Josephine Baker — Jazz Age ”Sensation”, French Spy and Civil Rights Crusader [Sara Gorsky]

This week, Sara Gorsky brings us the incredible true story of Josephine Baker! Born into poverty in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906, Josephine works her way up the chorus line to NYC, but the discrimination she faces at every turn drives her to Europe where France falls in love with the girl in the banana skirt.

Her rise to fame is meteoric and she becomes one of the highest paid performers in all of Europe and the first Black woman in history to reach such astounding celebrity status. However, she does not stop there. Her accomplishments include incredible work as a spy for the French Resistance in WWII, adopting a "Rainbow Tribe" of children, forcing the desegregation of notorious nightclubs around the country and marching & speaking alongside Dr. MLK, Jr. at the March on Washington.

If you haven't heard of this woman whom Earnest Hemingway called “the most sensational woman anyone ever saw,” then this is the episode for you!

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A Broad is a woman who lives by her own rules. Broads You Should Know is the podcast about the Broads who helped shape our world!

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Broads You Should Know is hosted by Sara Gorsky.

IG: @SaraGorsky

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Broads You Should Know is produced by Sara Gorsky & edited by Chloe Skye