Damn, how does Beyonce come up out of all the people? If you must know, Beyonce paid homage to Josephine Baker. She was INSPIRED by her. Just like Ne-Yo is INSPIRED by Michael Jackson, etc. Shut up & watch the artistry. People kill me.. GO JOSEPHINE!
WTF....i don't care whether you're famous or not, if one of your parents or grand-parents or whatever is not black, you are obviously mixed raced. now josephine baker was mixed raced, would you go around calling cassie black? No. yes i understand that america has a thing with if you got one drop of black you black, which is the dumbest shit i've ever heard, cause people you class as white i'm sure as hell have black somewhere in them, if you got more than one race in you, bitch you mixed raced.
About the issue of her being black, most blacks in this country are mixed whether they know it or not. No one in America is really pure blooded. Only recent immigrants are. You can't go around pressuring people to identify as the race you want them to. I find that rude and ignorant. Take Obama for example. He's first-generation mixed. But he identifies as a Black man. ppl should respect that. So what if Josie is mixed or if she's not. Let her be the Black woman she was proud to be.
She could seriously shake her groove thang! If only she wasn't before my time...her and so many others I'd like to meet and see perform live. Entertainers of today are such a joke (not all; I'm referring to mainstream entertainers; the ones you ALWAYS hear about it get's to the point where it's ridiculous and sickening).
Estimé ami, si tu veux nouvellement écouter cette chanson et une infinité de succès de l'amour je te suggère que tu écoutes Radio MUSICA PARA MIMOS - il cherche sa direction URL par Google (il écrit MUSICA PARA MIMOS dans Google)-. La meilleure musique romantique de tous les temps dans Internet, va te plaire, il est excellent...!!!
where did u find this? and think about it if josephine baker wasnt black why would she have to leave th COUNTRY to be accepted as an entertainer? if dororthy dandridge wasnt black why couldnt she use the bathroom in a hotel! why did she have to use the back house! why did they clean a whole pool just because she a "colored" girl stook her toe in the water!! think about it!WHITE people always want credit for shit they didnt do. u have lucille ball be happy with her.
Why is it when someone famous has Black and other blood in them, some people want to say that person is not Black. Whether that person has 10, 50 or 90 percent Black blood in them, they are considered Black. White people invented the rule that if you have 1% Black blood in you, then you are Black, but when that person is famous, then they say that they are not Black, however, if the person is not famous, with some Black blood in them, White people consider them Black. That's double standards.
It's funny how all of a sudden Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandrige, Mariah Carey, Pres. Barack Obama aren't considered BLACK. But if they snatched a white person's wallet and the police asked them to describe what they looked like they would say "Oh I think he/she was a half white and half black" you would say he/she was black so get over it. You people can't stand a black person that has tremendous amounts of success.All of a sudden they're white PLEASE
i think it dumb that you ppl have to turn this in to race issues.i think instead of focusing on the race you should focus on how beautiful a dancer she was.very few ppl have or will ever have even a portion of her talent.she was a beutiful and multi-talented women and a loved the way she was and just wished i could have met her.she is an inspiration to how women can be.
Here's the thing about race. It's make believe, so, racially, you're whatever society says you are. All "black"people in America are mixed. But we only try to get down to percentages (google 1/32 one-drop rule) if you don't "look" like society perception of an so-called typical African American. Josephine Baker was treated like a black person, therefore she was black. (That doesn't dismiss her ancestral origins, it just demonstrates how stupid--but real--the whole idea of race is.)
I'm half Italian, half Mexican. When ppl ask my ethnic background, I say Ital/Mex. That doesn't mean I'm denying my Italian side or my Mexican side. It means I'm both. If Josephine Baker is mixed, it doesn't mean she's not black. It means she's mixed. That shouldn't make ppl angry & it's definitely not an indication of racism.
OOOOOOOOOOOh my gosh, saying she's half white is not saying she's not black. If someone says that Alicia Keys is half white, that's NOT the same as saying she's not black. No one is angry that black people are successful. Even racist people would rather see black people contribute to society (as opposed to becomming criminals). Someone said she was mixed. How did you make the HUGE leap that ppl resent black success? There's no logic in that whatsoever.
whenever an african american is successful or rich, people all of a sudden question their black heritage, are we really that inclined to white supremacy people?
Josaphine Bakers was in the mix, just like any other African American women today, like myself lol. She was accepted over as an artist in France i believe. But when she came to America she wasnt accepted that easily because she was considered BLACK. even her OWN family and black folk of the Americas were not ready for her when she first arrived. She adopted a child of every race <3. i love her
how come black people arent black to the white community once they are famous?sorry but in the black community you can be black as coal or white as paper but if you know your African American you know.I dont care what a white person or black person says.I may be very light skinned but baby and have brown hair but Baby I am BLACK and VERY PROUD
Josephine would be laughing about this talk about her race. She adopted 12 children from 9 different cultures. They were Korean, Japanese, Columbian, Finnish, Israeli, Algerian, Ivorian, Venezuelan, Moroccan, and French (3 French and one each of the rest). It was her "rainbow tribe." I think that she was just trying to show that race doesn't matter. We're all pretty much the same with some differences that seem major but really aren't.
YALL NEED TO STOP ARGUING HER RACE! IT WAS NEVER PROVEN SHE WAS HALF WHITE. HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE DOESNT EVEN GIVE THE FATHERS REAL NAME. THEY SUSPECT SHE MAY BE BI RACIAL BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN IN REALITY. HER MOTHER WORKED FOR A GERMAN FAMILY AND MAY HAVE GOTTEN PREGNANT BY ONE OF THE MEN WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON. EVEN IF SHE IS NOT REALLY BI RACIAL BLACKS DONT ALL HAVE "AFRICAN" FEATURES BTW NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR FEATURES! SKIN COLOR NOR EYE COLOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE IDIOTS
@Fdeshaun1 During that time if you had one drop of blk blood you were considered full black. This woman was ahead of her time and got the hell out of the US to a country that loved and admired her. She was given full military honours with the Prime Minister in attendance. To get notoriety to that extent was an achievement in itself. I know towards the end she devoted the rest of it adopting children. God Bless her.
She was one of the first women to do something so seductive and revealing. In today's society, thats really not anything special. Almost every female artist is doing that. But but in that time, nobody had ever taken off all their clothes, rolled their hips and got naked infront of an audience&got famous for it.
Wow i see that people arent even paying attention to her talent they are debating on her race wow but truth be told the reason why many folks is saying she not black is because she was very successful and they dont like to give women of color their credit lets face it all black people are mixed due to slavery we come in variety of shades thats what make us unique
It's always funny how people can only see what they want to see. Mixed person doing well, they're not black. If that exact same person was doing something bad they'd be talking about "typical monkey", LOL. Don't ya'll have anything better to do? The world really is a nicer place when you take time to see individuals as they are instead of the cowardly act of trying to lump big groups together so you don't have to interact with them. Major parental fail at socializing their kids. LOL!
I always wondered how silly white men think...a beautiful black woman is beautiful 'because she has white in her'. That is stupid thinking. They feel ashamed that GASP a black woman may be sexually attractive so they make up that 'well she is part white' crap. If Josephine or any other person were to commit a crime, they would turn around and call them 'n-ggers'. Whites are so full of garbage.
"her mum wasn't as black as an average african american to begin with".. HUH?
