Multiracial Identities in Twentieth-Century French Colonial Africa

This paper narrates the concept of multiracial internationalism articulated by métis individuals and collectives across late colonial French Africa as a foundation for increased African sovereignty and just Africa-Europe futures. In using the term multiracial internationalism, I borrow from the concept of black internationalism as articulated by scholars of African American, African, and African diaspora studies to analyze the global consciousness with which black activists since the 19th century forged solidarity and struggle against racism, slavery, and colonialism.  Multiracial internationalist thought and practice coalesced at two Congress of Métis meetings that took place in the 1950s, one in the French Congo and the other in Germany.  Contributing to recent literature that argues for critical rethinking of processes of decolonization, this paper expands our understanding of the multiplicity of visions of race, belonging, and just futures in late colonial French Africa. 

Rachel Jean-Baptiste is Associate Professor Department of History University of California, Davis. She is a historian of 20th and 21st century French-speaking Central and West Africa.  Her research interests include the history of gender, women and sexuality; marriage and family law; race;  citizenship; and urbanization.

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