A Small Town's Pioneering Tribute to Slavery's Legacy
Commemoration of Slavery Expansion in France: Paris Suburb Marked with a Memorable Tribute
In the heart of the Paris suburbs, Arcueil, a humble town of approximately 21,000 residents, embarked on an unprecedented journey to honor slavery's past. Contrary to the historical hubs of the slave trade like Nantes, Bordeaux, and La Rochelle, Arcueil doesn't boast a direct link to this sordid chapter of history. Yet, this small town wasn't about to let that dissuade them from making a statement.
The town's daring memorial site stands tall between two schools, a symbol of both education and remembrance. Guillaume Guillot, the deputy mayor of Arcueil, elucidates, "The idea was to have a stele that would have a plaque on it, which is the recognition of slavery. We added this phrase from [French Martiniquais writer] Édouard Glissant about memory: Oblivion offends, and memory, when it is shared, abolishes this offence."
The memorial's design comprises a broken column, a poignant representation of the shattered remnants of slavery. The stele's plaque carries the initial article of the 2001 law, acknowledging slavery as a crime against humanity by France, adding a touch of gravitas to the site.
Originally, the town had been holding commemorations on May 10th, the National Memorial Day for Slavery and Its Abolitions, at the town's war memorial since a decade. However, Guillot felt the need for a dedicated space for reflection, stating, "There was no specific place of reflection dedicated to this, and it seemed important to create a place and something that would also endure."
The town's new memorial site has earned the endorsement of the Foundation for the Remembrance of Slavery. France abolished slavery in its colonies as early as 1794, only to reinstate it under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Following years of pressure from abolitionists and uprisings in the colonies, particularly in Martinique and Guadeloupe, slavery was permanently abolished in 1848.
Arcueil's pioneering memorial serves as a testament to the broader national efforts in France to confront and acknowledge its role in slavery. A place where one can find solace in the shadow of history, as Damarys Maa Marchand, a women's rights activist, succinctly puts it, "At times when I need some strength, I will come here to reflect."
This report has been adapted from our website's podcast, Reportage en France, produced by Sylvie Koffi. Stay informed with international news by subscribing to our daily newsletter or downloading our app.
At Arcueil, a small French town, a memorial dedicated to slavery's legacy stands proudly between two schools, signifying a fusion of international education and self-development through remembrance. The memorial, designed as a broken column, bears a plaque that recognizes slavery as a crime against humanity by France, contributing to France's broader national efforts to acknowledge its historical role in the practice.
