Black Excellence: Josephine Baker

May 6, 2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Baker

Freda Josephine Baker (née McDonald; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), naturalized as Joséphine Baker, was an American-born French dancer, singer, and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in France. She was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 French silent film Siren of the Tropics, directed by Mario Nalpas and Henri Étiévant.[3]

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/30/1059776777/josephine-baker-france-pantheon

PARIS — Josephine Baker, the American-born entertainer and civil rights activist who first achieved fame in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, was given France’s highest honor on Tuesday when she was inducted into the French Pantheon, the nation’s mausoleum of heroes.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/josephine-baker-s-secret-war-the-african-american-star-who-fought-for-france-and-freedom/da4d3a43846fee5a?ean=9780300279986&next=t&source=IndieBound

Before the Second World War, Josephine Baker (1906-1975) was one of the most famous performers in the world. She made her name dancing on the Parisian stage, but when war broke out she decided not to return to America. Instead, Baker turned spy for the French Secret Services.

Black Excellence: Geoffrey Holder

May 6, 2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Holder

Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August 1, 1930 – October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, director, choreographer, and artist.[2][3] He was a principal dancer for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, before his film career began in 1957 with an appearance in Carib Gold. For his theatre work, he won two Tony Awards, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design in a Musical for the original Broadway production of The Wiz.

Black Excellence: Jake Blount

May 2, 2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Blount

Jake Blount is an American musician and writer based in Providence, Rhode Island.[1] He specializes in the traditional music of African Americans,[2] and his work has been described as “Afrofuturist folklore.”[3] Blount, while initially recognized for his skill as an old-time banjo player and fiddler,[4][5] is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has described his music as “genrequeer.”[6] He often performs most of the parts on his recordings, and fluently employs modern instruments and production techniques in his performances of centuries-old repertoire.[7] His work critiques popular notions of genre[6] and linear time,[8] and usually centers themes of social and environmental justice.[7]

Black Excellence: Elijah Manley

May 2, 2025

https://www.elijahmanley.com/about

Born and raised in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk community, Elijah Manley knows firsthand the struggles that too many families in South Florida still face today. Raised by a hardworking single mother and growing up in deep poverty, Elijah experienced chronic homelessness, food insecurity, and the harsh realities of living paycheck to paycheck. He understands what it’s like to go to school hungry, to live without electricity, and to wonder where his family would sleep at night.

Black Excellence: Biscuits & Banjos

May 2, 2025

https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5379904/biscuits-and-banjos-music-festival-photos

Dedicated to Black music reclamation and exploration, Biscuits & Banjos is a new music festival curated by Grammy-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens. The festival took place this past weekend in Durham, N.C., and featured artists like Taj Mahal, Infinity Song, Rissi Palmer and a Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion. It also incorporated Durham’s Black history with a walking tour of Black Wall Street, panel discussions, square and line dancing, and a juke joint-themed party with drag performances.