Story of Our Lives: Looking at "Switching" and Being True to Oneself Through Josephine Baker's "Princess Tam Tam"

In "Princess Tam Tam" Josephine Baker is a Tunisian farm girl/peasant who goes to France, all dolled up and classed up a la Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady", to make Max's wife, Lucie jealous. Max has gone to Tunisia to get away from Lucie, and in the meantime, Lucie is in the arms of the Maharajah (a black prince apparently, seen above). He won't have that, so he gets himself a fine woman of color to teach her a lesson.

This movie had moments that were hard to watch at times, but Josephine shines through. What I love about Josephine in this movie, is that she doesn't let their racism get her down. She is determined to shine regardless of being called a "savage" and "bedouin" by French snobs. What's even more endearing is that she does, and she doesn't give a damn whether she outshines them in designer duds, or dancing a RIBALD, and seductive conga.

Josephine is an idol of mine. She is one of many, but I find that I have the most in common with her, particularly the women she portrayed. Josephine did not care. When it was business, it was business. When it was fun, it was fun. She didn't care what anyone thought about her, she just did her and I love her for it.

Back to Princess Tam Tam.

I won't spoil it for you, but what you see in Princess Tam Tam is something that I think a lot of black women can understand: The need to reconcile what society wants them to be/how society sees them, and who they really are. She falls in love with Max, and because she loves him, she goes to France and gets all dolled up, and deals with having to live among prejudiced, bigoted snobs who call her a savage because she isn't adhering to the rigid standards of their particular "civilization."

This movie, by the way, seems to, advertently or inadvertently, show that "civilization" really isn't all it's cracked up to be. The French "ton" don't seem to be as personable, or as human, as Josephine, Dar or even the Maharajah (not to mention the Tunisians and the others in the Sailor Dive Bar).

In the above scene, Josephine (Alwina) is set up by Lucie, so that everyone can see just how savage she really is. Instead, she is a hit with everyone (and how wouldn't she be with dancing like that? Brought a tear to my eye) and Lucie is foiled and embarrassed.

When she's brought to the Maharajah's sumptuous palace, he has "the talk" with her. You know "the talk", right? I think at one point or another, we all have that talk, where someone from your own race disappoints the hell out of you with a revelation that things aren't always what they seem. This is when the rose colored glasses come off, and reality sets in.

He tells her, "Don't build anything with them." He asks her if she loves Max. Of course she responds that she does. The Maharajah tells her to leave immediately and when she protests, he explains this way:

Accordingly, the Maharajah tells Alwina, "My house has two kinds of windows - Those facing the East [the Orient] and those facing the West [the Occident]. This one faces the West." As he opens the curtains, Alwina, through "Orientally" shaped bars, watches Max and Lucie kiss outside...

As the Maharajah opens the window to the East, Alwina calls out to her country of origin, "I'm coming!"

{Note from HNH: Yes, that is figurative. She actually says, "Dar! I'm coming." Dar is another Tunisian who acts kind of like her body guard.}

In this movie, Josephine realizes that she was right for wanting to resist, and stay true to herself and her culture. She realizes that Max doesn't love her, but she also realizes that there is life outside of Paris, and that her life in Tunisia is what she really wants, not among vipers in Paris.

I cried when he used the windows as metaphors for several reasons. As someone who was raised somewhere else, I completely understand that. For me, my window "East" faces to Central America and the Caribbean. It faces blues skies, rainy seasons, tropical nights, idyllic days and nights, and rich history. My window "West" faces my "American-ness". It faces all the positive things, and all the negatives as well. It faces the freedom, but the never really fitting in (not that I want to fit in with anyone). It's that duality that so many of us face. Your duality may be different than mine, but I'd wager that you have your own "windows" facing "East" or "West."

It is realizing that duality that I really made it my business to be me, no matter where I am. It reminds me of a convo with Mr. Slim. ]

For Memorial Day I wore multi-colored nails (pink and orange alternating on each finger with a nifty design). Mr. Slim mentioned that he wouldn't suggest I wear my nails that way because "white people" might think I was "ghetto." I realize he meant well. He knows that I am nowhere near ghetto, and doesn't want anyone to think of me that way. It is then that I realized that at 27 years old, I could care less. My life, where I am today, speaks volumes, and "ghetto" is not one of those words that could be used to describe it.

I told him that if they saw my "creativity" (and indeed everyone who is into fashion is rocking that alternate nail look this summer) as being "ghetto", I don't want them around me anyway, and could care less what they think. If after speaking to me, or seeing me, they determine that I am ghetto, I say "I'll be that." There was nothing I could do to change anyone's mind anyway, and I certainly don't care to.

This is how the movie ends. Alwina realizes what they think, thought of her, and is okay with that because in the end, she knows they are wrong and she accepts herself. Isn't that an awesome way to live life? Just being happy with yourself?

Check out the movie! Her dancing is the bee's knees. Her makeup is impeccable and the music is beautiful.

Source of quotation from the Maharajah and great write up on the movie and "Orientalism."

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