Does anyone know about Josephine Baker?

 Sunday 15 April 2012

Does anyone know about Josephine Baker?

Today we ventured to the Perigord Noir – Vallee Dordogne.

Our first intended destination was Beynac for Sunday lunch at the “Hotel du Chateau, Beynac & Cazenac”.

http://www.hotel-beynac-dordogne.com/

On route, we made at quick stop in La Roque-Gageac to view the village built in the cliffs where troglodytes lived 1000s of years ago.

From this destination, you can take a boat tour on a river barge similar to a pirate ship along the Dordogne River and view many of the Chateaux.

Gabares Norbert – http://www.norbert.fr/

After a delicious lunch, we drove up to the Beynac Castle, once a superb site for defence, now a superb site for views over the Dordogne. We viewed the castle, the fortress, and the awesome views of the surrounding countryside.

Next, stop on the tour, Chateau des Milandes in Castelnaud La Chapelle (former residence of Josephine Baker)

On our arrival, the Birds of Prey show was just beginning.  Here, we saw the Kestrel falcon, the Harris hawk, the Eurasian Eagle Owl and the Barn Owl under the direction of a talented falconer. Due to the very windy weather (extremely cold) we could have flown away just like the birds.

We toured the Chateau built in 1489.

 

Josephine was born June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri; her mother Carrie MacDonald was colored.

Her passion was dancing and in 1925, she followed her love of dance by going to Paris and eventually joined the Folies Bergère.

In 1937, Josephine Baker first discovered the Chateau des Milandes and she rented the property until she purchased it in 1947.

Josephine fell in love with Milandes, calling it her “Sleeping Beauty Castle”.

An exhibition of the Music Hall icon’s life was on display.

On display, we saw many of her costumes including the famous banana belt made of only cloth and sequins which she wore during her perfomances in « La Folie du jour ».

Josephine wanted to prove to the world that children could live together in peace. She saw beyond borders and considered humans as one race, and created her “Rainbow Tribe” a symbol of a united and happy multi-racial family.  

Beginning in the 1950’s, she would adopt 10 boys and 2 girls from different religious backgrounds and nationalities.

Josephine was also heavily involved in the French resistance movement.

“For five years during the Second World War, Josephine Baker risked her life and proved that she was courageous, had a strong sense of instituation and was intelligent!” Captain Abtey-The Secret War of Josephine Baker.

She died in 1975.