Because of slavery, there is no such thing as an 'average african american'; so your theory starts off wrong already. Black people have different hues, regardless of being mixed or not. Ms. Baker only looked 'more white' to people who need such petty justification. Why does someone's skin tone need to be explained? She was one of the greatest performers to grace this planet. Isn't that good enough?
i was reading all the comments so far and this is all i have to say. How about yall read the bio that was written, or any interviews that might have been givin, and call her what ever she refers herself as. My brother is half black, half cuban. when asked what he is he says black...end. A person of mixed race is whatever they identify themselves as, not what other people say or think they are, no matter what percentage of any other race they are.
Josephine Baker was actually considered "too dark" to be a chorus girl in the Movie Shuffle Along, read her bio, by no means was considered "high yella", She even bathed in lemon juice concotions to lighten her skin. Josephine Baker was not bi racial nor was Dorothy Dandridge, who had two black parents a dark skin mother and light skin father. Read Bogle's bio on Dorothy.Theres no such thing as a pure "african american" since we are by products of african slaves, europeans & natives mating.
@Supergal1988 What is pathetic is that the black women defend this trend of bi racial women representing them. They are happy that fair skinned- biracial or racially ambiguous women are the standard of black beauty today. Actual black women ugly, average looking or gorgeous as hell don't look like that. There is a reason why many of your own men are by a large not really attracted to you and go around denigrating darker females. You all have a false sense of identity which needs to be addressed
Josephine Baker is Half German and half African America. She looks more white because her father genes and her mother had more Caucasianiod genes in common than black (her mum wasn't as black as an average african american to begin with). So stfu and pump that fist, BLACK POWAH!!!
"her mum wasn't as black as an average african american to begin with".. HUH?
Because of slavery, there is no such thing as an 'average african american'; so your theory starts off wrong already. Black people have different hues, regardless of being mixed or not. Ms. Baker only looked 'more white' to people who need such petty justification. Why does someone's skin tone need to be explained? She was one of the greatest performers to grace this planet. Isn't that good enough?
@CalenMeeks313 - actually her mother likely didn't have any European blood in her body . Josephine's father was likely a German man, while her mother - whose true ethnicity we may likely never know - was adopted in the 1880's by Josephine's grandparents, both of whom were former slaves. Josephine's mother was certainly a full-blooded african. La Baker's true ethnicity will always be a mystery, but it is obvious that she was 1/2 black & 1/2 white, something all of her family & even she knew.
@CalenMeeks313 Hey asshole I dont know why you or anyone else is arguing her race. people hate to see that blacks can be something special. Blacks dont have to look like slaves to be black. IT WAS RUMORED HER FATHER WAS WHITE!!!! NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HER REAL RACIAL MAKEUP. WE KNOW HER MOTHER WAS BLACK AND WORKED FOR A GERMAN FAMILY SO NO SHE WAS NOT GERMAN!
@CalenMeeks313 ALSO i SEEN YOUR PICTURE AND BRUH YOU ARE NOT JAPANESE AND CREOLE AND ALL THAT OTHER CRAP YOUR TALKING ABOUT. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU CAME FROM NIGERIA. YOU HAVE NO OTHER FEATURES. STOP TRYING TO BE SOMETHING YOUR NOT
@CalenMeeks313 Josephine Baker was not German, she was Chow Toa Native American and African American. Her mother looked the sae as any average black American woman. African Americans are mixed throughout our history with rape and other forms of racist intimidation that white Americans used to try to humiliate blacks at the time. She may have had some white blood, no boubting that, but it was probably through ghastly means. But we know she was black and native American, she even says it.
@ThePharaoho How do u know how Josephine's mother looked? The dark skinned woman in the movie "Josephine Baker Story" doesn't count, not unless u actually seen a picture of her! I think the only ones who are debating about her racial background here.... are some whites maybe, & most diffidently darker skin blacks!
@lovelybritt91..I feel you 100% on that matr of fac everything always end up becoming a race thing (so boring)... Since humans feel we have to judge how abt do upon what the person's life is contributing to mankind....jus a thought....
Anyway while we are debating what classifies a person as black or half black....black is still in the equation. Josephine considered herself African American whether full or half it didn't matter at all in those days and to some extent it really doesn't to this day. But lets focus on Josephine and not her race or color that's what she always wanted anyway.
She was hot beyond measure. Ain't nobody got what she had yet. She makes lady Gaga look like a Disney performer. Josephine Baker would wow and shock audiences today as much as she did then.
What really surprises me about the legend of Josephine Baker is that her moves were very sexual and erotic at a time when the world was more conservative. They wouldn't even show two people in the same bed together on T.V. during those times. It makes me wonder why was her nudity and sensual moves soo accepted and sensationalised. Hmm! I admire some of the things that she did as far as Civil Rights and singing, but overall I don't consider her as a role model for young Black women.
@tommiexander Two things: "the world was more conservative" - not the entire world. You're talking about just the US and the UK, right? The rest of the world wasn't conservative. Even so, American films and theatre generally weren't conservative until 1930s (look up the Hays code, Motion Picture Production Code, and Federal Communications Commission). This Josephine Baker piece was typical during 1920s.
lol, one thing is for sure: a LOT of people resent the very IDEA of african americans having any kind of success. people will try their hardest to deny it to you by claiming you're not really black, and that it's 'racist' to identify you as such -- even if it's your chosen identity! hahahaha. i love it.
@regi989 OOOOOOOOOOOh my gosh, saying she's half white is not saying she's not black. If someone says that Alicia Keys is half white, that's NOT the same as saying she's not black. No one is angry that black people are successful. Even racist people would rather see black people contribute to society (as opposed to becomming criminals). Someone said she was mixed. How did you make the HUGE leap that ppl resent black success? There's no logic in that whatsoever.
Josephine Baker was black point blank. Her father was white and her mother was black. But as soon as you got a little black in you...you are BLACK. Funny how when people otherwise classified as black do something that grabs attention or acknowledgement all of a sudden they are something else.......
Wow i see that people arent even paying attention to her talent they are debating on her race wow but truth be told the reason why many folks is saying she not black is because she was very successful and they dont like to give women of color their credit lets face it all black people are mixed due to slavery we come in variety of shades thats what make us unique
@madscientistify I wouldn't disagree that this dance could be viewed a demeaning. I have not read any of her biographies, but I'm sure she was exploited and taken advantage of in Paris. But you know what you also have to consider the era. Her life in France was way better than anything she could have been offered in America. She was a strong woman, but I think her beauty is why she has remained popular (as a women's success and worth are often unfairly tied to how attractive they are).
@lherman22 well-said; at the time, it was a matter of the lesser evils, and maneuvering around obstacles to make the absolute most of a situation for oneself
@JukkiJukkiLime Very true, a note that should be observed by all. The key to look at is what does discrimination do, and what purpose does it serve? Only that of setting more division in this already jaded world.
What makes her special is not her colour but her experiences and the culture in which she is influenced by. Her colour doesn't matter, but her message and politics does.
LOVE THIS & HER! As 4 the comment abt blk women looking up 2 her, I admire her because she was a vivacious woman who bravely showed her beautiful brown self w/little shame. & 2 sum up her career & character w/1 dance, the banana dance, is just unfair 2 her & ALL she's done N & out of her career. Also, as a girl of mixed descent I don't shun the different races N my blood, but I do call myself BLACK, nt "mixed", because I face the prejudices tht blks face, nt the other races of my blood.
@taliiuh I never heard any white person say anything like that. Where do you get that shit? But it is a fact that very many mixed race ppl have exelled in sports and Show Biz....Lena Horne, Muh. Ali, Jim Thorp, Jeter, Arod, Mariah...fuck it! The list is too long!
Race mixing, genetically speaking is a good thing.
