Josephine Baker shakes, shimmies and twirls in front of a White chorus line, her smile beaming across the stage. In another scene, her eyes dart back and forth mischievously, proving she’s just as playful with her face as she is with her body.
Baker crafted her carefree choreography in the US but found fame in Paris, where she moved in 1925 to escape racial discrimination. When she performed in a risqué skirt of bananas and a beaded necklace, she became a symbol of the Jazz Age flapper. Her provocative costumes and distinct dancing made her a fashion icon and she was the first African American to lead a feature film, Sirens of the Tropics (1927). Though the film and Baker’s ‘banana dance’ conjured White colonial fantasies, her performances parodied the sexualisation of Black women.
Throughout her life, she fought discrimination, championed civil rights and shattered racial barriers. When Germany invaded France in World War II, Baker weaponised her glamour to defend her adopted home. After spying on German officers, she smuggled top-secret messages in her underwear unsuspected. Back in America, she wouldn’t perform for segregated audiences and was the only woman who spoke alongside Martin Luther King Jr in the 1963 March on Washington.
Tribute to a trailblazer
Josephine Baker’s legendary style has inspired countless superstars, including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Diana Ross. When Zendaya attended the 16th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball, she channelled Baker’s sartorial flair and paid homage to the icon in this form-fitting gown featuring dropped pearl sleeves. The glammed-up look is a far cry from the maroon hoodie her character Rue wears in Euphoria (2019–), but her performance still captured attention. Zendaya’s performance as the troubled teenager helped her become the youngest person to win the Lead Actress Emmy in 2020.
Why France is declaring Josephine Baker a national hero - BBC News
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Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Previously on display
1 October 2023
Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
193592
Curatorial section
Goddess → Weaponising glamour → Josephine Baker