Synopses & Reviews
"As French and American historians of France are revisiting the history of French racism today, William B. Cohen's book is more important than ever. It has become a classic." --Nancy L. Green
In this pioneering work, William B. Cohen traces the ways in which negative attitudes toward blacks became deeply embedded in French culture. Examining the forces that shaped these views, Cohen reveals the persistent inequality of French interactions with blacks in Africa, in the slave colonies of the West Indies, and in France itself. Now a classic, The French Encounter with Africans is essential reading for anyone engaged in current discussions of European relations with non-Europeans and with issues of racism, ethnicity, identity, colonialism, and empire.
Review
""As French and American historians of France are revisiting the history of French racism today. William B. Cohen s book is more important than ever. It has become a classic."
Synopsis
As French and American historians of France are revisiting thehistory of French racism today, William B. Cohen's book is more important than ever.It has become a classic. -- Nancy L. Green
In thispioneering work, William B. Cohen traces the ways in which negative attitudes towardblacks became deeply embedded in French culture. Examining the forces that shapedthese views, Cohen reveals the persistent inequality of French interactions withblacks in Africa, in the slave colonies of the West Indies, and in France itself.Now a classic, The French Encounter with Africans is essential reading for anyoneengaged in current discussions of European relations with non-Europeans and withissues of racism, ethnicity, identity, colonialism, and empire.
About the Author
William B. Cohen (1941-2002) was Professor and former Chair of the Department of History at Indiana University.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents:
Foreword James D. LeSueur
Preface
Introduction
1. The Impulse ot Inequality
2. The Establishment of Slave Societies
3. The Philosophes and Africa
4. Three Patterns of Interaction: West Indies, France, and Senegal
5. The Issue of Slavery
6. The Rise of Imperialism
7. The Nineteenth Century Confronts Slavery
8. Scientific Racism
9. The Lure of Empire
Afterword
Notes
Index