@str8carter Yes you are right but these type of statements get annoying. Yes there are more than great bi-racials, as well as socially bad bi-racials, what gets me angry is that I only see these type of statements on black/white mixing...I never see this when it is white and hispanic (Christina Aguilera) or Asian and white...Only when the mixing involves blacks must people name the great biracials and how they are all soo "this" and "that" truth!
@str8carter "But it is a fact that very many mixed race ppl have exelled in sports and Show Biz" let me name a few blacks as you have bi-racials: Michael Jordon, Michael Jackson (honestly I did not know Muh Ali was bi-racial I will Have to look that one up), Nina Simone, Oprah, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King Jr., Madame C.J. Walker, Tamara Dobson, Pam Grier Fuck it the list is to long
"Theoretically" speaking all races are a good thing!
@str8carter sorry, had to do it,,, I'm not saying that you believe that no other race is as good but like I said I am tired of these statements when the mix involves blacks, go to a Christina Aguilera clip or any other mix such as Jon and Kate and you will not see such statements. P.s. what does her having to be biracial (she never even knew her father) have to do with anything? It is just DNA it obviously had nothing to do with anything back then as she was not treated in any diff. from black
@str8carter I think, (and this is my own opinion) that people who NOW like to emphasize that she is biracial want to pull her away from strictly African American cultures and struggles by saying no she is biracial...no she is different,, which I believe is wrong, especially since she lived her life as a socially, racially black women and made no statement of being otherwise. what does DNA have to do with it?(Which she and we was/are not even sure of))
@taliiuh white people were not claiming them then! most blacks are mixed because of slavery in America so it annoys that whites are coming out of pocket trying to claim us.
Anything beautiful and lovely, can;t be black? lol. If Josephine was a crackhead, no matter how light, people would say she is black but because she is stunning, then she can't be black? lol. Get a grip. She was a black woman from the hood in St Louis. End of story. Dandrigdge was black too. Thank slavemasters for passing down those white genes down to MOST blacks who were slaves in the Americas. Now hardly ANY blacks are pure. Result of slavery. Ms Baker=black as they come. Accept it.
@ginaginn44 Well she wasn´t an aggressive feminist bitch who only liked black people. She adopted East Asian, South-American, Arab, French, Finnish and African babies and couldn´t care less what color they were. Don´t try to make your cause as hers.
i love how now everyones trying to say that dorothy dandridge and joesphine baker arent black..just think..if they were still alive ..i bet they would get a kick outta that! Hell, i bet the blk ppl as old as 60 ...would get a kick outta that! Matter of fact if im correct..she even moved out of america to europe to try to get away from the racism she encountered in her career&life...everything on youtube always has to turn into race...hey, imjustsayin...
@lovelybritt91 I agree. What amazes me is that people these days are so uninformed that they think that anything 'light' is not of black heritage. I older and I grew up watching these old pictures and Dorothy Dandridge and Josephine Baker were Divas of the day. No one ever questioned their blackness. Have folks really lost their minds? You can find all kinds of types and looks within a Black American family and I am totally tired of race always coming into play too. Peace to you.
@9876543217303 Thats what I'm saying. It gets annoying. Everytime I hear of a successful black person, someone ALWAYS have to say that he/she isn't black.
For the love of God, you weren't there to know that so you can't just assume what race they are.
I tell you ignorant people these days with their racism :/
@lovelybritt91 The only reason why people say she's not black is the simple fact the last time i Check her mom was partially black and her father was white....Despite the fact old racism says if your part black your all black she cannot deny the fact that most of her genetic make-up is not black...please correct me if Im wrong...
@lovelybritt91 i 100% agree with you and my aunt who is like 57 always talks about my favorite singer of all time Tina Turner like she is trying not to be black i tell her if u can go to another country and be bigger over there why would u not i know i would. Josephine, Eartha Kitt, and countless others went to Europe becuase their own country wouldnt give them a chance
@Rockstafeller ...back then, being black in Paris was exotic, being black, just black. The entrepreneurs that hired the BLACK musicians and dancers wanted to bring something exotic to Paris, that's why they created the NEGRO Revue, not the Mixed Race Revue.You live there now, not in the 1920s.
@DawnDaDiva1 they then put them up in circus like shows to show their public how tehy had brought civilization to the savage peoples of africa.ths dance i believe demeans the african woman nd africans in a covert way.am very proud of certain women in the african american community, eg rosa parks, harriett tubman, and countless of others.but not ths one.whichever way we try to sugarcoat it, teh fact still remains, that she was a 1st class call girl,used her body to get her way.
@madscientistify calls grls sleep with their clients. u are mistaken on what a call girl is and a show girl. yeah we all know that they were exploiting the black women
@madscientistify What you call "circus" were colonial expos. I know that some nuts say stupid things about those expos, but, give me a break. As Black, living in France or the USA at that time was living in heaven or hell.
Baker was one of the biggest star of the XXth century, and you have to be blind to miss it. US missed it because of stupid segregation laws but she was welcomed in France. And she became fully French. (Franco-Prussian War took place in 1870 not 1887;-)
@Daw ok let me jst gve u abit of a hint why the french used to put up such shows.the french during the late 19th century went across west africa on a murderous colonial rampage after they were defeated by germay during teh franco-prussian war of 1887.the french,inorder to prove tht they were still a super kingdom went to africa and picked some of its native people to prove to the french public that they were stilla dominant force.
@DawnDaDiva1 i dint say am mad, i only said that ur ignorant.and u know that is true.i dont hate americans, why wud i hate them??i dont know how ths issue has suddenly devolved to hating americans, all i was saying is that the people commenting here are ignorant of why the french used to put up such shows.hey listen am african, and the fact tht ths dance makes me sick shows how i feel when i see an african american lady ill mistreated under the guise of stardom.
@DawnDaDiva1 wow if this is what you african american women are sigfhting as role models then you are doomed.everythng is silly, the dancing, the connotations, and ad really sugest u go read on why the french used to put up shows.i believe deep down if we serach well we r goin to find better and decent role models for our sisters.but ths is just not it
@TheTattles80 It's called having rhythm sweetie. Moving like that isn't difficult at all. Most black people with a few exceptions are born with rhythm so moving like this comes naturally to most.
@madscientistify you are ashamed of what?? Do you have a stick so far up your ass you can't appreciate art. Dance is a form of art and this woman was a wonderful singer, dancer/performer. She made strides for black women and showed people that we are beautiful and talented too and can be more than just their maid or "mammy". If you can't appreciate this as a form of art and expression you are uptight and have no culture. Get out of your bubble and explore the world darling.
hey i'm african and wondering, how the hell am i supposed to be proud of this??is it that african americans lack role models, esp women or what??i cant look at ths lady wth any form of pride.french history should teach u ignorant african ameicans why they used to put such displays.ths is just tooo shameful.this is not something or someone to be proud of
@madscientistify I can see what you're saying, but it was Josephine Baker herself who came up with this dance routine and the outfit. Considering the context of her day, she was trying to "exoticise" an African setting in a positive way (instead of just going with "eek, those are barbarians, kill them!"). On one hand it helped to improve a perspective of black ppl and on the other, it did a lot of damage. It was great in *her* time, but bad today.
PEOPLE. it's simple. READ THE DAMN BIOGRAPHY THAT JEAN-CLAUDE BAKER WROTE. It's called "The Hungry Heart". It will tell you EVERYTHING and clear up all this nonsense about what race she was and what she was mixed with. Go on AMAZON.COM and buy the DAMN BOOK! It will tell how much Josephine actually hated being black, how she HERSELF didn't know what race her father was (she went as far as to say her dad was a Spanish dancer). Her mother slept around with alot of men as well. FIGURE IT OUT.
