We all know Josephine Baker, dancer, singer, black American woman, exiled in France. The free woman had conquered all of Paris in the Roaring Twenties, to a full house in 1925 at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
But behind the artist has always hidden the fighter. Committed for a long time to the fight against racism, of which she was a victim throughout her life, Joséphine Baker, in 1939, joined the service of Free France, two years after having acquired French nationality. “I asked only one thing, to serve the country to which I have always had a debt of gratitude. France has made me what I am, on the fringes of all prejudices. I was ready to give him my life. »
“The fight for civil rights led to anti-fascism”
Thus, the 34-year-old star goes from words to actions. A commitment that sounds like revenge for the one who returned traumatized from a stay in her country of origin. “This war represents such a turning point, probably the trip to America a few years ago had something to do with it. She had been politically attacked by black leaders who challenged her. He had been asked: “And you, what are you going to do for civil rights? Are you still a superficial, futile and egocentric star, or do you have more to offer? You have a debt to pay! »
“When he visited America, the question was posed in terms of race. But the fight for civil rights led to anti-fascism. So when she returned to France, she had to rethink her role there too,” says Margo Jefferson of the New York Times.
Behind the star, a fighter
And the Second World War gave Joséphine the opportunity to take the plunge and engage even more in combat. She becomes a spy for Free France. On several occasions, she puts herself in danger, travels to hostile countries, hiding in her scores plans of German installations drawn in invisible ink.
Mischievous and courageous, the artist uses her notoriety to deceive the enemy. “It can help to be Josephine Baker. The customs officers gave me big smiles and asked me for papers, but they were autographs. There you go, I had sent the plans like a letter to the post office. »
The clandestine action reveals Josephine to herself. Behind the star hides a fighter in the service of ideals. After the war, she retired to her property in the south of France in the Dordogne. A castle where she will welcome twelve children of all origins, whom she will adopt and call her “rainbow tribe”.
Find the documentary “Josephine Baker, first black icon” Friday August 18 at 10 p.m. then in replay on our website here.
2023-08-18 19:07:17
#Joséphine #Baker #black #star #American #origin #ready #give #life #France #Public #Sénat
