Black Skins, French Voices
Subtitle: Caribbean Ethnicity and Activism in Urban France (Westview Case Studies in Anthropology)
Publisher: Westview Pr (Short Disc)
Published: July 30, 2004
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 156
ISBN-13: 9780813342542
Subjects: Black studies; Political activism; Social Science; Sociology; Caribbean islands; Ethnic Studies - General; Antilleans; Ethnic identity; France; Political activity; Racism
Description: "About 337,000 people of French Antillean origin live in metropolitan France today. Unlike immigrants from North Africa, Turkey, or sub-Saharan Africa, Antilleans are French citizens with deep roots in French history. Indeed, the Caribbean Islands they come from have been a part of France for over three centuries. Antilleans were for many years an invisible population, dispersed throughout the Paris region, with few community organizations and little political activism." "Beginning in the early 1980s, however, activists in the Antillean community began to recognize that their status as citizens would not protect them from the growth of racism in France. From neighborhood groups interested in promoting traditional Martinican and Guadeloupan dance and music to politically-charged associations, these new cultural militants denounced French colonialism, challenged racism, and demanded political representation. Black Skins, French Voices is situated at the intersection of changing French ideas and policies regarding ethnic diversity and Antillean demands for recognition. It shows the creative and exciting straggles of Antilleans to remake French culture on their own terms."--BOOK JACKET.