Written by Tanisha Cardozo
Paris has taken a striking step to honor one of its most beloved adopted daughters — Josephine Baker. A bold and colorful mural by urban artist FKDL now graces a multicultural neighborhood of the city, serving as a symbol of freedom, unity, and courage.
The mural is part of a local street art festival organized by Paris Colors Ourq, a collective that aims to uplift communities through public art. For FKDL, the project was deeply personal — a mission to amplify female icons in urban spaces. “Josephine Baker was a creative spirit who defied the odds,” he said. “Her story deserves to live on the walls of this city.”
Born in St. Louis in 1906, Baker left the racially segregated United States in the 1920s for the artistic freedom of Paris. She became a sensation in the city’s cabaret scene, but her true legacy lies in her bravery. During World War II, she worked as a spy for the French Resistance. Later, she marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington and became a voice for racial harmony.
Her son, Brian Baker, was present for the mural’s unveiling. He spoke emotionally about his mother’s legacy — not of fame, but of compassion. “She adopted 12 children from all over the world,” he said, “to show that people of different races and cultures could live together in peace.”
In 2021, Josephine Baker became the first Black woman inducted into France’s Panthéon, the country’s highest honor for national heroes. This mural is another chapter in her powerful legacy.
Whether through music, activism, or motherhood, Josephine Baker’s life was a masterclass in breaking barriers. And now, on a wall in Paris, her memory lives on — larger than life and full of color.
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