Thank you Josephine Baker

Thank you for posting this, Janis. She was indeed a great lady, well-deserving of honor.

We watched an excellent documentary about her life a few years ago—-I will try to find it so we can watch it again. While she originally gained her fame for that silly banana skirt, she turned that fame into a powerful force for good.

https://www.vogue.com/article/josephine-baker-90th-anniversary-banana-skirt

What an extraordinary woman — from gaining fame as a dancer and singer, to becoming a spy in the Resistance, to being the one of only 2 women with a speaking role at the 1963 March on Washington - she spoke just prior to MLK Jr.

I am currently watching live on French tv the « Pantheonisation » ceremony — beautifully done.

There are so many pieces in the French press right now speaking about her and depicting various elements of her life - take some time to search if you would like. Also, if you speak French, l’Obs has a special issue out now dedicated to Josephine.

Edit to add: if you so happen to be in France in the next little bit, Paris Match (kind of like Time Magazine) will be sponsoring an exhibit on Josephine, at the Pantheon, from Dec 27 through February 13.

I was of course familiar with Josephine Baker, but I had no idea what a truly extraordinary life she had led. I think it admirable that she has been so honored by the French people. Lola, if you find a link for that documentary please post it?

https://www.france24.com/en/live

Watching live right now with my students in class!

What a remarkable woman! Thank you for sharing. I have sent this link to my entire family. It’s wonderful to learn of someone who made such a positive difference in our world especially when so much of our current news is about variants. Thank for enlightening me :)

Thank you, Janis. What an amazing tribute!

It was “Josephine Baker: the Story of an Awakening” made for TV in 2018. Some PBS stations acquired the rights to show it from Cinemoi. I don’t know who might be streaming it now, but I’ll bet someone here does. Or maybe it is on YouTube.

https://cinemoi.tv/josephine-baker

https://frenchculture.org/film-tv-and-new-media/us-theatrical-releases/josephine-bakerthe-story-awakening

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this special day. Wish I could be in Paris today. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/arts/black-artist-josephine-baker-honored-at-frances-pantheon

Thank you Lola for those links.

It was a beautiful ceremony and tribute. The music fit each era, adventure, and aspect of her life. The Chant des Partisans by the Army Choir was quite moving. The talented junior high and high schoolers from the Maîtrise of the Opera Comique showed their singing and signing skills.

And for the record, the metro station Gaité is going to be renamed for Josephine Baker — in fact, signs have been added today, you can see them if you have Instagram and check out the Stories of the Transport Minister, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, handle @jbdjebb

The Join Us In France podcast with Annie Sargent and Elyse (number 365) from this week is dedicated to Josephine Baker. An excellent show this week.

Josephine Baker - what a woman!

https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/josephine-baker-enters-the-pantheon-in-paris/

This has been featuring heavily on the U.K. news.

She died in 1975 so why has it taken nearly half a century?

Some cynical persons would respond to take a look at Emmanuel Macron’s presidential re-election campaign . . .

I believe she is only the second woman to receive this honour?
The other is Madame Marie Curie.

If you've never been to the Pantheon, go there next time you're in Paris...it's just lovely.

I understand her family had been lobbying for the Pantheon. So maybe it takes more than just permission from the family. She was, indeed a remarkable person. If going to the Dordogne be sure to visit her Château, Le Château et jardins des Milandes. Beautiful and fascinating. They cover a lot of her history and even have some of her costumes. And don't miss the falconry show. I've never seen anything like it!

Kay- thanks for mentioning Le Chateau et Jardins des Milandes. When we took the Loire to the South of France tour we visited the Dordogne. We did a canoe trip from Cénac to Beynac. Sorry we missed Josephine’s home. Glad you got to visit!

Thanks kerouac2...I didn't know that.

Additional info to add to kerouac2 contribution:
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/paris/articles/who-are-the-five-women-in-pariss-pantheon/?amp=1