Good morning.
On this day, we remember the moment when Black excellence crossed a line that could never be erased.
On January 23, 1977, Josephine Baker — dancer, activist, and international icon — became the first African American woman to receive France’s highest military honor, the Croix de Guerre with Palm, in recognition of her service as a spy for the French Resistance during World War II.
And I couldn’t help but wonder…
How many lives did she live — and how many did she change — before the world finally caught up?
The deeper story of Josephine Baker’s courage, brilliance, and legacy continues today in Mood Magazine.