Louis Michel
1830- 1905
Louis Michel was born as the illegitimate daughter of a serving maid but was provided with a liberal education. When her grandparents died, she completed teacher training and worked in villages.
In 1865, Michel opened a school in Paris which became known for its modern and progressive methods. She corresponded with the prominent French romanticist Victor Hugo and began publishing poetry. In 1869, she became involved in “radical politics” of Paris and helped organize “The Society for the Demand of Civil Rights for Women” which focused on improving education for girls.
During the Siege of Paris, Michel became part of the National Guard. When the Paris Commune was declared she was elected head of the Montmartre Women Vigilance Committee. In April of 1871, she threw herself into the armed struggle against the French government.
In memoirs she reflected: “ It is true, perhaps, that women like rebellions. We are not better than men in respect to power, but power has not yet corrupted us.” She confessed that the realities of the revolutionary government strengthened her resolve to end the discrimination against women.
She was aligned with militant members of the Paris commune and fought with the 61st Battalion of Montmartre during the “Bloody Week”, the battle that ended the commune. She surrendered to the French Army to save her mother from imprisonment and was sentenced to deportation to New Caledonia for seven years where she thoroughly documented their culture.
1n 1880 amnesty was granted to those who had participated in the Paris Commune and Michel returned to lead anarchist demonstrations in Europe. She led a demonstration of unemployed workers with what became the first recorded use of the anarchist “black flag”.
Michel died of pneumonia in Marseille. Her funeral in Paris was attended by more than 100,000 people.
“The tasks of teachers, those obscure soldiers of civilization, is to give to the people the intellectual means to revolt.”
-Louise Michel