@noirpoetix1 Since when does what a brown person is (or may be) mixed with make a difference, especially during her lifetime? She was "black", because she suffered much of the black EXPERIENCE.
@jazwaz112 I guess people on here don't actually read or choose to skip over whichever comments they don't like and respond to the ones they feel they can argue. You totally made the point I've been trying to make this whole time but I thought it would be easier by letting you guys know about her songs biography on her versus making up bullshit about her based on who WE want her to be. We know the serfice, but the book goes deeper.
i call them black because thats what they are in american society....whether people want to accept it or not...no its not obvious that she's mixed because there are blacks with two black parents that are lighter than her....black people come in all colors and shades...whether she was light or dark...she was still treated as a "negro" and hat to sit in the back of the bus like the rest of the blacks...so she's black. race isn't all about blood but experience.
Wow, my great-great grandmother is said to have seen Josephine Baker perform. I would have loved to been around a time when dance and music was so fresh. Actual instruments and movements.... :0) I would have went to Paris too if I was black. More freedom.
Fuck all the political bitchery! Did you guys catch that run into the sliding SPLIT!?! This chick was BADASS! Josephine Baker was freaking outstanding! <3
Damn, how does Beyonce come up out of all the people? If you must know, Beyonce paid homage to Josephine Baker. She was INSPIRED by her. Just like Ne-Yo is INSPIRED by Michael Jackson, etc. Shut up & watch the artistry. People kill me.. GO JOSEPHINE!
luhkelsgoinhard93 4 months ago 12
WTF....i don't care whether you're famous or not, if one of your parents or grand-parents or whatever is not black, you are obviously mixed raced. now josephine baker was mixed raced, would you go around calling cassie black? No. yes i understand that america has a thing with if you got one drop of black you black, which is the dumbest shit i've ever heard, cause people you class as white i'm sure as hell have black somewhere in them, if you got more than one race in you, bitch you mixed raced.
trigger2trigger 7 months ago
BEYONCE COPIED THIS
KERIFEMALEMJ 7 months ago 8
she killin the hiproll
twepy123 8 months ago 11
About the issue of her being black, most blacks in this country are mixed whether they know it or not. No one in America is really pure blooded. Only recent immigrants are. You can't go around pressuring people to identify as the race you want them to. I find that rude and ignorant. Take Obama for example. He's first-generation mixed. But he identifies as a Black man. ppl should respect that. So what if Josie is mixed or if she's not. Let her be the Black woman she was proud to be.
chilvari 8 months ago 44
She could seriously shake her groove thang! If only she wasn't before my time...her and so many others I'd like to meet and see perform live. Entertainers of today are such a joke (not all; I'm referring to mainstream entertainers; the ones you ALWAYS hear about it get's to the point where it's ridiculous and sickening).
chilvari 8 months ago
Estimé ami, si tu veux nouvellement écouter cette chanson et une infinité de succès de l'amour je te suggère que tu écoutes Radio MUSICA PARA MIMOS - il cherche sa direction URL par Google (il écrit MUSICA PARA MIMOS dans Google)-. La meilleure musique romantique de tous les temps dans Internet, va te plaire, il est excellent...!!!
robertoamor2011 8 months ago 2
where did u find this? and think about it if josephine baker wasnt black why would she have to leave th COUNTRY to be accepted as an entertainer? if dororthy dandridge wasnt black why couldnt she use the bathroom in a hotel! why did she have to use the back house! why did they clean a whole pool just because she a "colored" girl stook her toe in the water!! think about it!WHITE people always want credit for shit they didnt do. u have lucille ball be happy with her.
562nellybee 8 months ago 11
Happy Josephine Baker Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
taytay1609 8 months ago
SHE IS NOT BIRACIAL!!! her father and her mother wer both black. ther are such this as light black.
antongarcia101 8 months ago 4
1:06 only 90° moreee!!!
Multiroester 8 months ago
Why is it when someone famous has Black and other blood in them, some people want to say that person is not Black. Whether that person has 10, 50 or 90 percent Black blood in them, they are considered Black. White people invented the rule that if you have 1% Black blood in you, then you are Black, but when that person is famous, then they say that they are not Black, however, if the person is not famous, with some Black blood in them, White people consider them Black. That's double standards.
tommiexander 8 months ago 4
thx to her she created
winin r.iiii.pp.
popstarnia1 8 months ago
thx to her she created wining r.iiii.pp.
popstarnia1 8 months ago
Personally I think she was more Aqua-marine Blue. Kind regards :)
skystreak19 8 months ago
It's funny how all of a sudden Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandrige, Mariah Carey, Pres. Barack Obama aren't considered BLACK. But if they snatched a white person's wallet and the police asked them to describe what they looked like they would say "Oh I think he/she was a half white and half black" you would say he/she was black so get over it. You people can't stand a black person that has tremendous amounts of success.All of a sudden they're white PLEASE
AlaniKane 8 months ago 3
france in the '20s makes the jersey shore look like pussies. also, josephine is soooo hot!
scotfreak 9 months ago
COVER YOUR ANKLES! THERE ARE CHILDREN ON THIS SITE!
MrFukinfantastic 9 months ago
This chick was decades ahead of her time.
bleedingxxaurora 9 months ago 2
i think it dumb that you ppl have to turn this in to race issues.i think instead of focusing on the race you should focus on how beautiful a dancer she was.very few ppl have or will ever have even a portion of her talent.she was a beutiful and multi-talented women and a loved the way she was and just wished i could have met her.she is an inspiration to how women can be.
SuperKingizz 9 months ago
my name is josephine :)
joosje13 9 months ago
Josephine Baker is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.
rockstheboxers 9 months ago
Here's the thing about race. It's make believe, so, racially, you're whatever society says you are. All "black"people in America are mixed. But we only try to get down to percentages (google 1/32 one-drop rule) if you don't "look" like society perception of an so-called typical African American. Josephine Baker was treated like a black person, therefore she was black. (That doesn't dismiss her ancestral origins, it just demonstrates how stupid--but real--the whole idea of race is.)
babeegurl2k7 9 months ago
An amazing woman that should never be forgotten.
ZSOSER69 10 months ago
I'm half Italian, half Mexican. When ppl ask my ethnic background, I say Ital/Mex. That doesn't mean I'm denying my Italian side or my Mexican side. It means I'm both. If Josephine Baker is mixed, it doesn't mean she's not black. It means she's mixed. That shouldn't make ppl angry & it's definitely not an indication of racism.
arianalabella 10 months ago
OOOOOOOOOOOh my gosh, saying she's half white is not saying she's not black. If someone says that Alicia Keys is half white, that's NOT the same as saying she's not black. No one is angry that black people are successful. Even racist people would rather see black people contribute to society (as opposed to becomming criminals). Someone said she was mixed. How did you make the HUGE leap that ppl resent black success? There's no logic in that whatsoever.
arianalabella 10 months ago
whenever an african american is successful or rich, people all of a sudden question their black heritage, are we really that inclined to white supremacy people?
impatientwithdesire 10 months ago
Josaphine Bakers was in the mix, just like any other African American women today, like myself lol. She was accepted over as an artist in France i believe. But when she came to America she wasnt accepted that easily because she was considered BLACK. even her OWN family and black folk of the Americas were not ready for her when she first arrived. She adopted a child of every race <3. i love her
gabrielekhavirel 10 months ago
She is clearly mixed race but she was treated black and identified black so for all practical purposes - was black
stellarlunacy 10 months ago
how come black people arent black to the white community once they are famous?sorry but in the black community you can be black as coal or white as paper but if you know your African American you know.I dont care what a white person or black person says.I may be very light skinned but baby and have brown hair but Baby I am BLACK and VERY PROUD
RomanRoyale 10 months ago
We know that she is black look up the info movie no need for going back in forth
born in St. Louis but moved to Paris to become famous also
she gave up her right to her us passport because of racism and the way American treated her ...i love her
thestar495 10 months ago
Can you imagine being in Paris and watching her do that live?! I bet a lot of the men in the audience had to put their hats on their laps!
ChezJosephineBaker 10 months ago
Does anybody know what happened to her children? I keep trying to find info, but no luck...
BabyGirlGoddess 10 months ago
She's black you retards.
98mixed 10 months ago
I love Josephine Baker
Alansworstnight 10 months ago
Josephine would be laughing about this talk about her race. She adopted 12 children from 9 different cultures. They were Korean, Japanese, Columbian, Finnish, Israeli, Algerian, Ivorian, Venezuelan, Moroccan, and French (3 French and one each of the rest). It was her "rainbow tribe." I think that she was just trying to show that race doesn't matter. We're all pretty much the same with some differences that seem major but really aren't.
ChezJosephineBaker 11 months ago
She paved the way for "Bootylicious" You go Josephine!:-)
Haddasa 11 months ago
She was jammin'. She went back to her African roots. Shake! Shake! Shake! Way before video girls.
n2mymuzic 11 months ago
How is she not black!? And I guess black people were always better dancers lol
hellokittydolll 11 months ago
Try doing that skid-to-splits. I have. It aches. In a good way. Josepine is DIVA and ICON! Dig it.
TheEbonyB 11 months ago
Diva. Darling, Damn iconic.
~ebi~
TheEbonyB 11 months ago
She look pretty black to me....O-o
DanmEveryNameIsTaken 11 months ago
exactly what is josephine baker famous for?
angelvoice235 11 months ago
The "BLACK PEARL" was mixed white father,black mother.
Whitebabe1 1 year ago
Um beautiful black people were mixing before slavery...smh
mrskaylee 1 year ago
She is sick she started doty wine but beyonce copied and made it her move
MimiKissAss 1 year ago 46
@MimiKissAss She did not start the dutty whine and it's not Beyonce's move. Please do your cultural research before commenting.
rythmcity 10 months ago
@MimiKissAss actually Beyonce paid homage to Josephine Baker.....boy I tell ya!
ijohnson81 8 months ago
Olden days booty shaking...i like it. I'll start copying right away.
DelightfulSweets 1 year ago 8
YALL NEED TO STOP ARGUING HER RACE! IT WAS NEVER PROVEN SHE WAS HALF WHITE. HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE DOESNT EVEN GIVE THE FATHERS REAL NAME. THEY SUSPECT SHE MAY BE BI RACIAL BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN IN REALITY. HER MOTHER WORKED FOR A GERMAN FAMILY AND MAY HAVE GOTTEN PREGNANT BY ONE OF THE MEN WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON. EVEN IF SHE IS NOT REALLY BI RACIAL BLACKS DONT ALL HAVE "AFRICAN" FEATURES BTW NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR FEATURES! SKIN COLOR NOR EYE COLOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE IDIOTS
Fdeshaun1 1 year ago 5
@Fdeshaun1 During that time if you had one drop of blk blood you were considered full black. This woman was ahead of her time and got the hell out of the US to a country that loved and admired her. She was given full military honours with the Prime Minister in attendance. To get notoriety to that extent was an achievement in itself. I know towards the end she devoted the rest of it adopting children. God Bless her.
empressofthefrench 8 months ago
INFAMOUS Banana Dance? what's so INFAMOUS about it?!
PleaseDontGoCryBaby 1 year ago
@PleaseDontGoCryBaby
She was one of the first women to do something so seductive and revealing. In today's society, thats really not anything special. Almost every female artist is doing that. But but in that time, nobody had ever taken off all their clothes, rolled their hips and got naked infront of an audience&got famous for it.
randomlyfresh23 11 months ago
@PleaseDontGoCryBaby that was considered EXTREMELY raunchy and pornographic. now, its infamous because its "racist"
scotfreak 9 months ago
my name is josephine and people always say "do the banana dance!!!", its so annoying..
izzklo 1 year ago 3
Wow i see that people arent even paying attention to her talent they are debating on her race wow but truth be told the reason why many folks is saying she not black is because she was very successful and they dont like to give women of color their credit lets face it all black people are mixed due to slavery we come in variety of shades thats what make us unique
jazsan222 1 year ago
im not even interested in what people have to say or i'll be here all night with this race thing so............. you go jojo you can move girl! lol
applemac00 1 year ago
Josephine moves like a Trinidadian at Carnival time.
87lovespell 1 year ago
It's always funny how people can only see what they want to see. Mixed person doing well, they're not black. If that exact same person was doing something bad they'd be talking about "typical monkey", LOL. Don't ya'll have anything better to do? The world really is a nicer place when you take time to see individuals as they are instead of the cowardly act of trying to lump big groups together so you don't have to interact with them. Major parental fail at socializing their kids. LOL!
mikaris01 1 year ago
And what did Hasil Adkins say,,,,,,,,Shake that thang, Hunch that thang
evillhillbilly 1 year ago
I always wondered how silly white men think...a beautiful black woman is beautiful 'because she has white in her'. That is stupid thinking. They feel ashamed that GASP a black woman may be sexually attractive so they make up that 'well she is part white' crap. If Josephine or any other person were to commit a crime, they would turn around and call them 'n-ggers'. Whites are so full of garbage.
deep71483 1 year ago 3
lmfao
lm2727 1 year ago
she knew how to move them hips!
rainonmebi 1 year ago
"her mum wasn't as black as an average african american to begin with".. HUH?
Because of slavery, there is no such thing as an 'average african american'; so your theory starts off wrong already. Black people have different hues, regardless of being mixed or not. Ms. Baker only looked 'more white' to people who need such petty justification. Why does someone's skin tone need to be explained? She was one of the greatest performers to grace this planet. Isn't that good enough?
truthordare2010 1 year ago
I read something that said Josephin Baker used lemon and make up to make her face look lighter... for the approval of white audiences.
maliklik95 1 year ago
i was reading all the comments so far and this is all i have to say. How about yall read the bio that was written, or any interviews that might have been givin, and call her what ever she refers herself as. My brother is half black, half cuban. when asked what he is he says black...end. A person of mixed race is whatever they identify themselves as, not what other people say or think they are, no matter what percentage of any other race they are.
ctain7 1 year ago 3
@ctain7 Wow, so he totally disregards half of his family?
Seems fair.....
invertedtube 9 months ago
it made me sad knowing that she died. keri hilson made me wanna learn more about her
Jayfeather971 1 year ago
i bet after that keri hilson vid everyone went to look at all the ppl she made tribute to cus i knw i did!! :))
MsJonas09 1 year ago
Josephine Baker was actually considered "too dark" to be a chorus girl in the Movie Shuffle Along, read her bio, by no means was considered "high yella", She even bathed in lemon juice concotions to lighten her skin. Josephine Baker was not bi racial nor was Dorothy Dandridge, who had two black parents a dark skin mother and light skin father. Read Bogle's bio on Dorothy.Theres no such thing as a pure "african american" since we are by products of african slaves, europeans & natives mating.
vatricegeorge 1 year ago
I have the same birthday as she does!
baletxxx 1 year ago 7
Everytime I hear of a successful black person, someone ALWAYS have to say that he/she isn't black.
