The Entertaining Warrior

 Josephine Baker, formerly known as Freda Josephine McDonald was a world renown entertainer, WWll spy, and civil rights activist who was born on June 3, 1906 and died on April 12, 1975. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri and when she got married around age 15, she changed her name to Josephine Baker, picking up her husband's last name. Her beautiful work goes unnoticed everyday and we should appreciate them more.


Baker’s parents were performers that were trying to make it in the business but they couldn’t quite get there. However, they influenced her to become the successful performer that she is today. She loved entertaining and she took a risk by running away at age 15 to perform with a group of people. Years later, she took some risks in her time as a WWll spy in France. She would perform for the enemy and listen to what they would say in the audience about the war and report back to her general, telling him everything. 


There were a lot of things that Josephine wanted to change in the world but the main thing was getting rid of segregation.  Since she was a black woman, she was treated very badly because women and people of color got treated terribly. Also, she made change in the world. For example, when she was about to perform but her audience was segregated, she would refuse to perform for them. But, despite the hate she received, she accomplished some great things in her time. For example, during a speech she gave a famous quote, “You know, friends, that I do not lie to you when I tell you I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad.” This quote is about her life as a black woman in America and experiencing racism. She also accomplished having amazing talent for entertaining people.


Baker was also a persistent woman. She was always determined to have equal rights for black people and she didn’t stop until she did. She constantly fought for freedom as a civil rights activist. Most people would consider her as an unsung hero as most of the things she did, didn’t get recognized. There are lots of other unsung heroes in the world and they also deserve to be recognized as well as Josephine Baker.


Josephine Baker | Biography, Children, Movies, Banana Skirt, & Facts | Britannica In conclusion, Josephine Baker was born on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri and became an entertainer at age 15. She went to France to entertain there and when WWII hit, she became a spy for France and performed for the enemy. Once the war was over, she became a civil rights activist and would still entertain. She gave an empowering speech about civil rights and fought for freedom. Her work is unnoticed and we should recognize it more along with everyone else.


Works Cited


Norwood, Arlisha R. “Josephine Baker.” DEV: National Women’s History Museum, 2000, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/josephine-baker. Accessed 22 Feb. 2021.

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