“Nothing would be more exotic, less hypocritical and narcissistic, than to hoist this American naturalized in 1937, libertarian and Gaullist, cross of war and medal of the Resistance, in the heart of the nation. She is at the height of a man“. This is what the intellectual Régis Debray wrote in 2013 in a column published by Le Monde, asking for Joséphine Baker to enter the Pantheon.
“It’s a bad idea, she would have refused it”
If at the time, the idea had seduced a few admirers, and anti-racist activists, the project had remained unfinished. In the columns of France Dimanche, his eldest son Akio had also decided, in 2015: “It’s a bad idea, she would have refused it”. And to add: “What is certain is that she always disturbs those who fight her ideals”.
It took 5 more years for the leader of the review and resistance to have the right to the honors. In the spring of 2021, a committee was formed around Laurent Kupferman, notably with Akio’s little brother, Brian Bouillon Baker, who represented these brothers and sisters (12 children in all that Joséphine Baker adopted from all over the world. , with her husband Jo Bouillon, whom she called her tribe “Rainbow”).
Supported by Jennifer Guesdon, entrepreneur, historian and academician Pascal Ory, hand also Stéphane Bern, Laurent Ruquier, Laurent Voulzy, Line Renaud, Rachel Khan or Pascal Brukner, the petition “Dare Josephine” obtained more than 35,000 signatures.
Joséphine Baker makes history again
The rest of the story was written last night, on the Sainte-Geneviève mountain, in Paris, and under the nave. This November 30, the one who died in 1975, became the 6th big woman places, and the first black. For his son, Brian, “It is for her services rendered to France and because she embodies republican values. Her commitments are more relevant than ever. My mother was not a politician, but she was a humanist”. Too bad for the haters.
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