A bench. A simple bench. Yet this unassuming seat on Rue Louis-Delgrès holds a powerful story. It’s a story of a man named Louis Delgrès a chevalier of liberty.
Rue Louis-Delgrès. A quiet street in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. Its name however resonates with history. It is named after a remarkable figure from Guadeloupe a hero of the fight against slavery. Louis Delgrès. Remember that name.
The street itself is relatively short. It links Rue des Cendriers to Rue des Panoyaux. It’s a modern street part of the ZAC des Amandiers urban development project. But its namesake’s legacy far outweighs its physical length.
The bench you see before you is more than just a place to rest. It’s a memorial a Bench by the Road. It was inaugurated by the Toni Morrison Society. It stands as a tribute to the victims of slavery and Louis Delgrès’ struggle.
Originally located here on Rue Louis-Delgrès the bench was later moved. It now sits in the Jardin Toussaint-Louverture. The move was made on National Day of Remembrance for the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
But the spirit of Louis Delgrès remains. His fight for freedom is forever imprinted. Not just on this bench or in a distant park but on the very soul of this street. Rue Louis-Delgrès. A quiet street. But a street with a mighty history. A street to remember.