Josephine Baker’s memoir 'Fearless and Free' sparks debate over legacy

The newly released memoir offers insights into Josephine Baker’s activism but also raises concerns over antisemitic remarks.

American singer and dancer Josephine Baker (1906–1975) performs on stage in Paris in 1956. Photo by Maurice Zalewski/Corbis/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Widya Lestari

Josephine Baker, one of the most iconic figures of the Jazz Age, was more than just a performer. She was a war hero, a civil rights activist, and a humanitarian who sought to reshape the world’s understanding of race and justice. Rising to fame in 1920s Paris as a dancer in La Revue Nègre, Baker captivated audiences with her bold performances. Yet, her legacy extends far beyond the stage. She became a spy for the French Resistance during World War II, a decorated war hero, and later, an advocate for racial equality.

Her humanitarian efforts were equally remarkable. She adopted a diverse group of 12 children, calling them her “Rainbow Tribe,” in an effort to demonstrate that people of different backgrounds could live in harmony. By the time of her passing in 1975, she had become a global symbol of resilience and justice. When she was posthumously inducted into the French Panthéon in 2021, President Emmanuel Macron praised her as a fearless visionary who defied societal norms.

The delayed U.S. release of Fearless and Free

Despite Baker’s widespread influence, her 1949 memoir, Fearless and Free, has only recently been released in the United States. The book, based on interviews conducted by French journalist Marcel Sauvage, offers a raw and personal account of her life. However, it is not a traditional autobiography. Sauvage describes it as an impressionistic collection of defining moments and reflections rather than a fully detailed narrative of Baker’s life.

This distinction is important. Baker was known for embellishing her stories, often shaping her own mythology. Over the years, historians and biographers have struggled to separate fact from fiction in her accounts. She reportedly once said, “I don’t lie—I improve on life.” This memoir, then, is not just a historical record but a glimpse into how Baker saw herself and the world.

A vibrant but controversial narrative

Baker’s storytelling in Fearless and Free is striking, filled with vivid, stream-of-consciousness imagery. She recalls her impoverished childhood in St. Louis, describing how she danced to stay warm. Her early years as a performer in New York City are equally evocative: “The ground sweated at night; a cold fever.”

The book captures her meteoric rise in Europe, where she performed for royalty and sparked protests. Her voice remains effervescent throughout, punctuated with enthusiastic expressions like “oh là là” and exclamation points. Yet, the lighthearted tone gives way to more serious themes when she recounts performing for survivors at the recently liberated Buchenwald concentration camp. “Someone needed to try and distract them, restore their hope,” she recalls, describing the emaciated survivors as “skeletons, ghosts with burning fevers.”

Her civil rights activism also takes center stage. She describes her fury at American racism when she toured the United States in 1948: “After the war and so much unprecedented atrocity, after so much misery, it’s heartbreaking. And I’m furious.” She condemns segregation and discrimination in the strongest terms, calling America’s racial policies “more insidious, more hideous” than those of Nazi Germany.

The controversy over antisemitic language

Despite Baker’s passionate advocacy for justice, parts of Fearless and Free have sparked controversy, particularly her remarks about Jewish landlords in Harlem. She writes that “the Jews have money, too, lots, always more money” and accuses them of reducing Black residents to “slaves.” These statements echo long-standing antisemitic tropes and have drawn criticism.

This is not the first time Baker faced allegations of antisemitism. After the book’s original publication in France, American columnist Walter Winchell condemned her remarks. In response, Baker defended herself, highlighting her support for Israel and pointing out that her second husband was Jewish. She also noted that one of her adopted children was Jewish.

The new edition of the memoir includes a foreword by author Ijeoma Oluo, who attempts to contextualize Baker’s words. Oluo argues that historically, Black and Jewish communities have been pitted against each other, leading to misunderstandings and resentment. She acknowledges that Baker’s statements contribute to harmful stereotypes but suggests they reflect systemic racial tensions rather than deep-seated hatred. “We are all susceptible to bigotry,” she writes, “a part of the human experience of our deeply flawed systems.”

A complex and evolving legacy

The re-release of Fearless and Free comes at a time when antisemitism and racism are on the rise globally. A recent study by the Anti-Defamation League found that nearly half of adults worldwide hold antisemitic beliefs or deny the facts of the Holocaust. In this climate, Baker’s words carry renewed weight and provoke difficult discussions about prejudice and accountability.

American-born French entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker (1906–1975) speaks at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. © Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Baker’s life was one of defiance—against racial injustice, against fascism, against social barriers. Fearless and Free provides a window into her unfiltered thoughts, her triumphs, and her contradictions. It is a reminder that even the most celebrated figures are complex, and their legacies are constantly being reassessed.

While Baker’s contributions to civil rights and global activism remain undeniable, the controversy surrounding her memoir serves as a cautionary tale. It challenges readers to reckon with the flaws of even the most iconic figures and to confront the uncomfortable realities embedded in history.