Anti-Communism: McCarthy, Winchell & the Attack against Josephine Baker | Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip

Learn more about the 1950s anti-communist movement by examining how the FBI and journalist Walter Winchell used accusations of communism in an effort to destroy Josephine Baker’s career. In this video resource from Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip | American Masters, students learn how Baker—an international star, French resistance agent, and civil rights activist—endured a smear campaign against her after she spoke out against the racism and discrimination she experienced  while touring the United States in 1951. Supporting educational materials include vocabulary, discussion questions, and an activity that asks students to analyze and reflect on a document from Baker’s FBI file.