The Black Populations of France: Histories from Metropole to Colony, Paperback

The Black Populations of France is a study of Black peoples and their history in France and the French Empire during the modern era, from the eighteenth century to the present. The contributors to this collection explore three main axes. The first addresses circulations--the ways Black populations have moved through the spaces of metropolitan France and the empire--and focuses on the actors themselves and the margins of maneuver available to them, particularly as soldiers, sailors, immigrants, or political militants. The second considers legacies and the ways the past has informed the present, addressing themes such as the memory of slavery, the histories of Black women and gender, and the historical influence of African Americans on Blacks in France. The final axis considers racial policy and the ways the state has shaped racial discourses through the interactions between state policies and ideas of race developed by individuals, organizations, and communities. The Black Populations of France makes an important contribution to both modern French history and the history of the global Black diaspora. By putting these histories in dialogue with each other, it underscores the central place of France in world history.

About author(s):Sylvain Pattieu is a lecturer in history at University of Paris 8. He is the author of several books written and published in French. Emmanuelle Sibeud is a professor of contemporary history at the University of Paris 8. She is the author of several books written and published in French. Tyler Stovall (1954-2021) was the dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University. He was the author of a number of books, including White Freedom: The Racial History of an Idea.