Historical Insight Perspective In a German magazine in 1932, a cartoon called "The Irony of the Future" revealed the pain points of the times. At that time, Germany was in the grip of the Great Depression, millions of people were struggling with unemployment and social unrest.
Rather than showing the prosperity of France or the desolation of the aftermath of the war, the painting is presented in a unique way, within the fortified enclosure, the elegant French crowd surrounded by a group of black nobles holding French flags, suggesting a silent contempt and sarcasm.
Why Black Characters? Behind this is a bitter satire on the way victorious France treats its former allies.
Through the lens of a century, the story of France and Africa reveals a unique chapter in history. As a former colonial power, France's black roots are deeply rooted in its former African possessions, especially North Africa.
France stood out by virtue of its geographical advantages, and the convenience of its Mediterranean borders allowed it to take advantage of the division of the world among the great powers, making up for the lack of early sea power. In contrast to South Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, where other colonial powers were the main focus, North Africa's barren lands and traditional friendships with Ottoman Turkey and France made the region a natural extension of French influence.
With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, France quickly filled the power gap here. Thus, from the interweaving of history and reality, for France, French Africa is not only an overseas territory, but also an inseparable part of its territory, just like its own territory.
Within the French territory was the black groups of the Ottoman Empire, who were integrated into the French system of sovereignty, although they did not yet enjoy full citizenship rights. France, as the vanguard of nationalism, firmly believed in its own cultural and civilizational superiority, and was committed to promoting the cultural integration of its colonies.
France** was widely present in the colonial administrative system, and at the same time established numerous schools, forced French education, and strengthened its influence in Africa. France has adopted a rigorous and pragmatic strategy and launched an education system with French as the core and customized according to different regional and religious backgrounds, actively spreading French culture.
The Nationality Act of 1912 provided for the opportunity to become French citizens to all persons born in the colonies of French West Africa, regardless of their origin, who were loyal to France, who had held public office for at least ten years, who could read and write French, and who had a certain level of subsistence.
France's move in West Africa not only cemented the authority of French as an official language, but also created a linguistic bridge for the subsequent migration of blacks to France. Today, the world's largest French-speaking city is not Paris, but Kinshasa, Congo, symbolizing the reach of French influence.
Even with the rise of colonial independence, France remained active in maintaining ties, open to the entry of nationals of former colonies, and offered preferential policies such as immigration, education, and employment.
This led directly to the early influx of black Africans into France, and tens of thousands of people chose to study and work in France every year.
According to statistics, there are more than 8 million black people in France, about 15% of the total population of 66 million, and this figure does not include those immigrants who enter the country illegally and the continuous influx of refugees.
Despite the predominantly white population in France, a shortage of white, especially male labor, was foreseen as early as the beginning of the 20th century. During World War I, when thousands of French men went to war, foreign workers filled the void in industrial production, and more than 1.31 million soldiers were killed and 2.8 million were wounded.
World War II hit France hard, with economic losses almost reaching the total of the three years before the war, and 600,000 personnel**, which greatly damaged the country's vitality. These historical contexts illustrate the changing and receptive nature of French society.
After the baptism of World War II, the cost of France is obvious, in order to gain a foothold in the international competition for employment, France** went all out, reformed the nationality policy and set up special agencies, launched an immigration strategy for foreign workers, and organized the introduction of a large number of overseas labor.
Although the original intention was to give priority to recruiting from the latecomers of Eastern and Central Europe, the reality of labor shortages forced France to broaden its horizons to include colonies such as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, especially Algeria, a former traditional colony.
As a result, a wave of black immigrants led by Algerians has made France the undisputed destination for development and refuge in war-torn and economically troubled regions.
In the romantic land of France, with a unique artistic flair and a sense of mission, France has taken in refugees from all over the world, rapidly evolving from a mono-ethnic state to a multicultural melting pot.
At first, the immigrants had accumulated wealth in a foreign land with dreams of returning to their homeland. However, the '70s saw black refugees stay, economic stagnation after two oil shocks, a flock to Asia for small and medium-sized businesses, and a tight labor market in France, challenging even local white workers.
At this time, France's needs were no longer matched by the large black labor force, and their fortunes took a turn for the worse.
Tensions in French society have escalated, with immigration controls imposed, attempts to limit the inflow of black labor, and plans to return home. However, the French migrant community held their ground, fearing that they might not be able to re-enter the country if they left the country, and the French call to "go home" gave rise to their insistence.
Life in France, despite its challenges, offers a relatively stable refuge and is much safer than the turmoil and crises in Africa. Therefore, they are not only reluctant to leave, but also actively bring their families in.
