Josephine Baker & Jo Bouillon
The Black star and her "rainbow tribe"
The performer and Resistance spy Josephine Baker and the bandleader Jo Bouillon, with whom she adopted twelve children of different origins — her "rainbow tribe" — in a French château, as a manifesto against racism.
01Why it matters
Baker, bisexual and anti-racist, entered France's Panthéon in 2021; her family was a utopia of universal love.
02The conflict
Racism, touring and the château's financial troubles.
03The iconic moment
Baker speaking alongside Martin Luther King at the March on Washington.
04What survived
Her entry to the Panthéon; the Château des Milandes, now a museum.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Josephine Baker & Jo Bouillon famous?
Baker, bisexual and anti-racist, entered France's Panthéon in 2021; her family was a utopia of universal love.
How does the story of Josephine Baker & Jo Bouillon end?
Baker speaking alongside Martin Luther King at the March on Washington. Her entry to the Panthéon; the Château des Milandes, now a museum.
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