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Singer and dancer Josephine Baker was probably the closest thing the Jazz Age had to a Britney Spears-type character. The African American diva, who was known as "La Baker" in her adopted France, was a worldwide celebrity and devoted civil rights activist who first rose to fame by dancing in a "skirt" of artificial bananas and very little else. (Have a look at the dance for yourself.) While Baker's activism and military service were commendable, they often took a back seat in the contemporary media to her bizarre personal life. Let's take a look at five things you might not have known about Josephine Baker:
When World War II rocked her adopted France, Baker didn't simply move to a more peaceful country. Instead, she stuck around and did her part for the war effort. Since she had initially publicly supported Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia, the Axis powers mistakenly thought she was "one of them," and Baker took full advantage of this misconception.
In fact, her fame made her the perfect spy. When Baker would travel Europe while touring, she obviously had to carry large quantities of sheet music with her. What customs officials never realized, though, was that a lot of this music actually had secret messages written on it in invisible ink. Fawning immigration officials never thought to take too close a look at the diva's luggage, so she could sneak all sorts of things in and out of countries. On some occasions, Baker would smuggle secret photos of German military installations out of enemy territory by pinning them to her underwear.
This invaluable intelligence work eventually helped Baker rise to the rank of lieutenant in the Free French Air Force, and when the war was over she received both the Croix de Guerre (a first for an American woman) and the Medal of the Resistance in 1946.
Lots of stars have devoted fans, but how many would be willing to fight a duel for their favorite diva? In 1928, a Hungarian cavalry officer and an Italian count did just that in Budapest. According a contemporary account from Time, "the ogling and attentions of Hungarian Cavalry Captain Andrew Czlovoydi became too fervently gallant to be stomached by La Baker's manager, Count Pepito di Albertini." Rather than just ask Czlovoydi to knock it off, the Count took the reasonable step of challenging the soldier to a swordfight duel.
Fittingly, the two duelers met in a cemetery for their showdown while Baker cheered on the Count from a perch atop a tombstone. According to Time, the two men battled with swords for a solid ten minutes before the Count took a light blow to the shoulder. At that point, Baker intervened and forced the two men to set aside their differences.
Celebrities adopting children from underprivileged backgrounds may be old news at this point, but what Baker did in the 1950s is still shocking and fascinating. In an effort to combat racism and provide an example for the rest of the world to follow, in 1954 Baker started adopting orphans from all corners of the world.
Baker started by adopting a Korean child, Akio, then followed up with Japanese Taruya, Finnish Jari, and others until she had assembled a family of 12 children from a variety of countries and ethnicities. Baker dubbed these kids "the Rainbow Tribe," and housed them in her chateau in southwestern France.
As part of her efforts, Baker also turned the chateau into a sort of resort/theme park with a multicultural theme. It didn't catch on quite as well as Epcot did. By 1968, the operation was hemorrhaging money, and Baker's creditors had to sell the mansion out from under her.
Although Baker lived and worked in France, she still made frequent touring trips back to the United States. During one 1951 visit to New York, Baker found herself at the Stork Club at the same time as rising actress Grace Kelly. When the racist staff refused to wait on Baker, Kelly, who was dining with a large party of her own, flew into a rage and walked out of the club in support of Baker.
From that moment on, Kelly and Baker were close friends. In fact, when the Rainbow Tribe's chateau was on the rocks financially, Kelly—who by that time had become Princess Grace—tried to bail Baker out with her creditors. When Baker ended up losing the house, Kelly didn't abandon her hard-luck friend. Instead, she arranged for the singer to have a villa in Monaco.
Baker was just as big on collecting animals as she was about acquiring children. When a club owner gave her a pet cheetah named Chiquita to use as part of her dance show, Baker was delighted. In fact, she liked Chiquita so much that the cat stayed with her long after the act ended; eventually the cheetah traveled the world with Baker, always riding in her car and sleeping in her bed.
That wasn't Baker's only pet, though. She had a goat named Toutoute who lived in her dressing room at her nightclub, and at the same club she had a pet pig named Albert. Albert was no ordinary pig. Not only did he live in the club's kitchen and munch on food scraps, but Baker also liked to gussy him up with fancy perfumes. At one point Albert got so hefty from living this high life that he couldn't make it out of the kitchen's door any longer, so the door's frame had to be broken down.
'5 Things You Didn't Know About…' appears every Friday. Read the previous installments here.
xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe
Tammy was one of five winners in our recent "Now and Then" giveaway.
