A road in the seaside French resort of Biarritz long known as La Négresse is to be renamed following a legal tug of war over a legacy of colonialism and a court order, officials said on Tuesday, April 29. In accordance with the results of a recent consultation with the public, the street will be renamed Rue de L'Allégresse ("Street of Joy").
The city council must now ratify the new name in a vote scheduled for next Monday. In February, a court ruled that the city of Biarritz must rename its La Négresse historic neighborhood and one of its streets, possibly named after a Black woman. The ruling capped a long-running attempt by activists to force authorities in the resort on the Atlantic coast to drop what they say are "racist and sexist" place names.
Officials in the city of 26,000 people said people were presented with three options: Rue Lana Gresa ("clay moor" in Gascon), Rue Buztinlurra ("clay land" in Basque) and Rue de L'Allégresse. More than 2,000 people, nearly half of whom were not local residents, participated in the vote, and more than 50% backed the option of Rue de L'Allégresse. Authorities are appealing the February ruling, but the controversial street must be renamed by May 6.
The area is believed to be named after a Black woman, possibly a former slave, who worked in an inn there in the 19th century. The neighborhood, also known as La Négresse, is due to be renamed as well but at a later date. Activists say the moniker is associated with a "crime against humanity that saw millions of Africans deported to work as slaves on colonial plantations."
Slavery in France and its colonies was abolished in 1848. In 2001, France formally recognized the slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity.