Josephine Baker defied all things in life. When she was young, she really wanted to be in the chorus line on Broadway, but they told her she was too skinny. She created a comic route that ensured she would always be in the line. She did not allow the impossibility of her dream stop her from achieving it.
This month, I am examining the things that seem impossible. What does it really take to achieve them? Do I have it in me? Lets see.
I will be presenting More Than A Color, Saturday June 8 at the Quincy Public Library 526 Jersey St Qunicy Il. Come join us.
Josephine Baker (3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted France. She was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 silent film Siren of the Tropics, directed by Mario Nalpas and Henri Étiévant.
She was born in St Louis, Missouri, as Freda Josephine McDonald where she had a very rough beginning. She dropped out of school at age 12 and had two failed marriages at ages 13 and 15. Then she joined a vaudeville troupe that took her to New York City. She later became part of a show, Shuffle Along in the chorus line. This would be one of the first steps to her success. She joined the cast in the chorus.
She used comedy to make herself stand out in the chorus line, and later launch a career that sent her overseas because prejudice limited what she could accomplish in the United States. In Paris she became a success which led to a career that spanned all over Europe. Some have called her the first Beyonce in that she starred in theater and movies in France and became a standout star.
This month the word is Defy. It means to confront with assured power of resistance; to challenge to do something considered impossible. In facing some of these fears, we change the world.
Nannie Helen Burroughs meets us at the
intersection of gender, race, and profession. She was an educator, civil rights
activists, feminist, and businesswoman
Burroughs was born May 2, 1879, in Orange Virginia. Her parents were formerly slaves, and her
father was a farmer and Baptist preacher.
Her father died when she was young, so Burroughs and her mother moved to
Washing DC.
She attended high school in DC where she met Anna Julia
Cooper and Mary Church Terrell, who were suffragists and civil rights
activists.
After graduation she applied for a job with the District
but could not get one because her skin was too dark. This set in her the
determination to ensure women of her skin tone could improve their situation.
From 1898 to 1909 Burroughs went to work for the National
Baptist Convention in Kentucky. She was one of the founders of the Women’s
Convention and served as president for 13 years. She also found the National
Training School in 1908 that provided evening classes for women who had no
other means of education.
In 1908 she opened the National Training School. Her goal
was to uplift the race. The main themes
of the school was the three B’s: the Bible, the bath, and the broom.
In 1920 she wrote two plays, one The Slabtown District
Convention and Where is My Wandering Boy Tonight?
In 1928, Burroughs was appointed committee chairwoman by
the Hoover Administration for the White
House Conference 1931 Home Building and Ownership. She also spoke at
conferences.
She died in May of 1961
https://www.nps.gov/people/nannie-helen-burroughs.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannie_Helen_Burroughs
Nannie Helen Burrough’s life exemplifies what determination looks like. She wanted to ensure that African American women and girls had access to education that could improve their lives. She worked through many different ways to provide that education, as a teacher, as an activist and as a businesswoman.
It reminds me that I can be determined about something, but it doesn’t mean there is only one way to get it done. Use all the paths to accomplish the goal.
Determination is not always that strong will to keep going no matter what. I think that is where people get tired and stop. At least that is where I get tired and stop.
Determination for me is that moment when you want to stop and you do a little bit more. Then you do a little bit more. Then you realize that you are almost done, so your go ahead and finish it.
So I do.
Nannie Helen Burroughs meets us at the intersection of gender, race, and profession. She was an educator, civil rights activists, feminist, and businesswoman.
Burroughs was born May 2, 1879, in Orange Virginia. Her parents were formerly slaves, and her father was a farmer and Baptist preacher. Her father died when she was young, so Burroughs and her mother moved to Washing DC.
She attended high school in DC where she met Anna Julia Cooper and Mary Church Terrell, who were suffragists and civil rights activists.
After graduation she applied for a job with the District but could not get one because her skin was too dark. This set in her the determination to ensure women of her skin tone could improve their situation.
From 1898 to 1909 Burroughs went to work for the National Baptist Convention in Kentucky. She was one of the founders of the Women’s Convention and served as president for 13 years. She also found the National Training School in 1908 that provided evening classes for women who had no other means of education.
https://www.nps.gov/people/nannie-helen-burroughs.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannie_Helen_Burroughs
She had worked hard for an education during a time it was a hard won prize for African Americans. When Nannie Helen Burroughs finished school and applied for teaching positions in the system that educated her, she was refused because of the color of her skin. Her dark brown skin would relegate her to jobs as domestic servants.
She was determined to not let that happen. She set out for a life where she could teach and help other women in her place have a different future. Her determination changed lives.
UPP Creative Media 