Josephine Baker
"The most sensational woman anybody ever saw. Or ever will." - Ernest Hemingway, speaking about Josephine Baker.
Early Life
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1906, Josephine experienced poverty and much strife during her childhood. Not long after Josephine's birth, her father abandoned the family. Her mother then married a man who couldn't provide stability. Among the many challenges that came as a result were frequent evictions and moves. Josephine's frustrated mother took her emotions out on Josephine, who, she said, looked like her father.
To help her family financially, Josephine began working as a maid at the age of seven. Work hours started at 5am. Then came school, where kids often teased Josephine for wearing the same dress daily and walking around without shoes. She combated the teasing by becoming a class clown and making people laugh. One could say it was the beginning of her performing arts life. After school, she would resume work, having responsibilities that lasted well into the late evening.
While this work schedule didn't last long, it only ended because of a violent attack on Josephine by the woman she worked for. Josephine continued taking various jobs in these early years and soon began missing many school days, dropping out of school at age twelve. As a result, she grew up without much ability to read and write.
Yet, amidst all this turmoil in the beginnings of her life, a passion for performing arts began forming. Josephine, whose father was a musician and whose concerts she would attend from her earliest days, began spending time in the local music scene. As she said,
"I spent most of my time wandering around the colored quarter. Unlike Aunt Elvara, who detested our neighborhood, I thought it was terribly exciting. Especially on Saturdays. Everyone seemed to own an accordion, a banjo or harmonica. Those without enough money for real instruments made banjos from cheese boxes. We played music that to us was beautiful on everything from clothesline strung across barrel halves to paper-covered combs. As soon as the music began, I would move my arms and legs in all directions in time to the rhythm or mark the beat with my friends on the treasure we pulled from the trash: tin cans, battered saucepans, abandoned wooden and metal containers. What a wonderful time we had!"
By her early teen years, Josephine craved some stability and decided to get married. She was just thirteen at the time and married only in spirit, as state laws didn't allow people so young to marry. The union didn't last. She and her husband divorced only a year later. Josephine would marry another man just a year after that.