Barraket, Josephine

Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald) was an American-born French dancer, singer, actress, civil rights activist, and World War II spy whose career flourished primarily in Europe, especially France. She rose to fame in the 1920s with her performances in Paris, becoming the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, and later used her platform to fight segregation and discrimination. Baker adopted 12 children of various nationalities, creating her 'rainbow tribe,' and was posthumously inducted into France's Pantheon.