Josephine Baker Read by Ashley Graham

Once upon a time, there was a girl who became a dancer, a spy, and a civil rights activist. Her name was Josephine. One of the most sought-after performers in history, Josephine Baker became known for her unique style and humor. She refused to perform for segregated audiences, aided the French Resistance during WWII, and stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington. Her extraordinary career paved the way for generations of Black female entertainers. [This episode originally aired June 2020.] About the Narrator: Ashley Graham is an American supermodel, designer, author, advocate, and entrepreneur. Ashley is a passionate voice for inclusivity, leveraging her platform to inspire confidence and empower others. In addition to being a brand ambassador for Revlon, Ashley currently hosts and produces the top-rated podcast Pretty Big Deal, as well as Fearless, a show on the Ellen Digital Network. This episode is a production of Rebel Girls and Boom Integrated, a division of John Marshall Media. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This season was produced by John Marshall Cheary, Sarah Storm, and Robin Lai. Corinne Peterson was our Production Manager. Our Executive Producers were Elena Favilli and Dan Ilani. This episode was written by Alexis Stratton and edited by Maithy Vu. Proofread by Ariana Rosas. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi who has also sound designed this episode. Mattia Marcelli was the sound mixer.