"In France we are not racists but I do not remember ever having seen a black man minister. "It is with these words that begins the letter broadcast this Thursday on France Inter by the writer Virginie Despentes, who denounces racism in France and the white" privilege ".
In this letter, read by radio host Augustin Trapenard, the writer highlights the different forms of discrimination and inequality that affect people who are said to be racialized, or even non-white people. She thus evokes the prison population where "blacks and Arabs are overrepresented", or the small number of racialized journalists who interviewed or photographed her in her writing career. And explains that she, as a white person, does not have to worry about going out on the street without papers: “Because the privilege, it is to have the choice to think about it, or not. I cannot forget that I am a woman. But I can forget that I am white. This is to be white. "
Antigone
Anticipating the reproaches that could be addressed to her regarding the tone of her letter, as was the case when she wrote a text in support of Adèle Haenel, after the announcement of the award awarded to Roman Polanski, Virginie Despentes replied : "As if the violence was not what happened on July 19, 2016. As if the violence was not the brothers of Assa Traore imprisoned". She also compares the black activist who leads the “Justice for Adama” movement to the tragedy Antigone, who fought against justice of her time, and died of it.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered Tuesday in front of the on the forecourt of the new Paris courthouse, responding to the call of the family support committee of Adama Traoré, a young 24-year-old black man who died in 2016 after his arrest.
Culture
César 2020: “It's over. We get up and break. ", Virginie Despentes signs a vitriolic tribune
- George Floyd
- Letter
- Racism
- Police violence
- Adama Traore
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