French honor for Josephine Baker stirs conflict over racism

Space_Time · Nov 29, 2021

I would think everyone would be happy. What would be enough to make everyone happy? My guess is nothing:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.y...ch-honor-josephine-baker-stirs-143858015.html

French honor for Josephine Baker stirs conflict over racism

ARNO PEDRAM

November 29, 2021, 7:38 am

FILE- Protesters gesture during a demonstration against police violence and racial injustice, Tuesday, June 2, 2020 in Paris. France is inducting Missouri-born cabaret dancer Josephine Baker, who was also a French World War II spy and civil rights activist – into itsPantheon. She is the first Black woman honored in the final resting place of France’s most revered luminaries.

FILE A protester raises his fist during a demonstration against police violence and racial injustice, in Paris, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. France is inducting Missouri-born cabaret dancer Josephine Baker, who was also a French World War II spy and civil rights activist – into its Pantheon. She is the first Black woman honored in the final resting place of France’s most revered luminaries. On the surface, it’s a powerful message against racism, bt by choosing a U.S.-born figure -- entertainer Josephine Baker – critics say France is continuing a long tradition of decrying racism abroad while obscuring it at home. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh, File)

PARIS (AP) — On the surface, it’s a powerful message against racism: a Black woman will, for the first time, join other luminaries interred in France’s Pantheon. But by choosing a U.S.-born figure -- entertainer Josephine Baker – critics say France is continuing a long tradition of decrying racism abroad while obscuring it at home.

While Baker is widely appreciated in France, the decision has highlighted the divide between the country's official doctrine of colorblind universalism and some increasingly vocal opponents, who argue that it has masked generations of systemic racism.

Baker’s entry into the Pantheon on Tuesday is the result of years of efforts from politicians, organizations and public figures. Most recently, a petition by Laurent Kupferman, an essayist on the French Republic, gained traction, and in July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Baker would be “pantheonized.”
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dharbert · Nov 29, 2021

It's 2021. Anything and everything is racist. Didn't you know?

Space_Time · Nov 29, 2021

dharbert said: ↑

It's 2021. Anything and everything is racist. Didn't you know?
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Fortunately not everyone feel that way:

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...phine-baker-a-timely-addition-to-the-pantheon

The Guardian view on Josephine Baker: a timely addition to the Panthéon

Editorial

President Macron’s decision to honour a consummate black artist and civil rights activist sends an important message

Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker. ‘The admission of the first black woman into the Panthéon also offers an opportunity to reflect on one of the most remarkable figures of the 20th century.’ Photograph: AP

Sun 28 Nov 2021 13.25 EST

Above the portico columns of the Panthéon in Paris, which was completed the year after the storming of the Bastille, a solemn inscription reads, “To Great Men From a Grateful Nation”. Well over 200 years later, the famous mausoleum remains overwhelmingly the resting place of male heroes of the French nation, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Jean Moulin. But on Tuesday they will be joined by a black female dancer, singer and civil rights activist from Missouri, who spent her life breaking down barriers of exclusion.
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lemmiwinx · Nov 29, 2021

The French liked Jerry Lewis too. There's just no accounting for taste.

George Bailey · Nov 29, 2021

dharbert said: ↑

It's 2021. Anything and everything is racist. Didn't you know?
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Whites make up less than 9% of the global population. Global minority. Endangered species.

modernpaladin · Nov 29, 2021

dharbert said: ↑

It's 2021. Anything and everything is racist. Didn't you know?
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Some people might think you're being a bit ridiculous here... but CRT is founded upon the notion that whites dont have a high enough valuation of racial identity to relate with minority groups among them who do, and this causes institutional racism. Which is just a really complicated way of saying whites cause institutional racism by not being racist.

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French honor for Josephine Baker stirs conflict over racism

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French honor for Josephine Baker stirs conflict over racism

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