On going natural…
I went natural in 2007. I had very fine thin permed hair, My ends easily frizzed up and I always had a flat iron and curling iron in my bag. I knew I was damaging my hair but I felt at the time I couldn't walk out the door without my hair been bone straight, I got tired of it and finally decide it was time to make a change.
I was laid off from my company as they relocated to LA . So I thought this has to be the time for a new look and new me. I transitioned from August 2007 to April 2009. A day after hanging out with one of my girlfriends that has locks I came home got the scissors and officially chopped all of the relaxer out of my hair and felt free. My daughter has beautiful curly locks of hair and I didn't want her to grow up thinking that she had to changed her hair with chemicals, so I had to be the example.
A one-word description of her transformation…
Inspiring… I would have never thought that my natural hair texture would be so beautiful and soft. I love playing with my hair and styling it. I no longer waste half a Saturday in the salon … I can dance in the rain and jump in puddles with my daughter
Check out Tammy's company here: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/tammy/
I recently saw a car with the license plate PBZPLIN. (PB is the atomic symbol for Lead…). IMMD.
anti racism is a white supremacist movement. because the big names/experts/the ones who make the money and prestige of it. are majority white.
huh. that sounds a bit harsh when i actually type it out. but it is in essence what i think of anti racism.
what i mean is. that the ones who are the most 'successful' in anti racism are white. they are the authors, bloggers, consultants, workshop trainers, speakers etc. yes there are lots of poc who do anti racism work. or better said there are a decent number of poc who work in the anti racism industry.
and i have to differentiate between anti racism the theory (almost completely developed by poc under the designation of critical race theory) and anti racism the industry.
so when i speak of the current anti racist movement, i am speaking of the public face of that movement which is presented by those who work in the anti racism industry.
and i think to understand the dynamics of white leadership of the anti racism industry. you have to look at white people developing whiteness studies. as a response to critical race theory. and yes, i do think that white folks had really good intentions in beginning whiteness studies in that they were attempting to follow the leadership of people of color critical race theorists. peggy mcintosh. unpacking the back pack. the privelege checklist. tim wise. white like me. paul kivel. et al.
just that white critical theorists should definitely know that good intentions dont amount to much in this world.
and let me be honest. when i did anti racism workshops i insisted that i have a workshop trainer who was white. the last thing i wanted was to sit a room full of white self proclaimed progressives as i explained white privilege and supremacy. by myself. if racism is traumatic in and of itself. then being the black girl anti racism trainer in a room full of white folks who still believe in the white man's burden (even though they would never call it that…ahem…solidarity with (third world) communities under the threat of violence…when will those poor countries ever learn…ahem…) is like. well. walking into a war zone unarmed ready to die for the cause. (white people aint a cause im willing to die for you just yet.)
what i am saying is that part of white folks leadership in anti racism movement is due to people of color asking for white folks to take leadership.
but with all unearned privilege comes stupidity. because the line in the anti racism mvmt is that it is white people's duty and responsibility to speak to white folks about white privilege. people of color shouldnt have to do it.
yes. poc shouldnt have to do it. but. when white folks are getting mad props, respect, accolades, book deals, professorships, awards, etc. when white folks use the fact that they identify as white to gain a leg up on people of color in the anti racism industry/profession. then it is racism pure and simple. and if you are white and in the anti racism movement then that is what you are doing. lets be race critically blunt about it. your whiteness works in anti racism movement the way it works in any other sphere-aka toyour advantage. i have seen it enough times to be nauseous. a poc says something during a discussion of anti racism. the white folks ignore it. or guffaw. a white person says the exact same thing. whitie is the new messiah of anti racism. happens. like all the fucking time.
what i mean is. that the common wisdom in anti racism circles. is that white folks are more likely to really *hear* and take seriously the words of a white person talking about white racism than a poc. so the best thing that white person can do if they want to work aganist anti racism is to be the voice of anti racism. and to explain to white folks the nature of racism.
sounds great right? so glad that i dont have to go around explaining to white folks why they are racist any more. right?
nope. because not all white folks are going to do so out of the kindness of their own hearts. they are going to do so. and they are going to expect to be compensated adequately for their work. as tim wise explains. if he wasnt doing this work. he would be doing some other job. and using his white privilege (unconsciously) to succeed and thus be perpetuating the racist system.
