Emmanuel Macron defends France according to Joséphine Baker, entered the Pantheon
Audio 1:29:42
French President Emmanuel Macron during the entry ceremony to the Pantheon of Joséphine Baker, November 30, 2021. © AFP - SARAH MEYSSONNIER
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
46 years after her death, Joséphine Baker came back into full light on Tuesday, November 30, entering the Pantheon on Tuesday, November 30 to join the great French figures.
In a speech at the entrance ceremony, Emmanuel Macron praised her as "
the embodiment of the French spirit
".
The Head of State tried to show to what extent she had served the values of France as he himself sees it, that is to say "
as a Nation which is never as much itself as when she is grown up and fearless
”.
Words that resonate in the presidential campaign.
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With
Valérie Gas,
from the Political Department of RFI
"
My France is Joséphine
", launched Emmanuel Macron at the end of his speech.
“
She comes in here to remind us all of the elusive beauty of our collective destiny.
"At the dawn of a presidential campaign in which Emmanuel Macron will defend - even if he has not yet officially said that he would be a candidate - his project and his vision of France, the message is clear: the president outgoing stands on the side of optimism, of the defense of a model where openness to the world does not call into question the identity of France.
Hear the story of Josephine Baker's Hall of Fame Entrance Ceremony
Sylvie Koffi
"
There is no more French than you
", insisted the Head of State, referring to this black woman born in the United States but who chose to become French.
This fighter whose cause was "
universalism
" who did not defend "
a skin color but carried a certain idea of man
".
A woman who also symbolized “
emancipation
” and who forged her destiny.
In this speech are found all the fundamentals of Emmanuel Macron and especially the fight against withdrawal, the fear of the other, the idea of a closed France.
A very symbolic message on the day when the one who defends the opposite - Eric Zemmour -
declared his candidacy
for the presidential election.
Hear reactions from the crowd at Josephine Baker's Hall of Fame Entrance Ceremony
Lucie Bouteloup
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France
Josephine Baker
Emmanuel Macron
Racism
Second World War