Colonial Metropolis
The Urban Grounds of Anti-Imperialism and Feminism in Interwar Paris
Format:Hardback
Publisher:University of Nebraska Press
Published:1st Jun '10
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The book Colonial Metropolis examines the connections between French colonial migrants and white women in Paris during the interwar years, highlighting their struggles for equality.
In Colonial Metropolis, the intricate relationships between French colonial migrants and white women in interwar Paris are explored in depth. The aftermath of World War I opened new doors for these groups, granting them unprecedented access to the vibrant workplaces and nightlife of Paris. However, the end of the war brought expectations for both to return to their traditional roles, which neither was willing to accept. This book delves into their shared experiences and the resulting dynamics that emerged in the bustling capital of France's colonial empire.
During the interwar period, Paris became a magnet for individuals from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States, transforming into a space of not only residence but also political engagement. Colonial Metropolis captures the essence of this era by detailing how black colonial migrants and white feminists navigated the complexities of their identities and aspirations within a society that often marginalized them. The narrative highlights their struggles against social injustices, particularly regarding voting rights and the sensationalized portrayals they faced in popular culture.
The book also examines the ways in which both groups sought equality, often engaging in actions perceived as politically subversive. By weaving together personal stories and broader societal trends, Colonial Metropolis provides a compelling account of resilience and the quest for parity in a rapidly changing world.
“The excellent analysis of race and gender is a noteworthy strength of this book. . . . Highly readable.”—Jeffrey H. Jackson, American Historical Review
“Methodologically innovative and skillfully researched, Colonial Metropolis supports the author’s contention that the grand European city itself had become colonized. In demonstrating the profoundly complex, intertwined, and shifting roles that gender and race played in this colonization, Boittin’s work recasts our understanding of the metropole and its place in the empire during this period.”—Carolyn J. Eichner, French Politics, Culture, and Society
"[Colonial Metropolis] offers insightful and original analysis of the links between the vogue nègre and anti-imperial politics, and of the important role of the city of Paris in facilitating such a nexus."—Kate Marsh, H-France Review
“Colonial Metropolis should be required reading for all scholars of French empire in the twentieth century, as well as for graduate students working on twentieth-century European imperialism. This book is consciously in dialogue with the richer literature on gender and race in the British Empire, so its value goes beyond specialists of France.”—Jeremy Rich, Itinerario
"We now have Boittin's provocative study to guide us toward a fuller understanding ofthe love affair, now passe', between France and the African peoples who for better or worse fell under its tutelage in the age of empire."—Susan Gilson Miller, The Journal of Modern History
"Examining performers such as Josephine Baker, black and feminist print culture, and police records about anti-imperial activists, the author connects diverse threads regarding race, gender, and colonialism."—Choice
"Jennifer Anne Boittin's Colonial Metropolis represents a bold assertion of the centrality of colonial relationships to the political and cultural history of interwar Paris."—Ian Germani, H-Urban
"Colonial Metropolis should be required reading for any scholars of French empire in the twentieth century, as well as for graduate students working on twentieth century European imperialism. This book is consciously in dialogue with the richer literature on gender and race in the British Empire, so its value goes beyond specialists of France."—Jeremy Rich, Itinerario
ISBN: 9780803225459
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
354 pages