En: Josephine Baker

Wardens' Night

at Federal Lodge is coming up Monday, Oct. 28! Special program for the evening will be "Josephine Baker—Masonic Hero," and it is open to non-Masonic guests. All brethren in the area are invited to attend, especially those who are seated wardens in their lodges.

Josephine Baker was an American-born French singer, dancer, actress, resistance fighter in World War II, and civil rights leader who spoke at the 1963 March on Washington at the side of Martin King. Her special relationship to the Masonic fraternity will be revealed during this fascinating talk.

Dinner is served at 6:30, with the lodge tiling at 7:30 and recessing immediately after opening for the open program. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting the Junior Warden at davidbensondc (at) gmail.com.

Josephine Baker

Source: Wikipedia

(June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer, and actress who came to be known in various circles as the "Black Pearl," "Bronze Venus" and even the "Creole Goddess". Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine later became a citizen of France in 1937. She was fluent in both English and French.

Baker was the first African-American female to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou (1934), to integrate an American concert hall, and to become a world-famous entertainer. The multi-talented international star, who refused to perform for segregated audiences in America, is also noted for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. She was once offered unofficial leadership in the movement in the United States by Coretta Scott King in 1968, following Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Baker, however, turned down the offer. She was also known for assisting the French Resistance during World War II, and received the French military honor, the Croix de guerre.