While Jim Crow laws were devastating the lives of African Americans in the South, a massive amount of Southern musicians, spread the seeds of Jazz as far north as New York City. This new genre of music formed fractures in the walls of racial discrimination. One poor girl from Missouri conquered an entire country enchanted by her dark skin, curvaceous body and dynamic personality. Josephine Baker was more than a Jazz musician. She embodied the freedom and expressiveness of that which is known as Jazz.
             Born Josephine Freda McDonald on June 3, 1906 she later changed her name to Josephine Baker. She made a name for herself by sashaying her way onto a Paris stage during the 1920s and took Europe by storm. Famous for barely there dresses and no holds barred dance routines, her exotic beauty generated nicknames black Venus, even Black pearl and Creole Goddess. Josephine not care what people thought of the way she dressed. During this time her appearance was scandalous but with out her to push the envelope of acceptance we would not have the kind of freedom to wear what we wish today. She showed everyone that a woman's body is a very beautiful thing and should not be thought of as anything else. Fashion made a huge leap in acceptance with the aid of Josephine.
             Not only did she push the boundaries of fashion but also overcame the obstacles set by the color of her skin. Josephine was a huge civil rights activist and believed one should not be judged on the color of their skin but by the actions that they take. She used her performances as civil rights acts by refusing to perform in clubs where they would not permit integrated audiences. Josephine often included her racial beliefs in one day reaching harmony in her songs. The greater the hit she became the more integrated audiences there were. This opened doors for the notion that whites and blacks are created equal and aided in the acceptance of an integrated life style. Joseph
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