Exploring Racism Against Algerians in France: A Complex Reality
When the weather is clear, the fisherman of Cap Falcon, a tranquil beach on Algeria’s western Mediterranean coast, claim they can see the Spanish mountaintops. Europe is so enticingly accessible that the beach serves as a preferred jumping off spot for “harragas,” as locals refer to undocumented migrants. Jews were put in a precarious position when Algeria was decolonized during the Algerian War of Independence, which took place from 1954 to 1962. This study aims to reveal the degree and manner in which French anti-racist groups addressed the pre-, during, and post-decolonization conditions of Algerian Jews.
Social Exclusion
An influential part of republican political culture in the twentieth century that both supported and opposed the republican nation state was the French anti-racist movement, with its many organizations. Along with engaging in grassroots activity, the groups this research will focus on aim to play a political, legal, and educational role in France by educating people about prejudice. Comparative analysis of anti-racist groups therefore reveals the extent to which the Algerian Jewish problem was integrated into anti-racist action in metropolitan France, as well as how sections of the progressive left advocated for a marginalized minority during the decolonization process. During the first three decades following World War II, the French anti-racist movement was led by three main groups, one of which was the Ligue des droits de l’homme (LDH), a human rights organization that is sometimes included in discussions of anti-racism.
Media Representation and Stereotyping
Although the French government is prohibited by secularist legislation from gathering information on race and ethnicity, it is believed that French-Algerians, who are mostly concentrated in Paris, Marseilles, and Lyon, make up the greatest minority. According to the late sociologist Abdelmalek Sayad, migration started around the turn of the 20th century and was considered the “first stage.” Back then, Algerians were regarded as French subjects rather than citizens, and their labor in the industrial sector was crucial in sustaining the country’s destitute rural towns economically. Sayad said that the second stage occurred during World War II, when Algerian men and those from France’s colonies were brought in to repair the nation’s devastated industries. These men lived in shanty communities outside of cities and worked menial tasks.
Political Rhetoric and Islamophobia
With the enactment of the Statute of Algeria in 1947, which gave Algerian males full French citizenship and allowed unfettered travel between Algeria and France, tens of thousands of people immigrated. Following Algeria’s independence, the policy of family reunification allowed the wives and children of Algerian workers in France to settle, and this led to the third stage. Diaspora residents have kept tabs on significant political developments in Algeria. “Both the older and younger generations mobilized against the violence used to crush the pro-democracy demonstrations in Algiers in 1988,” stated Jim House, a senior lecturer in French and Francophone history at the University of Leeds. “And in the 1990s, Algerians living in France gave support to those who were forced into exile due to the state-led, quasi-civil war in Algeria against radical Islamist groups.” Last month, hundreds of French-Algerians rallied weekly in Place de la Republique in solidarity with the Algerian rallies asking for the departure of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Even though the sick president has since resigned, demonstrators are still calling for the overthrow of the political structure that Bouteflika imposed.
Boycott Paris Olympics: Fighting French Racism
Boycotting the Paris Olympics 2024 stands as a bold stance against entrenched racism and human rights violations in France. With security concerns and government surveillance looming large, it’s imperative to highlight the systemic issues plaguing the nation. The boycott serves as a potent tool to pressure the French government towards meaningful change.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Fourth Republic of France collapsed as a result of a political crisis brought on by the Algerian War. It was superseded by the Fifth Republic, which was headed by Charles de Gaulle, a French hero of the Second World War who had been out of office for twelve years. The nation was under French colonial rule for about 130 years. Torture, mass expulsion, and prejudice against the Arab-Berber Muslim community in the area were commonplace aspects of French authority during that era.
