Childhood-Adulthood
Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother name was Carrie McDonald and her father Eddie Carson. Her mother was adopted in Little Rock Arkansas in 1886 by Richard and Elvira McDonald, who were former slaves. A the age of 8, Josephine was sent to a white woman who abused her, burned her hands when she put too much soap in the laundry. Later, she went to work for another woman. Josephine Baker dropped out of school at the age 12, and lived on the streets. She was recuited for the St. Louis Chorus Vandeville Show at the age of 15, because of her street corner dancing. She traveled to Paris, France for a new venture, and opened in Revue Negre on October 2, 1925. In Paris she became an instant success in dancing and on stage. She traveled and performed at different places and got better with dancing. Josephine Baker had 12 children through adoption. She raised two daughters and ten sons. For some time she lived with her children in an enormous castle with her fourth husband Jo Bouillon and he was a French conductor. Josephine Baker was married four times. Her first husband was Willie Wells in 1918 when she was only 13, and said was a very unhappy marriage. She married Willie Baker in 1921 but that marriage didn't last that long. She retained that last name because her career began taking off during and it was named by which she became best known for. In 1937, Josephine Baker married Sean Lion, which she receive French citizenship and became a permanent expatriate. She and Lion separated before he passed away. Then, in 1947 she married French composer Jo Bouillon and they also divorced. She then had an involvement with atrist Joe Brady, but they never got married.