Josephine Baker to join the Pantheon on November 30th
The remains of French-American artist Josephine Becker (1906-1975), a prominent figure in the French resistance and the fight against racism, will be transferred to the Pantheon on November 30, according to the surroundings of French President Emmanuel Macron, confirming information reported by the newspaper "Le Parisien".
With this decision, the Missouri-born performing artist who is buried in Monaco will become the first black woman to be buried in the "Great Cemetery."
Entrepreneur Jennifer Gisdon, who participated in this campaign, said, "President Macron met us on the 21st of July, and when he responded positively to our request, the joy was overwhelming."
And the newspaper "Le Parisien" revealed the president's approval of this measure after he met a group of personalities who attended in support of this file. Among those calling for Becker's transfer to the Pantheon are Jennifer Gisdon, novelist Pascal Bruckner, singer Laurent Folzy and writer Laurent Kupferman, as well as Josephine Becker's son, Brian Boyon-Becker, the newspaper reported.
The entourage of President Macron confirmed to AFP that the transfer ceremony will take place on November 30. On this date, the artist married Jean Leon, which allowed her to obtain French citizenship, according to Gisdon.
A petition was launched two years ago, at the initiative of Laurent Kupfermann, to introduce the singer of "Je de Zamore" to the Pantheon. “The artist’s family submitted a request in this regard in 2013,” Jennifer Gisdon explained, noting that the petition now includes “about 40,000 signatures.”
