American Singer, Activist Josephine Baker Honored in France
2021-12-01
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1American-born singer and activist
2Josephine Baker became the first American and first Black woman to receive France's highest honor on Tuesday.
3Baker became a French citizen in 1937 after marrying a French man.
4Baker was honored at a ceremony outside the Pantheon in France.
5The Pantheon is a building that has the remains of famous French people, including Marie Curie, Victor Hugo and Voltaire.
6Baker was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906.
7She moved to Paris in 1925 to get away from racism and segregation in the United States.
8She was famous around the world as a singer in the 1930s.
9But she also became known for joining the resistance to Nazi Germany in France during World War II.
10Later, she supported the American civil rights movement in the 1960s.
11She spoke at the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
12Earlier in 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to honor Baker because she was an "exceptional figure" who "embodies the French spirit."
13Baker's remains will stay in Monaco where she lived at the end of her life.
14However, a burial container containing soil from the U.S., France and Monaco will be placed at the Pantheon.
15Baker was honored Monday in a ceremony at the place where she is buried in Monaco.
16Rosemary Phillips is a performer and the co-owner of the park Baker created in southwestern France.
17She said Baker was a "superstar," and the "Rihanna of the 1920s."
18Rihanna is one of today's most famous female singers.
19Pap Ndiaye is a French scholar who studies minority rights movements in the U.S.
20He said: "the simple fact to have a Black woman entering the pantheon is historic."
21Baker was famous for dancing in short skirts and was popular in Paris theaters.
22But Ndiaye said people disagreed over her performances.
23He said, at the time she was singing in Paris, France had colonies in Africa.
24Baker was one of many famous Black Americans who lived in France during the years after the World Wars.
25Ndiaye said they had "a better life overall" than if they had stayed in the U.S. French racism, he said, was "more subtle."
26I'm Dan Friedell.
1American-born singer and activist Josephine Baker became the first American and first Black woman to receive France's highest honor on Tuesday. 2Baker became a French citizen in 1937 after marrying a French man. 3Baker was honored at a ceremony outside the Pantheon in France. 4The Pantheon is a building that has the remains of famous French people, including Marie Curie, Victor Hugo and Voltaire. 5Baker was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906. She moved to Paris in 1925 to get away from racism and segregation in the United States. 6She was famous around the world as a singer in the 1930s. But she also became known for joining the resistance to Nazi Germany in France during World War II. 7Later, she supported the American civil rights movement in the 1960s. She spoke at the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. 8Earlier in 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to honor Baker because she was an "exceptional figure" who "embodies the French spirit." 9Baker's remains will stay in Monaco where she lived at the end of her life. However, a burial container containing soil from the U.S., France and Monaco will be placed at the Pantheon. 10Baker was honored Monday in a ceremony at the place where she is buried in Monaco. 11Rosemary Phillips is a performer and the co-owner of the park Baker created in southwestern France. She said Baker was a "superstar," and the "Rihanna of the 1920s." Rihanna is one of today's most famous female singers. 12Pap Ndiaye is a French scholar who studies minority rights movements in the U.S. He said: "the simple fact to have a Black woman entering the pantheon is historic." 13Baker was famous for dancing in short skirts and was popular in Paris theaters. But Ndiaye said people disagreed over her performances. He said, at the time she was singing in Paris, France had colonies in Africa. 14Baker was one of many famous Black Americans who lived in France during the years after the World Wars. Ndiaye said they had "a better life overall" than if they had stayed in the U.S. French racism, he said, was "more subtle." 15I'm Dan Friedell. 16Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 17What do you think about a Black American woman being honored by France? Tell us in the Comments section and visit our Facebook page. 18______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20segregation - n. the policy of keeping people of different races, religions or ethnic groups separate from each other 21exceptional - adj. not usual : unusual or uncommon 22figure -n. a person who has a specified status or who is regarded in a specified way 23subtle - adj. hard to notice or see