For the love of God, you weren't there to know that so you can't just assume what race they are.
I tell you ignorant people these days with their racism :/
Supergal1988 1 year ago 162
@Supergal1988 Yeah I hear you but Josephine father was a white man.
tubey1111111 1 year ago
@Supergal1988 What is pathetic is that the black women defend this trend of bi racial women representing them. They are happy that fair skinned- biracial or racially ambiguous women are the standard of black beauty today. Actual black women ugly, average looking or gorgeous as hell don't look like that. There is a reason why many of your own men are by a large not really attracted to you and go around denigrating darker females. You all have a false sense of identity which needs to be addressed
bravalious 1 year ago 2
i bet there were some men there that were just to EXCITED... during this dance
WonderWomanFan4life 1 year ago 4
Josephine Baker is Half German and half African America. She looks more white because her father genes and her mother had more Caucasianiod genes in common than black (her mum wasn't as black as an average african american to begin with). So stfu and pump that fist, BLACK POWAH!!!
CalenMeeks313 1 year ago
@CalenMeeks313
"her mum wasn't as black as an average african american to begin with".. HUH?
Because of slavery, there is no such thing as an 'average african american'; so your theory starts off wrong already. Black people have different hues, regardless of being mixed or not. Ms. Baker only looked 'more white' to people who need such petty justification. Why does someone's skin tone need to be explained? She was one of the greatest performers to grace this planet. Isn't that good enough?
truthordare2010 1 year ago
She was a black woman, get over it. Stop trying to claim people.
deep71483 1 year ago
@CalenMeeks313 - actually her mother likely didn't have any European blood in her body . Josephine's father was likely a German man, while her mother - whose true ethnicity we may likely never know - was adopted in the 1880's by Josephine's grandparents, both of whom were former slaves. Josephine's mother was certainly a full-blooded african. La Baker's true ethnicity will always be a mystery, but it is obvious that she was 1/2 black & 1/2 white, something all of her family & even she knew.
mrlopez2681 1 year ago
@CalenMeeks313 Hey asshole I dont know why you or anyone else is arguing her race. people hate to see that blacks can be something special. Blacks dont have to look like slaves to be black. IT WAS RUMORED HER FATHER WAS WHITE!!!! NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HER REAL RACIAL MAKEUP. WE KNOW HER MOTHER WAS BLACK AND WORKED FOR A GERMAN FAMILY SO NO SHE WAS NOT GERMAN!
Fdeshaun1 1 year ago
@CalenMeeks313 ALSO i SEEN YOUR PICTURE AND BRUH YOU ARE NOT JAPANESE AND CREOLE AND ALL THAT OTHER CRAP YOUR TALKING ABOUT. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU CAME FROM NIGERIA. YOU HAVE NO OTHER FEATURES. STOP TRYING TO BE SOMETHING YOUR NOT
Fdeshaun1 1 year ago
@CalenMeeks313 Josephine Baker was not German, she was Chow Toa Native American and African American. Her mother looked the sae as any average black American woman. African Americans are mixed throughout our history with rape and other forms of racist intimidation that white Americans used to try to humiliate blacks at the time. She may have had some white blood, no boubting that, but it was probably through ghastly means. But we know she was black and native American, she even says it.
ThePharaoho 1 year ago 8
@ThePharaoho How do u know how Josephine's mother looked? The dark skinned woman in the movie "Josephine Baker Story" doesn't count, not unless u actually seen a picture of her! I think the only ones who are debating about her racial background here.... are some whites maybe, & most diffidently darker skin blacks!
alottaUtube 10 months ago
@lovelybritt91..I feel you 100% on that matr of fac everything always end up becoming a race thing (so boring)... Since humans feel we have to judge how abt do upon what the person's life is contributing to mankind....jus a thought....
hottiewitabodyatl 1 year ago
saltshaker by the ying yang twins popped into my head just now!
herbnaga 1 year ago
Anyway while we are debating what classifies a person as black or half black....black is still in the equation. Josephine considered herself African American whether full or half it didn't matter at all in those days and to some extent it really doesn't to this day. But lets focus on Josephine and not her race or color that's what she always wanted anyway.
BonitaApplebum1 1 year ago 3
: D
slickEmsgurl4eva21 1 year ago
Keri Hillson has made me obsessed with Josiphine Baker.
MrFukinfantastic 1 year ago 12
@MrFukinfantastic Same!
halfeatentoe 1 year ago
She was hot beyond measure. Ain't nobody got what she had yet. She makes lady Gaga look like a Disney performer. Josephine Baker would wow and shock audiences today as much as she did then.
Upstreamswimmer 1 year ago
What really surprises me about the legend of Josephine Baker is that her moves were very sexual and erotic at a time when the world was more conservative. They wouldn't even show two people in the same bed together on T.V. during those times. It makes me wonder why was her nudity and sensual moves soo accepted and sensationalised. Hmm! I admire some of the things that she did as far as Civil Rights and singing, but overall I don't consider her as a role model for young Black women.
tommiexander 1 year ago 5
@tommiexander Two things: "the world was more conservative" - not the entire world. You're talking about just the US and the UK, right? The rest of the world wasn't conservative. Even so, American films and theatre generally weren't conservative until 1930s (look up the Hays code, Motion Picture Production Code, and Federal Communications Commission). This Josephine Baker piece was typical during 1920s.
fiagrey 1 year ago
amazing.
jedimasterviewtifjoe 1 year ago
go look at keri hilson video pretty girl rock !!! she cover josephine n more goo lokk
da3ofuz 1 year ago 21
@da3ofuz omg thats what inspired me to take a look at this :)
aibcomeback 1 year ago
beyonce dont have NOTHING on her....lolz...i love mky history!!!!
razfazberry 1 year ago
lol, one thing is for sure: a LOT of people resent the very IDEA of african americans having any kind of success. people will try their hardest to deny it to you by claiming you're not really black, and that it's 'racist' to identify you as such -- even if it's your chosen identity! hahahaha. i love it.
regi989 1 year ago 6
@regi989 OOOOOOOOOOOh my gosh, saying she's half white is not saying she's not black. If someone says that Alicia Keys is half white, that's NOT the same as saying she's not black. No one is angry that black people are successful. Even racist people would rather see black people contribute to society (as opposed to becomming criminals). Someone said she was mixed. How did you make the HUGE leap that ppl resent black success? There's no logic in that whatsoever.
arianalabella 10 months ago
qua hay,I like it a lot.
wwwtaoxanhful 1 year ago
Josephine Baker was black point blank. Her father was white and her mother was black. But as soon as you got a little black in you...you are BLACK. Funny how when people otherwise classified as black do something that grabs attention or acknowledgement all of a sudden they are something else.......
Dimples216 1 year ago
Wow i see that people arent even paying attention to her talent they are debating on her race wow but truth be told the reason why many folks is saying she not black is because she was very successful and they dont like to give women of color their credit lets face it all black people are mixed due to slavery we come in variety of shades thats what make us unique
Chinyjackson89 1 year ago 6
:42 rofl, look at that girl shake it...git em Josie:)
lowenklee 1 year ago
@madscientistify I wouldn't disagree that this dance could be viewed a demeaning. I have not read any of her biographies, but I'm sure she was exploited and taken advantage of in Paris. But you know what you also have to consider the era. Her life in France was way better than anything she could have been offered in America. She was a strong woman, but I think her beauty is why she has remained popular (as a women's success and worth are often unfairly tied to how attractive they are).
lherman22 1 year ago 4
@lherman22 well-said; at the time, it was a matter of the lesser evils, and maneuvering around obstacles to make the absolute most of a situation for oneself
vidaliadear 1 year ago
I like everything that is said here, but keep in mind that black people aren't the only ones who face prejudice.
