Paris-based, Senegalese-heritage model Mame Wade channels the spirit and physical image of American-born, French heroine Josephine Baker in this Vogue Greece December 2023 holidays story.

Wade is photographed by Koto Bolofo [IG] in the sophisticated, luxury-elegance fashion story styled by Nicholas Georgiou.

Ms. Wade, who is also known as Mameanta Wade and Mame Anta, honors Josephine Baker own words and sentiments on her IG:

Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul, when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood.

Multiple times in 2023, AOC has referenced stories about race relations in Europe vs America, and the 20th century rise of cafe society, as a lifestyle choice between artists and creatives and the monied set.

Josephine Baker had such a relationship with Princess Grace of Monaco, one that was a very genuine friendship between the two women.

Whoa! Anne continues to learn new factoids, even when researching a story I’ve already told. Let me finish the Grace Kelly story first.

Few places in New York City ranked higher on list of cafe society supper clubs than Manhattan’s Stork Club. Perhaps they had been introduced in Europe, but the friendship between Kelly and Baker was not one of soul sisters until the Stork Club.

Grace Kelly and Josephine Baker at the Manhattan Stork Club [1951]

On October 16, 1951, Josephine Baker arrived at the Stork Club to celebrate her final performance at the Roxy. This was five years before Grace Kelly would marry Prince Ranier of Monaco in 1956.

Kelly, a rising Hollywood actress, was already seated at a table at the Stork Club, when it became obvious that —while admitted to the club — the service at Baker’s table was abominable. With others being served around her, Baker’s table was waiting over an hour for dinner to arrive.

Clear about what was going on around her, Josephine Baker arose and went to a pay phone in the lounge area, calling a friend at the NAACP. There were both discrimination charges filed and activists picketing the Stork Club the next day.

It’s time for Anne to visit the New York Times wayback machine. This moment, we return to Baker’s table.

A Famous Twosome Is Born

Grace Kelly observed what was going on, and as Baker returned to her table, Kelly arose from her group to join Baker’s. The two women led the procession from Baker’s table [which Anne assumes was integrated] out of the Stork Club and into newspaper headlines the next day.

The rise of Cafe Society in New York, Paris and London began a good 25 years earlier in New York. Kelly’s actions were an example of a theme I’ve referenced multiple times this year. Many of these women were social activists operating on multiple continents.

Very specifically, rich white women became deeply involved in the French resistance against the Nazis, with specific support of the Jews being exterminated in Europe.

French Resistance Fighter Catherine Dior Will Be Featured in New Apple+ Series

One of the women deeply involved in the French resistance was Christian Dior’s sister Catherine, who was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo in 1944.

Most of our young people don’t even know that two-thirds of the Jews living in Europe were murdered by the Nazis. But Apple TV is dropping a new series about Christian Dior on Valentine’s Day 2024.

The focus of Apple TV+ 10-episode series ‘The New Look’ will be the Nazis in Europe and how the most prestigious fashion brands in the world dealt with the crisis from Paris.

When people like Kanye West, Donald Trump and Elon Musk celebrate Adolf Hitler, older people know what’s going down. When Trump used the word ’vermin’ last week, what I said out loud is not printable on this website.

Note that Apple pulled all advertising off Musk’s X today [Friday, November 17, 2023]. Details are emerging in the hour after posting this article over his blatant anti-semitism. Apple is not alone in saying “we will not go there.”

Back to rich white women — the last people one would expect to be deeply involved in anti-Nazi resistance — they were. I noted in the Fall Zimmermann campaign that dresses had secret inner pockets and panels.

That young French maid in the ladies lounge was more than she appeared to be. Imagine Grace Kelly being born a decade earlier, asking the maid to rezip the back of her gown — as it was rubbing her the wrong way.

Today’s young progressives would be hooting “Oh, poor Barbie. Her dress is chafing her precious white skin!” Au contraire. Those words were code for removing messages and money hidden inside the dresses of women like Grace Kelly. Some husbands knew; others were Ken-like clueless.

Josephine Baker: Triple-Platinum-Grade Spy

I don’t recall knowing that Josephine Baker was at the highest ranks of French civilians working in the French resistance. Known as the “Creole Goddess” of France, Baker used her celebrity to gain access to high-ranking Axis officials.

Let’s just say the fearless torch singer with a backbone of steel played those Nazi guys like a fiddle. Alright, this story has grabbed my attention in a big way, but with only headlines scanned, I’ll say no more for now.

[30 minutes later] That promise never lasts long.

Janelle Monáe has signed on to appear in De La Resistance, an upcoming A24 series based on the life of jazz icon Josephine Baker. There’s no drop date this minute.

The show will focus on Baker's dual roles as a jazz singer and Allie spy during the French resistance in World War II. Monáe will produce the series, which was created by Legion and Outlander writer Jennifer Yale, via her own Wondaland Pictures ~ Anne