the problem is that when he does anti racism work. he explains that he 'opens the door' for other poc to be considered leaders and experts in anti racism. why the fuck in the anti racism movement to we still need white gatekeepers? this is what gets me. it's the anti racism movement! we dont have a bunch of men leading and speaking as the voice of feminism. we dont have a bunch of skinny chicas being the (body) of fat acceptance. we dont have a bunch of straight folks being the voice of lbgtqia ness. but in the anti racism movement. it is white folks who speak. so that white audiences with money are not required to listen and take seriously the voice of color. '
dear fucking god.
here's the problem. if the anti racism movement. even the anti racism movement. perpetuates the same structures of inequality and white privilege as other movements do (feminism. anti war. queer). in that the leaders are white. mostly white. almost all white. then the anti racism movement. is racist. and if the anti racism movement is racist…then what the fuck is the anti racism movement about?
and. i love many anti racist white folks. partnered with one. some of yall are real. down. i know you know where it's at. but seriously? i have to admit. that i too judge a movement by its leaders. and when the leaders of the anti racism movement are white. i have to wonder. what went wrong?
but i have to wonder what has been the effect of white leadership of anti racism? do we have a less racist society? or a differently racist society?
r u better off than you were 4 years ago? or are you just different?
i dont know why i have not read a lot about the white supremacy of anti racism movement. seems pretty obvious to me. but then im no expert (on racism).
M. Asli Dukan's tribute to Octavia Butler
Proud as ever of my sistren at MEEM in Beruit! Keep up the great work!
So, BGLH readers recently asked J, Shari and I — who all have very different textures — to list our top products. J kicked us off with her list below, and Shari and I will post ours in the coming days… but there are a VARIETY of textures represented by the women who follow this site and I want you to get in on this.
The instructions are simple:
Submit a photo of your hair (Note: Hair must be healthy. Hair texture must be evident in photo)
Describe your texture
List your top 5 products (feel free to elaborate!)
Say where you're from
We need to have our product game on lock as we head into the winter so I will be posting entries as I receive them throughout the day. Submit them to blackgirllonghair@gmail.com with "Top 5″ as the subject! Alright ladies, get to work!
Repeat offenders are welcome! Submit even if you've been profiled before 
***
First entry is in! I will be organizing them by hair type so it's easier to compare and contrast
Texture Description: "I would describe my hair as Afro-Curly. The back section tends to be drier than the front. I also have a lot of shrinkage."
Top 5 Products:
1. Hairveda Amala Cream Rinse: This is the only product I've found that cleanses my hair without stripping it. It's similar to a co-wash.
2. Praital Silk Worm Conditioner: This is a rich, thick Dominican conditioner. I love Dominican conditioners in general.
3. Hairveda Whipped Cream: A rich, thick lotion that adds moisture and softness. It is very reasonably priced.
4. Blended Beauty Natural Hair Oil: This softens and nourishes my hair. It is not greasy and absorbs into the hair very easily.
5. Kinky Curly Curling Custard: I love this! It defines my curls and has a great hold to it.
Texture Description: "My hair texture is schizophrenic, but don't we all have that challenge. Looser curls at the front and back and straight, but coarser in the middle. The middle usually just stands up regardless of what I do, it feels like a bad relaxer in the middle if I do not moisturize enough."
Top Products:
1. Castor oil without a doubt: Refer to Jenteel's post. Ditto on all she said. I am super excited a bottle cost less than $2 US here in St. Lucia. I'll be stocking up before I leave. I use it to deep condition, as grease, to seal the ends of my twist and mixed with water for a spritz. I've been spending a lot more time at the beach and castor oil helps after the sun, sand and salt!
2. Coconut oil (cold pressed & unprocessed): Also fairly inexpensive in the islands. I use it to grease my scalp and mixed with water for a refresher/spritz. Also for my skin.
3. Suave conditioner in coconut or the one on sale: I use this to wash my hair.
4: Miss Jessie's Curly Buttercrème: This works for me right out of the shower to keep my 'fro tamed. It is pricey and gets mixed reviews but it works for me. I especially like the look and feel when I am in an hurry and rub a little through my wet air and go.
5: Honey: I use honey to deep condition with castor oil or as a 'gel' for a little hold. And no…I do not get eaten by ants.
Texture description: "I have yet to see hair that is nappy as mine on naturals I see walking about. And I have pretty good nap-dar."
Top 5 Products:
1. COCONUT OIL: I love it. I get the Spectrum brand at Whole Foods–virgin, unrefined. I use it every single day–probably about a teaspoon. Before I wash I melt about a tablespoon in a bowl, mix it with olive oil and rub it into my hair all over in sections. After a few hours, I wash it out.
2. Carol's Daughter Some of Marguerite's Hair Magic: It smells delicious…nice and sweet and soft. It leaves my hair really moist and soft.
3. Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner: Stuff is bomb. I use it for my weekly co-wash and leave it in while I comb out. I never rinse it out (I know this doesn't work for some people, but it works just fine for me). The next day my hair is super soft 
) Throughout the week I don't use conditioner as a moisturizer; I use the above mentioned products.
4. Lustrasilk Olive Oil Cholesterol: (No Heat cap Necessary). This stuff is good for nappies on a budget…and super nappies who just want a really good hair moisturizer. This stuff is my crack. And I don't feel bad using a lot of because it costs $2.89 for 20 oz. It leaves my hair really soft and touchable.
5. Just For Me Detangler: Don't laugh.
***
Let's keep this going! Send your top 5 products in!
Thanks to aphotoeditor, I found this amazing article on Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai's new photography blog. I'm sharing some of the points that I found especially useful:
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.
- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacency.
Thanks to aphotoeditor, I found this amazing article on Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai's new photography blog. I'm sharing some of the points that I found especially useful:
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.
- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacency.
Magic's most shocking accusation, however, is that Thomas was responsible for spreading rumors that Johnson was gay or bisexual after Johnson tested positive for HIV, forcing his retirement at age 32. "Isiah kept questioning people about it,'' Magic says. "I couldn't believe that. The one guy I thought I could count on had all these doubts. It was like he kicked me in the stomach.''and
The book's main source for this allegation is Magic's longtime agent, Lon Rosen, who says Thomas told him in 1991, "I keep hearing Magic is gay.''
"C'mon, Isiah, you know Earvin better than anyone,'' Rosen replies.
"I know,'' Thomas answers, "but I don't know what he's doing when he's out there in L.A.''
On Wednesday, Thomas denied that conversation. "I don't know Lon like that,'' he said, adding that he reached out to Johnson at the time. "I remember calling Magic and saying [of the allegations that he was rumor-mongering], 'You know that's some bulls---.' ''
Now here is a Barbie that you don't see everyday. This one was done by Loanne Hizo Ostlie. She is a bad-ass artist who sells Barbies on ebay with the hair re-rooted in diverse styles that are more representative of Black women today.
I often have this image on my desktop because it's the closest image of Barbie that resembles my look and we all need a little affirmation every now and then. It's not to say that Barbie with locs is problem free. But this work is an important contribution and it should be acknowledged.
I don't know if I am on a hair kick because I am still reeling from Chris Rock's Good Hair shenanigans, but I can't help thinking about this image in the wake of the disappointment regarding these new black Barbies that were released this month.
Here are just some of the notable quotables about the hair texture of these new Barbies:
A 'So In Style' hairstyling set that allows girls to straighten their dolls' hair completely has alarmed observers, who say it will fuel the "beauty issues" that many black girls have ."Black mothers who want their girls to love their natural hair have an uphill battle and these dolls could make it harder," said Sheri Parks, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland.
Barbie's skinny figure has long come under fire for promoting an unrealistic body image. But Kumea Shorter-Gooden, author of Shifting The Double Lives of Black Women in America, said the diminutive, primarily Caucasian frame of Barbie dolls had a more negative impact on black girls.
"They are already struggling with messages that 'black skin isn't pretty and our hair is too kinky and short'," she said.
Mattel needs to employ Loanne as a consultant if they truly want to create a doll that represents black women.
The first is institutional racism, which exists when instituitons or ogranizationsOn one level these experiences remind me of just how privilaged
have standard operating procedures, intended or unintended, hurt members
of one or more races in relation to members of the dominant race.
The second is societal racism exist when prevailing societal or cultural assumptions
or norms, concepts or habits favor on race over one or more other races. For
example, the OJ trial revealed societal racism.
The third is epistemologoical racism comes from or emerges out of
what we have labeled the civilizational level, the deepest, most primary level
of a culture of people. The civilizational level is the the level that emcompasses he
deepest, most primary assumptions about the nature of reality (ontology)...
"Dividing Line" oil on canvas and board 1995 (via Irénée Shaw: Dividing Line)
"Dividing Line" oil on canvas and board 1995 (via Irénée Shaw: Dividing Line)