JukkiJukkiLime 1 year ago
@JukkiJukkiLime Very true, a note that should be observed by all. The key to look at is what does discrimination do, and what purpose does it serve? Only that of setting more division in this already jaded world.
sweetlipz223 1 year ago
Dang...beyonce needs to sit down and needs to sit down and take notes cuz she needs to learn how to swing her hips like THAT!
asimplegirlliving 1 year ago
What makes her special is not her colour but her experiences and the culture in which she is influenced by. Her colour doesn't matter, but her message and politics does.
asopaso07 1 year ago
she was one fun lady. :)
wheremybutchesat 1 year ago 4
LOVE THIS & HER! As 4 the comment abt blk women looking up 2 her, I admire her because she was a vivacious woman who bravely showed her beautiful brown self w/little shame. & 2 sum up her career & character w/1 dance, the banana dance, is just unfair 2 her & ALL she's done N & out of her career. Also, as a girl of mixed descent I don't shun the different races N my blood, but I do call myself BLACK, nt "mixed", because I face the prejudices tht blks face, nt the other races of my blood.
awarren92 1 year ago 5
Nina Simone left the U.S. because she'd had enough of its goddam racism too!
bunburyst 1 year ago 4
I find it hilarious that everytime there is someone who is acclaimed and happens to be black, white ppl try and claim any part of whiteness in them.
taliiuh 1 year ago 8
@taliiuh I never heard any white person say anything like that. Where do you get that shit? But it is a fact that very many mixed race ppl have exelled in sports and Show Biz....Lena Horne, Muh. Ali, Jim Thorp, Jeter, Arod, Mariah...fuck it! The list is too long!
Race mixing, genetically speaking is a good thing.
str8carter 1 year ago
@str8carter Yes you are right but these type of statements get annoying. Yes there are more than great bi-racials, as well as socially bad bi-racials, what gets me angry is that I only see these type of statements on black/white mixing...I never see this when it is white and hispanic (Christina Aguilera) or Asian and white...Only when the mixing involves blacks must people name the great biracials and how they are all soo "this" and "that" truth!
randomatitsfinest 1 year ago
@str8carter "But it is a fact that very many mixed race ppl have exelled in sports and Show Biz" let me name a few blacks as you have bi-racials: Michael Jordon, Michael Jackson (honestly I did not know Muh Ali was bi-racial I will Have to look that one up), Nina Simone, Oprah, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King Jr., Madame C.J. Walker, Tamara Dobson, Pam Grier Fuck it the list is to long
"Theoretically" speaking all races are a good thing!
randomatitsfinest 1 year ago
@str8carter sorry, had to do it,,, I'm not saying that you believe that no other race is as good but like I said I am tired of these statements when the mix involves blacks, go to a Christina Aguilera clip or any other mix such as Jon and Kate and you will not see such statements. P.s. what does her having to be biracial (she never even knew her father) have to do with anything? It is just DNA it obviously had nothing to do with anything back then as she was not treated in any diff. from black
randomatitsfinest 1 year ago
@str8carter I think, (and this is my own opinion) that people who NOW like to emphasize that she is biracial want to pull her away from strictly African American cultures and struggles by saying no she is biracial...no she is different,, which I believe is wrong, especially since she lived her life as a socially, racially black women and made no statement of being otherwise. what does DNA have to do with it?(Which she and we was/are not even sure of))
randomatitsfinest 1 year ago
@taliiuh white people were not claiming them then! most blacks are mixed because of slavery in America so it annoys that whites are coming out of pocket trying to claim us.
daycan1 1 year ago
I LOVE THIS GREAT PERSON
josefine forever fun
Lornadun8 1 year ago
Anything beautiful and lovely, can;t be black? lol. If Josephine was a crackhead, no matter how light, people would say she is black but because she is stunning, then she can't be black? lol. Get a grip. She was a black woman from the hood in St Louis. End of story. Dandrigdge was black too. Thank slavemasters for passing down those white genes down to MOST blacks who were slaves in the Americas. Now hardly ANY blacks are pure. Result of slavery. Ms Baker=black as they come. Accept it.
ginaginn44 1 year ago 11
@ginaginn44 Well she wasn´t an aggressive feminist bitch who only liked black people. She adopted East Asian, South-American, Arab, French, Finnish and African babies and couldn´t care less what color they were. Don´t try to make your cause as hers.
Adinax86 1 year ago
i love how now everyones trying to say that dorothy dandridge and joesphine baker arent black..just think..if they were still alive ..i bet they would get a kick outta that! Hell, i bet the blk ppl as old as 60 ...would get a kick outta that! Matter of fact if im correct..she even moved out of america to europe to try to get away from the racism she encountered in her career&life...everything on youtube always has to turn into race...hey, imjustsayin...
lovelybritt91 1 year ago 168
@lovelybritt91 I agree. What amazes me is that people these days are so uninformed that they think that anything 'light' is not of black heritage. I older and I grew up watching these old pictures and Dorothy Dandridge and Josephine Baker were Divas of the day. No one ever questioned their blackness. Have folks really lost their minds? You can find all kinds of types and looks within a Black American family and I am totally tired of race always coming into play too. Peace to you.
9876543217303 1 year ago 3
@9876543217303 Thats what I'm saying. It gets annoying. Everytime I hear of a successful black person, someone ALWAYS have to say that he/she isn't black.
For the love of God, you weren't there to know that so you can't just assume what race they are.
I tell you ignorant people these days with their racism :/
Supergal1988 1 year ago
@lovelybritt91 Yeah my great grandma looks like a white woman, but she will curse you out in a minute if you ever said she wasn't black.
Wow this clip is way ahead of its time.
Tiatea18 1 year ago 8
@lovelybritt91 werd like if they wasnt black then what were they smh ppl are so ignorant these days
MSTinka06 1 year ago
@lovelybritt91 The only reason why people say she's not black is the simple fact the last time i Check her mom was partially black and her father was white....Despite the fact old racism says if your part black your all black she cannot deny the fact that most of her genetic make-up is not black...please correct me if Im wrong...
SincereTheLady 10 months ago
@lovelybritt91 i 100% agree with you and my aunt who is like 57 always talks about my favorite singer of all time Tina Turner like she is trying not to be black i tell her if u can go to another country and be bigger over there why would u not i know i would. Josephine, Eartha Kitt, and countless others went to Europe becuase their own country wouldnt give them a chance
leplaq 8 months ago in playlist Jazz - Vocalists - Josephine Baker
@Rockstafeller ...back then, being black in Paris was exotic, being black, just black. The entrepreneurs that hired the BLACK musicians and dancers wanted to bring something exotic to Paris, that's why they created the NEGRO Revue, not the Mixed Race Revue.You live there now, not in the 1920s.
Chavezoid 1 year ago 2
@DawnDaDiva1 they then put them up in circus like shows to show their public how tehy had brought civilization to the savage peoples of africa.ths dance i believe demeans the african woman nd africans in a covert way.am very proud of certain women in the african american community, eg rosa parks, harriett tubman, and countless of others.but not ths one.whichever way we try to sugarcoat it, teh fact still remains, that she was a 1st class call girl,used her body to get her way.
madscientistify 1 year ago
@madscientistify calls grls sleep with their clients. u are mistaken on what a call girl is and a show girl. yeah we all know that they were exploiting the black women
wendyjeanlouis 1 year ago
@madscientistify ...but African woman DO dance like this@
Darkdemonoflite 1 year ago
@madscientistify What you call "circus" were colonial expos. I know that some nuts say stupid things about those expos, but, give me a break. As Black, living in France or the USA at that time was living in heaven or hell.
