Joséphine Baker: artist, activist, resistance fighter and now honoured in France’s Panthéon

August 28, 2021 Clare Victoria Church2 Comments

Published August 27, 2021 with The Conversation UK | By Clare V. Church In the midst of the second world war, at the edge of the vast Saharan desert, Joséphine Baker took the stage. Her backdrop was a midnight sky, painted with stars. A crowd of adoring Allied soldiers stationed in North Africa gathered to swoon… Continue reading Joséphine Baker: artist, activist, resistance fighter and now honoured in France’s Panthéon

Era Magazine

Songs of Resistance

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 Clare Victoria ChurchLeave a comment

Published December 11, 2020 with Era Magazine | By Clare Church Violent storm clouds and blistering winds gathered around Germaine Sablon. As her silk scarf wavered in the wind, she clenched her fists to the sky and sang “Ce soir l’ennemi connaîtra la prix du sang et des larmes.” Tonight, the enemy will know the price… Continue reading Songs of Resistance

Tablet Magazine

Confronting Memories of Nazi-Occupied France

August 1, 2017December 11, 2020 Clare Victoria ChurchLeave a comment

Published July 14, 2017 on Tablet Magazine | By Clare Church Early last year, France opened its WWII police archives for the first time. More than 200,000 documents, formerly available only to select scholars and officials, became open to the public after 76 years of secrecy. Reports soon surfaced of people leaving the archives in tears, distraught with… Continue reading Confronting Memories of Nazi-Occupied France