Dinner with a Curator
US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center

Kristen D. Burton, PhD, presents “Siren of the Resistance: The Artistry and Espionage of Josephine Baker.”

Iconic entertainer of the Jazz Age, famous for her risqué performances, Josephine Baker responded to the start of World War II by becoming a spy for the French Resistance. The renowned “Creole Goddess” of France, Baker used her celebrity to gain access to high-ranking Axis officials. Traveling to regions occupied by the enemy, Baker collected and passed on intelligence in support of the Allies and the Free French effort led by Charles de Gaulle.

The American expat-turned-French citizen remained an active supporter of the French Resistance throughout the war, earning her the Croix de Guerre and Médaille de la Résistance from General de Gaulle at the war’s end. Far more than a dancer, Baker used her artistry to woo, but ultimately combat, the enemy.

Join Kristen D. Burton, the Museum’s Teacher Programs and Curriculum Specialist, to learn about the life, artistry, and espionage of a true icon of the WWII generation. A vocal supporter of civil rights and the fight against fascism, Baker became one of the unsung heroes of the war effort, operating secretly behind enemy lines, hidden behind the guise of her female celebrity.

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Dinner with a Curator is an evening of dinner and history hosted by The American Sector Restaurant & Bar culinary team and The National WWII Museum professionals. Guests participate in discussion on a featured topic related to World War II which is interpreted through the Museum's collection and a theme-inspired four-course dinner paired with beverage specials.

Date:
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM


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