Josephine Baker

Description

Josephine was a dancer and entertainer by trade, so much was pinned on her appearance and healthiness.

A woman of medium height stand before you, her coffee colored skin glowing with a healthy vitality. Her limbs are smooth and well-devloped, her body shapely and fit. Wide, dark brow eyes dominate a face that is animated and classically shaped. Her every movement is fluid and well-studied.

Biography

Josephine Baker was born in St. Louis in 1906. She started touring with a dance troupe at age 16 and went on to perform as a singer and dancer on Broadway. In 1925 she went to Paris to dance and stayed, becoming a French citizen in 1937. She went on to sing preofessionally and star in movies until the German occupation of France during World War II forced her to stop. During World War II she entertained troups in Africa and the Middle East, for which she received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour. After the war, she retired to her estate in the southwestern part of France and adopted children of many nationalities. Later, during the 1960's she toured the US to participate in Civil Rights demonstrations.

Josephine had learned to speak French, as well as her native English. In everything, Josephine had a flair for the flamboyant, everything she did, she did with a certain panache that was all her own. It was this, along with her dancing and singing skills that caught the attention of the world. Josephine probably experienced quite a bit of prejudice, growing up black in a white world, during her lifetime, yet she rose above all of that and devoted her life to entertaining and promoting the equal rights of all people.

She died in 1975 at the age of 69 in Paris, France, her adopted homeland.

Skills

dancing, singing, public speaking, speaking French and English.

Personality Questions

Would your character prefer a game of chess or a game of football?: I doubt Josephine would have enjoyed either. She would rather have had the attention on her, rather than a sports team or a board game.
If your character found a wallet in the street, would they return it?: I think she would attempt to return it, but most likely just forget she had found it.
Would your character be more likely to be the life of the party or to quietly observe the goings-on?: Oh, no doubt, she would be the life of the party, as she was during her life.
Would your character be found on the top of a pyramid of people or on the bottom?: On top, for several reasons. First, she was agile enough to scale a pyramid and had enough self-preservation to get there, though she wouldn't do that at the expense of others.
Pretending to be your character, rank the following statements in order of truth. Leave out statements that are false about your character.: b. I am physically above-average a. Other people listen to what I say d. I notice my surroundings f. I always tell the truth c. I am clever with my hands e. I love to read