06/03/2026
It’s Josephine Baker Day! Dancer, singer, actress, activist, pilot, spy, and mother - she mastered it all. Born on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri, Freda Josephine McDonald learned very early what her talent and discipline could do for her and her loved ones. She grew up in downtown St. Louis near Union Station, which at the time was a low-income, working-class part of the city. She had to start working when she was 8 years old, first at a laundry, and then in the homes of wealthy white people. She soon found that the work she really enjoyed was entertainment when she started earning money performing as a dancer and singer. She moved to New York and became known for going off script, using comedy and improvisation to stand out as a dancer. When France declared war on fascist Germany and the rise of the N**i empire in 1939, Josephine joined the French military as a spy. Her talents as a performer, her knowledge of Europe, and her ability to interact with rich people made her the perfect spy. She would attend parties and gather information, with no one suspecting the famous entertainer was working for the French military. She also earned a pilot’s license so she could fly herself and easily smuggle information. In 1963, Josephine spoke at the March on Washington, and got to know the King family. When MLK was assassinated, Coretta Scott King asked Josephine to take more public leadership in the civil rights movement. She declined, saying she wanted to focus on caring for her children — she had adopted 2 daughters and 10 sons. She took care of her children and continued to perform until she passed on April 12, 1975. Josephine Baker leaves a strong legacy as a gifted dancer, singer, actress, activist, soldier, spy, and mother from St. Louis, who lived her life with freedom, creativity, and purpose.
🖼️ “Josephine Baker” by in Grand Center, STL.
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