Morning Sun

Josephine Baker honor stirs conflict over racism

-

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.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States