Black France

A dynamic view of the politics of cultural exchange between Africa and France

Challenging the identity politics that sets immigrants against the mainstream, this book explores how black expressive culture has reformulated as global culture in the multicultural and multinational spaces of France. It brings forward questions such as: why France is a privileged site of civilization, who is a French, and who is an immigrant.

"[W]ithout a doubt one of the most important studies so far completed on literature in French grounded in the experiences of migrants of sub-Saharan African origin." —Alec Hargreaves, Florida State University

France has always hosted a rich and vibrant black presence within its borders. But recent violent events have raised questions about France's treatment of ethnic minorities. Challenging the identity politics that have set immigrants against the mainstream, Black France explores how black expressive culture has been reformulated as global culture in the multicultural and multinational spaces of France. Thomas brings forward questions such as—Why is France a privileged site of civilization? Who is French? Who is an immigrant? Who controls the networks of production? Black France poses an urgently needed reassessment of the French colonial legacy.