The Story of a Woman Resisting Racism Despite Her Monkey Nickname

Because of the difficult living conditions extending to Europe We will touch on many points until he met Fidel Castro and even his arrival in Turkey. Meanwhile, we will witness together how Josephine Baker struggled against racism.

While looking at the previous articles about him, we came across the following sentence that best describes him: “A name that shows while producing the world’s most radiant smile.”

Actually, this lady, whose full name is Freda Josephine McDonald Carson Baker, was born on June 3, 1906 in Missouri, USA.

Baker, who met the bad sides of life at a young age, was living with his parents who were performing in small bars. After his father abandoned them, difficult living conditions became even more difficult for him.

Josephine, who spent her childhood in poverty, decided to drop out of school and go into business, and what’s worse, she had two short marriages when she was still in elementary school. Despite marrying at a young age, she never remained financially dependent on a man.

When her mother later married an unemployed man, she started babysitting the babies of wealthy families. Let alone the discrimination he has been subjected to throughout his life because he is black, families also take care of him where he is a caregiver. He was constantly dictating that he shouldn’t kiss the baby.

Moreover, this was not the first and last racism he witnessed.

As a result of a rebellion in 1917, when he was only 11 years old, He met with the death of nearly 40 black people. But his fighting spirit never stopped him.

performed at the age of 13 got pregnant from her first marriageHowever, things didn’t go as planned, and her pregnancy ended in an abortion when her husband left her.

When he was unemployed, he was dancing on the street and making money. One day she was discovered by an African-American theater group.

At the age of 15, he became acquainted with the theater and together with the group. They play games and perform in various states of America. While the tour continues, he has another marriage at this age.

However, Baker will also separate from this wife in the future. Financially never be dependent on a man He always went when he wanted to go because he made a principle for himself.

When the theater tour is over, Baker wants to be in a choir. However, this request is rejected on the grounds that he is “skinny and black”.

Confronted with racism again, Baker’s lifelong He is nicknamed the “monkey”. Apart from this cruel nickname, Josephine, who still entered the choir, was now included in the team and could sing when the choir needed it.

Baker, who was deliberately clumsy on stage, began to do this more often when he saw that the audience liked it, and over time. had become the focus of the audience.

In 1923, he goes to New York, participating in a show as an extra. famous here “Chocolate Dandies” attends the show.

When we look at her resume, this woman, who lived a full life, had many successes when she was younger.

In 1925, at the age of 19, he went to Paris at the suggestion of a producer. Baker, who found a relatively free environment here, lived in a theater in the heart of Paris. He draws attention with his play “La Revue Negre”.

The fame of the young woman, who attracts attention with her dressing style as well as her original and unique dance, begins to spread in every country. Having an experience in every sector, Josephine Baker also entered the film industry in the 1930s. Tropical Siren, ZouZou and Princess Tam Tam He also shows himself in the cinema industry by taking part in the movies.

Let’s come to his relationship with our country. In 1934, he came in line with an offer upon his fame spreading to Turkey.

This young woman who came to Turkey to perform in Istanbul Fikret Adil guides. In addition, at a time when our country is not used to such things, he becomes the first person whose obscene photo is shared. She poses nude for a magazine.

At that time, buildings and houses were destroyed as a result of an explosion of unknown cause in Istanbul. On top of that, Baker even says that he can donate 1000 lira to the victims. The government also donated via the Red Crescent told him to do it.

When he returns to America, his fame is of no value, because the treatment he receives is still the same.

American audiences stubbornly reject this talented woman who is known all over Europe. Despite everything, nothing stopped Baker, who continued his struggle. Meanwhile, his third marriage He became a French citizen in 1937.

II. World War times… Josephine Baker, supports the Free French Army in the war. The young woman, who prepares a show by entertaining African and Middle Eastern troops, also works as an agent and gathers information for the army.

It is also said that he received the Order of Lothring for his services. Moreover, in 1940 Reacting to the German occupation He stated that he would not take the stage until there was not a single German soldier on France.

He made his fourth marriage in 1947, which lasted a relatively long time compared to others.

Baker, who suffered from various problems due to a miscarriage in his previous marriage, does not have a biological child. He also preferred to establish a large and valuable family. the name of this family He named it ‘Rainbow Tribe’.

Wanting to prove that children of different ethnic groups and religions can be siblings, Josephine adopted 12 children from different ethnic backgrounds. Regardless of girl, boy, black, white, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim.

When he returned to the USA in the 1950s, he supported the Civil Rights Movement. He protested the practices that segregated blacks and whites. He participated in the actions related to these, did not give up on making his voice heard, and shouted out his anger towards discrimination to the world.

He also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Fidel Castro in the USA in the 1960s.

Organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Black People (NAACP) in 1963. and Martin Luther King attended the Washington march in his uniform.

For the last time after a life spent fighting racism for a long time. In 1975, he celebrated his 50th year of art at the Bobino Theater in Paris. Famous names attended the night, including actress Sophia Loren and Princess Grace of Monaco. However, 4 days after this exciting night, on April 12, 1975, he died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Moreover, the coffin of Josephine Baker, who made history after her death, joined 80 respected French figures, only five of whom were women, including Marie Curie and Holocaust survivor Simone Veil.

As the first black woman, she put her signature on the mausoleum where French intellectuals are buried. Baker left victorious in his fight against racism and inequality, making his name known to the whole world, ended his life movie after a great respect; But his name has always remained with us.