You’re Dead to Me – Josephine Baker

Host: Greg Jenner (BBC Radio 4)
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "You’re Dead to Me" delivers a brisk, witty, and lively exploration of the phenomenal life of Josephine Baker—dancer, singer, superstar, and… spy! Host Greg Jenner, accompanied by comedians and voice actors, guides listeners through Baker’s journey from poverty in St. Louis to stardom in Paris, her audacious life during WWII as a spy, and passionate activism for civil rights. The episode blends insightful historical storytelling with playful comedy, making Josephine’s legacy accessible, memorable, and fun.

Key Discussion Points

Early Life and Beginnings

• Childhood Struggles

  • Josephine was born Freda Josephine McDonald in 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri, growing up in poverty ("Her mother nicknamed her Tumpy because she thought she looked a bit like Humpty Dumpty." - Greg Jenner, [01:54]).
  • She experienced harsh racism, even as a child, and was forced to work as a maid under appalling conditions: "She had to work as a maid for a horrible man who made her sleep in a box." – Greg Jenner ([02:03])
  • Fled Illinois at age 11 amid race riots, determined to become a star.

• Early Performance Career

  • Started her showbiz journey with traveling shows (once sneaking in by hiding in luggage).
  • Moved to New York at 15, having been married twice—her second husband’s last name ‘Baker’ she kept.

• Notable Performer From the Start

  • Shone in shows like "Shuffle Along" and "The Chocolate Dandies," standing out for her comedic touches on stage: "She pulled funny faces and crossed her eyes and deliberately tripped over when other dancers were kicking." – Greg Jenner ([02:34])

Rise to Parisian Fame

• Parisian Transformation

  • Left for Paris just as her Broadway career sparkled, where she found creative freedom in cabaret culture that was far less restrictive than the U.S.
  • Combined Broadway, tap, ballet, and animal inspirations (e.g., kangaroos from St. Louis Zoo).

• Danse Sauvage and Iconography

  • Famous for the “Danse Sauvage,” a satirical and exaggerated performance to ridicule racist stereotypes:
    • "By performing this dance in a really over the top and very silly way, Josephine Baker made the audience see just how silly racist ideas about Black people were." – Greg Jenner ([04:46])
  • Introduced the iconic banana skirt, which, as noted, inspired Beyoncé decades later.

• Parisian Celebrity

  • Became one of the world’s highest-paid performers, and the first African American woman to star in a movie.
  • Had her own dolls made in her likeness:
    • “Hi, Barbie. Hi, Josephine. What are you doing today? Being glamorous and revolutionary. You?" – Supporting Performer ([05:39])

Star Power and Eccentricity

• Luxurious Lifestyle and Menagerie
  • Used new wealth to buy a luxurious hotel suite—filled it with exotic pets:
    • "She had a SN called Kiki, a chimp in a hat called Ethel, a horse called Tomato. …There were also monkeys, parakeets, a tortoise... Her most famous pet, though, was Chiquita the Cheetah, who wore a diamond studded collar." – Greg Jenner ([05:53], [06:32])
  • Took her cheetah, Chiquita, to the cinema and perfumed her pet pig.

Josephine the Spy

• WWII and Espionage
  • Joined the Women's Auxiliary of the French Air Force during WWII.
  • Used her celebrity to spy for France:
    • "She thought nobody would search or suspect her. Which I guess is fair enough. It would be like Taylor Swift working for MI5." – Greg Jenner ([08:36])
  • Smuggled secrets by writing them on her skin, in invisible ink, and on sheet music:
    • "Josephine was also able to meet lots of important people at fancy parties and learn all of their secrets. She would stash secret information under her clothes and write intel either on her own skin or on her sheet music." – Greg Jenner ([08:49])
  • Awarded medals for her bravery.

Activism and Later Life

• Civil Rights Advocate

  • Faced continued racism on return to the U.S. despite her war hero status and international fame.
  • In 1951, called out racist behavior at a famous nightclub, but instead of universal support, was red-baited and closely monitored by the U.S. government for a decade.
  • Participated in the 1963 March on Washington in full French Air Force uniform and medals:
    • "Josephine also made a passionate speech about her experiences as a Black woman and entertainer." – Greg Jenner ([10:26])

• Rainbow Tribe Family

  • Adopted 12 children from varied backgrounds to prove that different races could live harmoniously:
    • "She adopted children from many different backgrounds to show how people could all get along together, regardless of where they were from." – Greg Jenner ([10:58])
  • Raised them in a grand chateau—part home, part tourist attraction.

• Financial Trouble and Royal Rescue

  • Overspent, leading to eviction.
  • Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and friend, literally rescued them:
    • "Luckily, Josephine's friend, Grace Kelly, a movie star and literal Princess of Monaco, put them up in one of her fancy French villas." – Greg Jenner ([12:18])

Death and Enduring Legacy

• Fulfilling Her Wish

  • Final performance in 1975, after which she died:
    • "Josephine went back to her hotel room so happy she could die. So she did. But if you have to go, you might as well do it. Surrounded by rave reviews of your show." – Greg Jenner ([13:07])

• French National Honor

  • In 2021, inducted into Paris’s Pantheon as a national hero:
    • "Give it up for the first Black woman in the Pantheon and first American, Josephine Baker." – Narrator ([13:42])
  • "What a hero." – Greg Jenner ([14:09])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She pulled funny faces and crossed her eyes and deliberately tripped over when other dancers were kicking. A bit like when a footballer goes on Strictly." – Greg Jenner ([02:34])
• "By performing this dance in a really over the top and very silly way, Josephine Baker made the audience see just how silly racist ideas about black people were." – Greg Jenner ([04:46])
• "Hi, Barbie. Hi, Josephine. What are you doing today? Being glamorous and revolutionary. You?" – Supporting Performer ([05:39])
• "It would be like Taylor Swift working for MI5." – Greg Jenner ([08:36])
• "It's me, spy. I'm the agent. It's me." – Supporting Performer ([08:47])
• "Josephine went back to her hotel room so happy she could die. So she did. But if you have to go, you might as well do it. Surrounded by rave reviews of your show." – Greg Jenner ([13:07])
• "Give it up for the first black woman in the Pantheon and first American, Josephine Baker." – Narrator/Host ([13:42])

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Event | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:11 | Introduction to Josephine Baker | | 02:03 | Childhood hardships and fleeing Illinois | | 02:34 | Dancing beginnings in New York and her unique stage persona | | 03:17 | Move to Paris and breakthrough in cabaret | | 04:46 | Satirical 'Danse Sauvage', the banana skirt, and anti-racist art | | 05:35 | Josephine dolls and stardom | | 05:53 | Eccentric pets and lavish lifestyle | | 07:31 | Perfuming the pig and WW2 outbreak | | 08:02 | Baker as a top French spy | | 08:49 | Smuggling secrets, invisible ink, and spycraft details | | 10:21 | Post-war U.S. racism, civil rights activism | | 10:58 | Adoption of "Rainbow Tribe" children | | 12:18 | Grace Kelly rescues Josephine and family | | 13:07 | Josephine's final show and passing | | 13:42 | Entry to Pantheon and legacy celebrated |

Final Thoughts

The episode balances deep respect for Josephine Baker’s achievements with engaging wit, highlighting her as a multidimensional figure—artist, provocateur, hero, mother, and legend. Both her flamboyant life and unwavering commitment to justice are celebrated, providing listeners with an inspirational (and very entertaining) history lesson.
Greg Jenner’s playful tone and creative use of supporting performers make even the “trickiest topics easy to follow.”