Why does this statue of Solitude stand here? It’s more than just bronze and stone. It’s the Statue La Voix des Luttes a powerful symbol in Paris. It honors Solitude a Guadeloupean woman who fought against the re-establishment of slavery. Born in 1772 Solitude was a mulâtresse the daughter of an enslaved African woman. Her mother was violated by a sailor. Solitude was separated from her mother and became a house slave.
When slavery was first abolished in Guadeloupe in 1794 Solitude joined a community of former slaves. She found a family there. But Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the re-establishment of slavery in 1802. Officers Louis Delgrès and Joseph Ignace led resistance. Solitude pregnant and among the many women fighting for freedom. Their struggle was short-lived and ended in defeat. Solitude was imprisoned and later executed in November 1802 the day after giving birth.
For many years Solitude’s story was forgotten. Auguste Lacour’s 1855 book mentioned her but it wasn’t until André Schwarz-Bart’s 1972 novel La Mulâtresse Solitude that she gained recognition. The Statue La Voix des Luttes unveiled in May 2022 is a tribute. It’s the first statue of a Black woman in Paris. It shows Solitude holding Louis Delgrès’s proclamation calling for the fight against slavery. This powerful image stands as a testament to her courage and sacrifice.
The statue’s location itself is significant. It’s in the 17th arrondissement in a garden renamed after Solitude in 2020. It’s not just a memorial. It’s a symbol of hope resilience and the ongoing fight for equality. The natural hair and rounded belly showing motherhood express her humanity. The bronze figure is a powerful reminder of a woman who fought for freedom and equality. The Statue La Voix des Luttes ensures Solitude’s story is finally heard. It’s a must-see symbol of resistance and strength right here in Paris.