Tax-Expatriation

Famous Americans who Renounced U.S. Citizenship – Josephine Baker

Posted on March 10, 2014 Updated on April 25, 2015

Josephine Baker, born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906, was a world famous entertainer who became a U.S. citizen under the 14th  Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as a result of her birth, which provides in relevant part:  “All persons born . . . in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States . . .“

She became a highly successful entertainer in France, where she moved to Paris to live.  She became a sensation in Paris after performing at the La Revue Nègre at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in the 1920s.

In “. . . 1937 she had renounced her American citizenship, thoroughly disgusted by the blatant and official racism against blacks, and became a citizen of France”.

Josephine Baker’s story was truly revolutionary as she assisted the French in the resistance efforts in World War II.  She also became involved in the U.S. civil rights efforts in the 1950s through her fame and refusal to perform for racially segregated audiences.

“She adopted 12 children, partly because she couldn’t have any of her own and partly because she believed in equality for all, no matter what nationality, religion or race they were of. They were called “the Rainbow Children” and their names were: Aiko (Korea), Luis (Colombia), Janot (Japan), Jari (Finland), Jean-Claude (Canada), Moses (French), Marianne (France), Noel (France), Brahim (Arab), Mara (Venezuela), Koffi (the Ivory-Coast), Stellina (Morocco).”

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