Although it is illegal for the [[Government of France|Frenchstate]] to collect data on ethnicity and race in the [[census]] (a law with its origins in the [[French Revolution|1789 revolution]] and reaffirmed in the [[Constitution of France|constitution of 1958]]),<ref name="Oppenheimer">{{cite journal|last=Oppenheimer|first=David B.|year=2008|title=Why France needs to collect data on racial identity...in a French way|journal=Hastings International and Comparative Law Review|volume=31|issue=2|pages=735–752|ssrn=1236362}}</ref> various population estimates exist. An article in ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2008 stated that estimates vary between 3 million and 5 million.<ref name="Kimmelman">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/arts/17abroad.html|title=For blacks in France, Obama's rise is reason to rejoice, and to hope|last=Kimmelman|first=Michael|date=17 June 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> It is estimated that four out of five black people in France are of African immigrant origin, with the minority being chiefly of Caribbean ancestry.<ref name="Bennhold">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/world/europe/02iht-anchor.2367939.html?_r=1|title=Black anchor fills top spot on French TV|last=Bennhold|first=Katrin|date=3 August 2006|work=International Herald Tribune|page=2|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref><ref name="France">{{cite web|title=Franceblack|url=http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Announcements/Frances_Forgotten_People.html|access-date=2010-04-06}}</ref>
Although it is illegal for the [[Government of France|government of France]] to collect data on ethnicity and race in the [[census]] (a law with its origins in the [[French Revolution|1789 revolution]] and reaffirmed in the [[Constitution of France|constitution of 1958]]),<ref name="Oppenheimer">{{cite journal|last=Oppenheimer|first=David B.|year=2008|title=Why France needs to collect data on racial identity...in a French way|journal=Hastings International and Comparative Law Review|volume=31|issue=2|pages=735–752|ssrn=1236362}}</ref> various population estimates exist. An article in ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2008 stated that estimates vary between 3 million and 5 million.<ref name="Kimmelman">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/arts/17abroad.html|title=For blacks in France, Obama's rise is reason to rejoice, and to hope|last=Kimmelman|first=Michael|date=17 June 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> It is estimated that four out of five black people in France are of African immigrant origin, with the minority being chiefly of Caribbean ancestry.<ref name="Bennhold">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/world/europe/02iht-anchor.2367939.html?_r=1|title=Black anchor fills top spot on French TV|last=Bennhold|first=Katrin|date=3 August 2006|work=International Herald Tribune|page=2|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref><ref name="France">{{cite web|title=Franceblack|url=http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Announcements/Frances_Forgotten_People.html|access-date=2010-04-06}}</ref>
Some organizations, such as the [[Representative Council of France's Black Associations]] ({{lang-fr|link=no|Conseil représentatif des associations noires de France}}, CRAN), have argued in favor of the introduction of [[data collection]] on minority groups but this has been resisted by other organizations and ruling politicians,<ref name="Louis-Georges">{{cite journal|last=Louis-Georges|first=Tin|year=2008|title=Who is afraid of Blacks in France? The Black question: The name taboo, the number taboo|journal=French Politics, Culture & Society|volume=26|issue=1|pages=32–44|doi=10.3167/fpcs.2008.260103}}</ref><ref name="IHT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/world/europe/31iht-bias.4421757.html|title=Black residents of France say they are discriminated against|date=31 January 2007|work=International Herald Tribune|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> often on the grounds that collecting such statistics goes against France's secular principles and harkens back to [[Vichy France|Vichy]]-era identity documents.<ref name="Economist">{{cite news|date=28 March 2009|title=France's ethnic minorities: To count or not to count|newspaper=The Economist|volume=390|issue=8624|page=62|url=http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=E1_TPPSSPNQ}}</ref> During the [[2007 French presidential election|2007 presidential election]], however, [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] was polled on the issue and stated that he favoured the collection of data on ethnicity.<ref name="Chrisafis">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/feb/24/france.population|title=French presidential candidates divided over race census|last=Chrisafis|first=Angelique|date=24 February 2007|work=The Guardian|page=25|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> Part of a parliamentary bill which would have permitted the collection of data for the purpose of measuring discrimination was rejected by the [[Constitutional Council (France)|Conseil Constitutionnel]] in November 2007.<ref name="Oppenheimer"/>
