Americans will be grappling with a number of sensitive and critical issues throughout 2013 and beyond.  Some new, some old and some never-ending – concerns about race, religion, violence, politics, guns, climate change, war and civic responsibility are just some of the issues that may polarize all or segments of the nation.  We The People will bring awareness to different viewpoints in the hopes of educating its readership.  Please be encouraged to join in and share your perspective.

On this Day 

In 1906 Josephine Baker also known as Freda Josephine McDonald was born in St. Louis, Missouri.  The American born French dancer, singer and actress became a citizen of France in 1937.  Fluent in English and French, Baker was an international musical and political icon.  She received many honors during her lifetime among them the French military “The Croix de guerre” honor for assisting the French Resistance during World War II.

Baker was known as the first African-American female to star in a major motion picture (Zouzou – 1934), to become a world famous entertainer to integrate an American concert hall and was offered the unofficial leadership role of the Civil Rights Movement by Coretta Scott King after Martin Luther King’s assassination.

Joséphine Baker: The 1st Black Superstar

© Forget About It Film & TV, for BBC Wales. 2006. Narrated by Josette Simon. Directed by Suzanne Phillips.

(1925) Josephine Baker dances the original charleston.  Music from 1925 by Isham Jones & His Orchestra.

On This Day

In 1889 Granville T. Woods – Also known as the “Black Edison,” An African-American inventor filed the first patent for an improved steam furnace boiler.  In 1892 he patented the “Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph, which allowed train stations to communicate with moving trains.  His work assured a safer and better public transportation system for the United States.  Granville successfully legally defended himself twice against patent claims by Thomas Edison.  Granville had over 50 patents for inventions ranging from automatic brakes to an egg incubator.  He sold many of his inventions to companies like American Bell Telephone Company, Westinghouse, General Electric and American Engineering.

Related articles

• “I did take the blows [of life], but I took them with my chin up, in dignity, because I so profoundly love and respect humanity.”-Josephine Baker (ileneonwords.com)
• Retro from the Past: Joesphine Baker (msvictoriaantoine.wordpress.com)
• Rihanna wanted to play dancer-singer Josephine Baker in new biopic? (digitalspy.co.uk)
• We The People (beenetworknews.com)
• Josephine Returns (kchapmangibbons.wordpress.com)