JOSEPHINE BAKER

A workmanlike entry in the ``Black Americans of Achievement'' series. Flashing back from Baker's historic 1926 debut at the Folies-Bergäre, Schroeder covers her poverty-stricken childhood in East St. Louis, her career in black vaudeville, and her rise to world-class entertainer. He briefly discusses Baker's three marriages (the first was at age 13) and other personal details, but the informing theme here is her dedication to overcoming the racist attitudes she continually confronted, culminating in her struggle to build and support a multi racial family: the ``Rainbow Tribe.'' Schroeder, also the author of a fictional picture book about Baker (Ragtime Tumpie, 1989), reports incidents effectively but brings neither motives nor relationships to life. Useful for assignments, but not as memorable as his earlier book. (Biography. 10+)