Some organizations, such as the [[Representative Council of France's Black Associations]] ({{lang-fr|link=no|Conseil représentatif des associations noires de France}}, CRAN), have argued in favor of the introduction of [[data collection]] on minority groups but this has been resisted by other organizations and ruling politicians,<ref name="Louis-Georges">{{cite journal|last=Louis-Georges|first=Tin|year=2008|title=Who is afraid of Blacks in France? The Black question: The name taboo, the number taboo|journal=French Politics, Culture & Society|volume=26|issue=1|pages=32–44|doi=10.3167/fpcs.2008.260103}}</ref><ref name="IHT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/world/europe/31iht-bias.4421757.html|title=Black residents of France say they are discriminated against|date=31 January 2007|work=International Herald Tribune|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> often on the grounds that collecting such statistics goes against France's secular principles and harkens back to [[Vichy France|Vichy]]-era identity documents.<ref name="Economist">{{cite news|date=28 March 2009|title=France's ethnic minorities: To count or not to count|newspaper=The Economist|volume=390|issue=8624|page=62|url=http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=E1_TPPSSPNQ}}</ref> During the [[2007 French presidential election|2007 presidential election]], however, [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] was polled on the issue and stated that he favoured the collection of data on ethnicity.<ref name="Chrisafis">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/feb/24/france.population|title=French presidential candidates divided over race census|last=Chrisafis|first=Angelique|date=24 February 2007|work=The Guardian|page=25|access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> Part of a parliamentary bill which would have permitted the collection of data for the purpose of measuring discrimination was rejected by the [[Constitutional Council (France)|Conseil Constitutionnel]] in November 2007.<ref name="Oppenheimer"/>
Revision as of 17:34, 5 November 2023
Racial and multi-ethnic group
Ethnic group
Black French
Total population
Approximately 3–5 million (2009 estimate);[1]it is illegal for the French State to collect data on ethnicity and race.
Black French also known as French Black people or Afro-French (Afro-Français) are French people who are of Sub-Saharan African (including Malagasy people) or Melanesian ancestry. It also includes people of mixed African/Melanesian and French ancestry.
Population statistics
Although it is illegal for the government of France to collect data on ethnicity and race in the census (a law with its origins in the 1789 revolution and reaffirmed in the constitution of 1958),[2] various population estimates exist. An article in The New York Times in 2008 stated that estimates vary between 3 million and 5 million.[3] It is estimated that four out of five black people in France are of African immigrant origin, with the minority being chiefly of Caribbean ancestry.[4][5]
Some organizations, such as the Representative Council of France's Black Associations (French: Conseil représentatif des associations noires de France, CRAN), have argued in favor of the introduction of data collection on minority groups but this has been resisted by other organizations and ruling politicians,[6][7] often on the grounds that collecting such statistics goes against France's secular principles and harkens back to Vichy-era identity documents.[8] During the 2007 presidential election, however, Nicolas Sarkozy was polled on the issue and stated that he favoured the collection of data on ethnicity.[9] Part of a parliamentary bill which would have permitted the collection of data for the purpose of measuring discrimination was rejected by the Conseil Constitutionnel in November 2007.[2]
Notable people
In French politics
Afro-French or Kanak members of the French Parliament or government from overseas France
There have been dozens of Afro-Caribbean, Kanak, and Afro-French MPs representing overseas electoral districts at the French National Assembly or at the French Senate, and several government members.
Roger Bambuck, Minister of Youth and Sports from 1988 to 1991.
Christiane Taubira, deputy from French Guiana, was the first black candidate to a French presidential election, in 2002. In 2012, she became the Justice Minister until 2016.
Severiano de Heredia, president of the municipal council of Paris (1879–1880/ sort of mayor of Paris ), deputy for Paris (1881–1889), minister (1887)
Blaise Diagne (1872-1934), first person of Sub-Saharan African origin elected to the French Chamber of Deputies, and the first to hold a position in the French government.
Élie Bloncourt (1896–1978), second Black metropolitan deputy (1936–40, 1945–47), first Black metropolitan general councillor (1934–40, 1945–51)[10]
Gaston Monnerville (1897–1991), first Black metropolitan senator (1946–1974), president of the French Senate (1947–68), mayor, president of Lot's general council
George Pau-Langevin, Paris deputy (2007–12), junior minister (2012–2014), Minister for Overseas (2014–)
Seybah Dagoma, then 34-year-old lawyer of Chadian descent and founding member of a left-wing think tank, was elected in a Parisian constituency in 2012 and in office until 2017.
^ abOppenheimer, David B. (2008). "Why France needs to collect data on racial identity...in a French way". Hastings International and Comparative Law Review. 31 (2): 735–752. SSRN1236362.
^Louis-Georges, Tin (2008). "Who is afraid of Blacks in France? The Black question: The name taboo, the number taboo". French Politics, Culture & Society. 26 (1): 32–44. doi:10.3167/fpcs.2008.260103.
African diasporas in France 
