In December, the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo included a deeply racist caricature of Rokhaya Diallo, renowned French author, journalist, filmmaker and activist. Régine Jean Charles, professor of Africana studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies, responds in the Ms. article, “Misogynoir à la Française.”
Although Charlie Hebdo is no stranger to controversy – Jean-Charles notes the magazine’s emphasis on freedom of speech and the “Je suis Charlie”/ “I am Charlie” campaign – this flagrant racism is part of a larger pattern in France of devaluing Black women, particularly their intellectual power.
“But we must be clear: What happened to Rokhaya Diallo was a classic case of misogynoir—the term Moya Bailey coined to describe the unique forms of violence faced by Black women because of their race and gender,” explains Jean-Charles.
And Black feminists in France – including Diallo, Jean-Charles notes – are vocal opponents of French misogynoir. Jean-Charles explains that solidarity and community between Black French feminists is the way forward. “This collective energy, solidarity and sisterhood reminds me, perhaps the most powerful weapon we have against misogynoir—no matter in which language or context it appears—is one another.” Read the article here.