Baker was one of the biggest star of the XXth century, and you have to be blind to miss it. US missed it because of stupid segregation laws but she was welcomed in France. And she became fully French. (Franco-Prussian War took place in 1870 not 1887;-)
NFL9475 1 year ago
@Daw ok let me jst gve u abit of a hint why the french used to put up such shows.the french during the late 19th century went across west africa on a murderous colonial rampage after they were defeated by germay during teh franco-prussian war of 1887.the french,inorder to prove tht they were still a super kingdom went to africa and picked some of its native people to prove to the french public that they were stilla dominant force.
madscientistify 1 year ago
@DawnDaDiva1 i dint say am mad, i only said that ur ignorant.and u know that is true.i dont hate americans, why wud i hate them??i dont know how ths issue has suddenly devolved to hating americans, all i was saying is that the people commenting here are ignorant of why the french used to put up such shows.hey listen am african, and the fact tht ths dance makes me sick shows how i feel when i see an african american lady ill mistreated under the guise of stardom.
madscientistify 1 year ago
@DawnDaDiva1 wow if this is what you african american women are sigfhting as role models then you are doomed.everythng is silly, the dancing, the connotations, and ad really sugest u go read on why the french used to put up shows.i believe deep down if we serach well we r goin to find better and decent role models for our sisters.but ths is just not it
madscientistify 1 year ago
@TheTattles80 It's called having rhythm sweetie. Moving like that isn't difficult at all. Most black people with a few exceptions are born with rhythm so moving like this comes naturally to most.
rosieparez 1 year ago 3
@madscientistify you are ashamed of what?? Do you have a stick so far up your ass you can't appreciate art. Dance is a form of art and this woman was a wonderful singer, dancer/performer. She made strides for black women and showed people that we are beautiful and talented too and can be more than just their maid or "mammy". If you can't appreciate this as a form of art and expression you are uptight and have no culture. Get out of your bubble and explore the world darling.
rosieparez 1 year ago 4
hey i'm african and wondering, how the hell am i supposed to be proud of this??is it that african americans lack role models, esp women or what??i cant look at ths lady wth any form of pride.french history should teach u ignorant african ameicans why they used to put such displays.ths is just tooo shameful.this is not something or someone to be proud of
madscientistify 1 year ago
@madscientistify They make fun of white colonists in this dance also. You take it too seriously.
Adinax86 1 year ago
@madscientistify I can see what you're saying, but it was Josephine Baker herself who came up with this dance routine and the outfit. Considering the context of her day, she was trying to "exoticise" an African setting in a positive way (instead of just going with "eek, those are barbarians, kill them!"). On one hand it helped to improve a perspective of black ppl and on the other, it did a lot of damage. It was great in *her* time, but bad today.
fiagrey 1 year ago
Comment removed
madscientistify 1 year ago
what is the name of music being played?! sounds good.
LyleYoung 1 year ago
How is it humanly possible for one to move like that?
TheTattles80 1 year ago
PEOPLE. it's simple. READ THE DAMN BIOGRAPHY THAT JEAN-CLAUDE BAKER WROTE. It's called "The Hungry Heart". It will tell you EVERYTHING and clear up all this nonsense about what race she was and what she was mixed with. Go on AMAZON.COM and buy the DAMN BOOK! It will tell how much Josephine actually hated being black, how she HERSELF didn't know what race her father was (she went as far as to say her dad was a Spanish dancer). Her mother slept around with alot of men as well. FIGURE IT OUT.
noirpoetix1 1 year ago
@noirpoetix1 Since when does what a brown person is (or may be) mixed with make a difference, especially during her lifetime? She was "black", because she suffered much of the black EXPERIENCE.
jazwaz112 1 year ago 4
@jazwaz112 I guess people on here don't actually read or choose to skip over whichever comments they don't like and respond to the ones they feel they can argue. You totally made the point I've been trying to make this whole time but I thought it would be easier by letting you guys know about her songs biography on her versus making up bullshit about her based on who WE want her to be. We know the serfice, but the book goes deeper.
noirpoetix1 1 year ago
For all of you who are confused.....Josephine was born a HUMAN like the rest of us. She was also born American. Why such a debate?
Jaschild 1 year ago
Lady Gaga's rep is dismissing reports that the singer subsists on baby food in order to stay slim - - Naked Lady Gaga. C0000M - -
brecciaebtpq 1 year ago
my god, she could move!
lamafiosaaa 1 year ago 2
What documentary is this from? is it all about baker? cause if it is i want to see it :)
LemonyCain 1 year ago
@LemonyCain
its called the josephine baker story. my cousin && iWatched it yesterday , lol .
DIAMONDstatusBABII 1 year ago
i call them black because thats what they are in american society....whether people want to accept it or not...no its not obvious that she's mixed because there are blacks with two black parents that are lighter than her....black people come in all colors and shades...whether she was light or dark...she was still treated as a "negro" and hat to sit in the back of the bus like the rest of the blacks...so she's black. race isn't all about blood but experience.
jalitamoore 1 year ago
@jalitamoore
"race isn't all about blood but experience"...
That is an excellent point, kudos for wording it so well.
lowenklee 1 year ago
So beautiful so unique so elegant so talented i looooovvvvvveeee her!
sexcnappturallesbian 1 year ago
O___O i wish i chould do that :/
maryyse123 1 year ago
What a body she had!
snuffle1 1 year ago 4
Wow, my great-great grandmother is said to have seen Josephine Baker perform. I would have loved to been around a time when dance and music was so fresh. Actual instruments and movements.... :0) I would have went to Paris too if I was black. More freedom.
TheLoveislikeaflower 1 year ago
gustavo's mom is hot
delsol2lowz 1 year ago
Singer and Actress Mya looks a lot like Ms Baker. Mya is also a wonderful dancer. It would be amazing to see Mya portray Ms Baker in a movie.
niclovelykisses 1 year ago
Fuck all the political bitchery! Did you guys catch that run into the sliding SPLIT!?! This chick was BADASS! Josephine Baker was freaking outstanding! <3
GypsyRed 1 year ago 124
@GypsyRed Okay! When I saw that I said :-O!
earthshaker1217 1 year ago
@GypsyRed she was a SMART BADASS
Other black woman didn't become stars because they was black. Josephine was a star... because she was black.
leszken 1 year ago
@GypsyRed IAWTC.....
XNyanko 1 year ago
@GypsyRed TRUE STORY! She was Amazing!
VSofiaBerg 1 year ago
@GypsyRed OMG i laughed so damn hard readin this shyt cause i was thinkin tha same thing
BGrlKeIsMe 1 year ago
What a truly mesmerizing woman. No wonder she caused so much chaos.
snuffle1 1 year ago 3
Wow Ella es fantastica. ¡Qué bien baila!
JesSPrincipesSa 1 year ago 3
her beauty and personality transcended labels
Dravenswraith 1 year ago 5
lmao whoaaaaaaa
anguaa 1 year ago
For Your Information. Beyonce Announced Josephine Baker As One Of Her Inspirations! Please Get Your Facts Straight!!
sweet09boi 1 year ago
i love they way she danced it was like she had fun and moved pretty much all of her body.
divafix 1 year ago