France, as an inclusive country, could not refuse these pleas motivated by a desire to survive, which led to a surge of illegal immigration.
Black immigrants and refugees admitted to France often struggle on the margins of modest housing due to their limited initial professional abilities and meagre incomes. They have formed unique communities on the fringes of the city, holding on to their culture and traditions, and their connection with the locals is sparse.
The pressures of poverty have forced some people to turn to illegal acts, exacerbating the security challenges in the greater Paris region. In the face of this social dilemma, France** has taken proactive measures to choose to uplift rather than exclude, and is committed to improving their living conditions through economic support and the affordable housing market, thereby reducing the crime rate and rebuilding a harmonious society.
Although France provided material support to black people who had immigrated legally, racial discrimination and integration challenges persisted. Since the 90s, the question of blackness has been a major challenge in France.
Although the left and center-left** have tried to alleviate the contradictions through inclusive policies, such as the implementation of integration programs, the speed at which black people are integrated into French society is limited due to educational disparities, low incomes and social prejudices.
The over-reliance on welfare by some blacks and their failure to actively participate in employment deepened the resentment of white France. As the number of blacks grows and the economic situation becomes more complex, the negative feelings of white French towards blacks continue to rise.
Racial tensions in French society have intensified, and the black community has been plagued by discrimination, which has prompted the rise of local right-wing forces, such as the national ** line led by Le Pen, which advocates a policy of "putting French interests first and resisting immigration", and its support has steadily risen, reflecting the negative feelings of some white groups towards black people.
According to the 2023 report of the French Association for the Human Rights of Negroes, it is sad that only 9% of black respondents said they have never experienced discrimination, and black people are a high-risk group for excessive cross-examination.
The data reveals serious challenges faced by France's immigrant concentration areas, including a shortage of educational resources, a drug problem, employment inequality, high unemployment, and serious hate crimes.
According to statistics, there are an average of 10 hate crimes per 100,000 people in France, while in the Greater Paris region, where immigrants are concentrated, this number soars to 16 per 100,000 people, showing the complex social contradictions in the process of urbanization.
On June 27, 2023, a 17-year-old black youth in France was subjected to *** on the street, which ignited the anger of the whole country, and the **wave swept across the country, pointing directly at the excessive use of force by the police and deep racial prejudice.
More than 500 cities, from Paris to other places, have been swept away by the storm of anti-discrimination and anti-violent law enforcement, more than 1,100 buildings have become the focus of protesters' expression of injustice, and more than 6,000 vehicles have innocently witnessed the outrage on the streets.
In-depth analysis shows that this anger stems from the long-term indifference to the urban fringe and the deep-rooted racial problem in the law enforcement system, which has triggered a deep reflection on the whole society.
The street rage in France stems from the empathy of the a** people and Nahr, who have experienced the bitterness of racism in their daily lives, just as Nahr did. France's generous benefits, which allow some blacks to enjoy generous subsidies without working, and childcare policies even reward more children, but this only exacerbates the dilemma of **: it is impossible to forcefully limit the entry of black** or cut their maternity benefits, so as not to provoke widespread resistance, such as mass demonstrations or strikes.
As a result, France is in a dilemma when it comes to immigration and fertility policy.
In France, which has a long history, as the birthplace of the nation-state and nationalism, it has always been dominated by white Gauls. However, with the changing times, France has undeniably transformed into a multicultural one.
Today, blacks are an integral part of the French family. How the relationship between the native white and the newly integrated black community is handled will have a profound impact on the future prosperity and stability of France.
In fact, the growth of the number of black people in France reflects the far-reaching impact of the policy. In the face of the challenges of this democratic and human rights concept country in the face of reality, whether"Blackening"'s fate seems to have been quietly revealed.
France is facing the test of balancing human rights with social acceptance, and the continued growth of the black population is an inescapable fact.
Global migration is a historical norm, and interactions between countries are commonplace. However, as positive acceptance as France has, it may inadvertently squeeze the living space of the local culture.
For this international power, today's demographics and trends undoubtedly constitute a significant force that has a profound impact on its politics, culture, society and economy.
French companies are facing challenges, with 90% of small and medium-sized enterprises struggling to recruit workers, and the unemployment rate was as high as 15% last year.
The reasons behind this are clear. Moreover, the influx of migrants continues, and more worryingly, 60 percent of Parisian newborns are of African descent, boding well for continued growth in the black population.
In a post-riot interview, when asked about racism, a black interviewee's answer reveals deep reflections: "France has colonized us for 132 years, and now we respond in another way, 'colonizing' their future with our lives and existence."
This process may be like the prophecy in the comics, making France look like an 'African version of Europe' in a historical cycle – where the black population could eventually dominate the land.