Josephine Baker: The Spy In a Banana Skirt

Celebrating Women's History Month with a badass a day.

When you think of Josephine Baker, you might picture her shimmying across a Parisian stage in a banana skirt,¹ dazzling the world with her charisma and boundary-pushing performances. But there was a lot more to Baker than her dance moves and signature style. Behind the feathers and rhinestones was a fearless woman who weaponized her fame against fascism, making her one of the most badass figures of the 20th century; and the world can certainly use more of that these days.

Born in St. Louis in 1906, Baker’s early life was marked by poverty and racial violence, which left her with a fire that would fuel her entire career. By 19, she’d escaped to France, a country that, despite its flaws, treated her like a superstar instead of a second-class citizen. Baker didn’t just thrive; she conquered, becoming the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture and packing venues with audiences who couldn’t get enough of her bold performances. The French adored her, and Baker adored them right …