occupied territory. For her efforts, Josephine was awarded the prestigious Croix de Guerre and was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Her work during WWII solidified her place as an international superstar, but it was also the beginning of a downward spiral for the singer. Josephine Baker's love life was as colorful and daring as her stage performances. She married four times and had several relationships with high-profile individuals, including Jean Renoir and Jo Bouillon. Her first husband was Willie Baker, an American ex-GI whom she married in 1921. The marriage only lasted a few months before they divorced. In 1937, she married the French industrialist Jean Lion, with whom she had a son, Janot, who was later adopted by her third husband. The same year that she married Jean Lion, she also married French composer/arranger Jo Bouillon. Although the two never legally married, they remained together for the next fifteen years until his death in 1953. During this time, they adopted a total of twelve children from around the world—creating what they referred to as the “Rainbow Tribe.” They brought these children together as part of their mission to promote racial harmony and understanding. In 1959, Baker remarried for the fourth and final time to conductor and composer Joaquin Rodrigo Acosta, who was twenty-four years her junior. The couple had no children together but were married until Acosta's death in 1996.