“Victor Schoelcher?” the name echoes with the weight of history. Rue Victor Schoelcher in Paris commemorates a man who dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. This street in the 14th arrondissement is more than just a place. It is a reminder of the fight for human rights.
Rue Victor Schoelcher stretches for about 187 meters. It connects Boulevard Raspail to Rue Froidevaux. The street runs along the eastern side of the Montparnasse Cemetery. Buildings on this street are mostly from the early 20th century.
Victor Schoelcher was a French journalist and politician. He was born in 1804 and died in 1893. Schoelcher was the greatest advocate for ending slavery in the French empire. After witnessing the horrors of slavery in the United States in 1829, he became an abolitionist.
Schoelcher tirelessly wrote about the barbarism of slavery. In 1848, as undersecretary for the navy, he drafted the decree abolishing slavery in French colonies. He later served as a deputy in the French national legislature. He passionately fought against colonialism and defended the rights of Black people.
During Napoleon III’s coup in 1851, Schoelcher was exiled. He lived in England until 1870. Upon his return to France, he continued to champion social reforms and the end of capital punishment.
Rue Victor Schoelcher also has some remarkable buildings. At number 5, you will see the former studio-house of architect Paul Follot. This building is now home to the Giacometti Institute since 2018. From 1913 to 1916, Pablo Picasso lived at number 5 bis with Eva Gouel. The headquarters of Colonel Rol-Tanguy during the Paris insurrection in 1944 was at number 9. Simone de Beauvoir lived at numbers 11 and 11 bis from 1955 until her death in 1986.
So, as you walk along Rue Victor Schoelcher remember the street’s namesake. Remember Victor Schoelcher’s tireless fight against injustice. This street stands as a testament to his legacy and a call for continued vigilance in the pursuit of equality.