From our special correspondent in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques),
“I was born in Biarritz and I don’t have the impression that the word negress comes from negro, we forget that aspect, I think when we encounter it on a daily basis,” says Nicolas, 32, busy cleaning with the cleaner at high pressure the terrace of a chocolate factory on the Négresse docks, in Biarritz, this Wednesday. Afterwards, if it hurts people, it must be removed. »
For the Mémoires et Partages association, who mobilizes on the subjects of the legacies of colonization, the slave trade, slavery and racism, there is no doubt about it and she filed an appeal three years ago to change the name of this district , which according to her could regain its Basque name of Harausta (dust), prior to the municipal deliberations of 1861 then 1986, in favor of the term “Negress”. This Thursday, the administrative court of Pau must examine the appeal of the association which hopes “that justice can say that a city does not have to promote racist clichés and sexist divisions in the public space”, comments to of 20 minutes Karfa Diallo, head of Mémoires et Partages, a local branch of which was recently created in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
“Why do they, who come from outside, bother them? »
From the Vinci sign on the highway, to urban signage and several businesses, the word “Negress” is still part of the Biarritz landscape today. It was in 2019 that Mémoires et Partages took action on this subject and the traders of the Négresse roundabout have rather bad memories of it. When we mention it, we are taken into the back room to discuss the matter, out of sight of the customers, where we get a little carried away: “The people from here, from a certain color doesn’t bother them so why do they, who come from outside, bother them? » We meet at the bus stop a young black man of 20 who works in the neighborhood without living there. He is not very comfortable with our question and hesitates to criticize. He ends up saying that without being scandalized by this name, it is “not very appreciable” and he would prefer “that that changes”.
Several businesses display the name of the neighborhood on their front, such as a garage or a fabric merchant. The pharmacy at the Négresse roundabout gave up on it in 2021 after demonstrations by Mémoires et Partages. She simply explains that she is awaiting the court’s decision on this subject, without wanting to say more. The Négresse docks are located along the railway tracks of Biarritz station on which we no longer find the controversial name of the district, even if it remains strangely mentioned on the tourist office map. Historically, the name would be a tribute to a black woman whose surname has not been found.
Not “cancel culture”
“There is a fresco at the Négresse docks where we find a caricature of black women in public space which consists of a simian representation with lips painted red,” points out Karfa Diallo. There is a misunderstanding of the history of this word and a concrete violence that this name can cause to the values of the Republic and international conventions. » A dated illustration which denotes the micro-brewery, the bulk grocery store or the pizzeria of the neighboring docks. In fact, we call this sector “the docks” for short, says Nicolas. The association emphasizes that it does not give in to “cancel culture”, highlighting that on streets bearing the names of slave traders in Bordeaux, it has collaborated with the city to install explanatory panels. “There, it’s not possible, it’s a neighborhood,” argues Karfa Diallo.
Generally not very talkative on the subject, local residents put its importance into perspective, wondering if there is something more serious. A young girl who lives in Urrugne, thirty minutes from Biarritz, is taught the name of the neighborhood and she cautiously suggests that it “requires reflection”. Pâquerette, 70 years old, crossed at the bus stop is more categorical: “It’s out of habit that we call it that and the Basques you won’t make them change. » For her, no matter the court’s decision, the name will remain on the lips of the locals. Private signs would normally no longer be able to display it on their storefronts if the court were to rule in favor of a change of name.
The city of Biarritz, contacted by 20 minutesdoes not wish to comment on the subject before the decision of the administrative court.