In the comic strip Algerians in France, a story of generationswhich comes out this Thursday, September 12, historian Benjamin Stora, alongside cartoonist Nicolas Le Scanff, aims to tell the very long story of Algerian immigration in France, beyond the clichés. A way of bringing this story out of its invisibility, with the common thread being the life stories of those who participated in the “march of the beurs” of 1983, or “march for equal rights”. This choice underlines the authors’ desire to inscribe this long-term story in the struggles and activism, the political consciousness fermenting in the world of immigrants since the beginning of the last century.
“Articulated around places of memory, historical facts but also intersecting destinies, this comic strip offers silhouettes and faces to a “missing story”, that of the transmission of struggles that are both social and political as well as anti-colonial and anti-racist within Algerian immigration throughout this presence in metropolitan France, and in particular within working-class neighborhoods”, analyzes in its preface researcher Naïma Yahi. The comic strip offers an unprecedented dive into the world of immigration, from the café-hotels bought by Algerians in the interwar period to the mines of Liévin, in Pas-de-Calais, during the Trente Glorieuses, via shanty towns like that of Nanterre. A memory to (re)discover for the younger generation, according to the wishes of Benjamin Stora, who tells us here about the genesis and the issues of this work.
The Africa Point: The book is the result of your extensive research: how did this idea of a (second) collaboration with Nicolas Le Scanff come about?
Benjamin Stora: This is indeed my second collaboration with the cartoonist Nicolas Le Scanff. After the success of the comic strip on the history of Algerian Jews, I told myself that I had to continue in the world of comics, which reaches a wide audience, especially young people. The idea then came to me to “put into drawings” my doctoral thesis on the history of Algerian immigration (thesis defended in… 1991). This story also remains very topical, burning, with all the controversies on French identity in connection with the migration issue.
Why does the history of Algerian immigration to France seem less documented in comics?
This long story is little known. There are, for example, few fiction films, with the notable exception of a film like ANDread or real life
. In fact, for many years, Algerians were not considered “immigrants”. Arriving in France especially after the First World War, they were already close to 100,000 in 1939, coming mainly from Kabylie. But, at the time, they were “invisible men”: they were not considered “foreigners” (Algeria was France) and not French citizens either since they were colonial subjects.
Their number will continue to grow during the Algerian War (350,000 in 1962) to become in the 1970s-1980s the first immigration in France. How can we tell this situation of invisibility through the drawn image? This is the challenge that we decided to take up with Nicolas Le Scanff by showing important “scenes”, such as the arrival in Marseille in the 1920s, the construction of the Great Mosque of Paris at that time and the rescue of Jewish families by the rector of the mosque during the Second World War, life at work in the mines of northern France or the metallurgy construction sites and solidarity with French workers, the existence of the first nationalist organizations with the great figure of Messali Hadj, then the Algerian War in France with the bloody clashes between Algerians, between the militants of the MNA and the FLN, the terrible repressions of October 17, 1961, until the appearance of the “beur” movements for equal rights, in the 1980s-1990s. ALSO READAlgeria: the long march towards the Evian Accords
Participants in the 1983 march for equality and against racism leave their mark through their struggles and travel through the story: what remains of what has emerged as citizenship since then?
The story is in fact told from the journey, and memories, of three young people who took part in the 1983 march. Their hopes and their disappointed expectations, especially with regard to the left and the Socialist Party. They say they want to remain faithful to the memory of their fathers, many of whom had spoken out for the independence of Algeria, while now wanting to be resolutely French. It is this complicated situation, the thirst for equality, the need for memory and belonging to French citizenship, that I wanted to address in this work. By recounting incessant discussions between them, in radio and television broadcasts, or in demonstrations against racism. In those years, memories and daily life in the suburbs are evoked at the time of the rise of the National Front in all the elections.
Is it still possible to “sew the fabric of memory” (to quote Naïma Yahi’s preface) in the current context of escalation over immigration, the controversy over the Franco-Algerian agreements of 1968 and the rise of the extreme right?
Naïma Yahi is right to want to express her optimism about the need for “living together” and the temptation of violence that affects French society. But the task is difficult. The establishment of communitarianism that isolates immigrants from French society, the fear of Islamism and the crisis of political parties that are no longer able to find solutions for republican integration are all factors that complicate the current situation. Precisely, this work, in the form of a comic strip, helps to fill in the gaps in memory, to better understand a history far from clichés and stereotypes, and is aimed at a youth deprived of identity markers. We show a story that does not aim to separate, to oppose communities, but to bring together those who want the application of an ideal of equality and freedom. ALSO READ
Comic strip – Jacques Ferrandez continues his Algerian saga
Adapted from a novel by Claire Etcherelli, directed in 1970 by Michel Drach, on a screenplay by Claude Lanzmann, with Marie-José Nat. The film tells the story of an impossible love between a young French worker and an Algerian independence activist.
How many Algerians in France
Table of Contents
Algerians in France: A Story of Generations and Struggle for Equality
The history of Algerian immigration in France is a long and complex one, marked by struggles for equality, activism, and political consciousness. A new comic strip, “Algerians in France, a story of generations,” aims to bring this story out of its invisibility and into the spotlight. Historian Benjamin Stora and cartoonist Nicolas Le Scanff have collaborated to create a powerful and thought-provoking work that sheds light on the experiences of Algerian immigrants in France.
A Long History of Immigration
Algerian immigration to France dates back to the early 20th century, with around 100,000 Algerians arriving in France by 1924 [[2]]. By the mid-1990s, there were approximately one and a half million Algerians living in France [[1]]. However, despite their significant presence, Algerians were often “invisible” in French society, neither considered foreigners nor French citizens due to Algeria’s colonial status.
The Struggle for Equality
The comic strip focuses on the life stories of those who participated in the “march of the beurs” of 1983, a march for equal rights and against racism. This movement marked a significant turning point in the struggle for Algerian immigrants’ rights in France. The comic strip explores the complexities of Algerian identity, caught between loyalty to their fathers’ fight for Algerian independence and their own desire to be resolutely French.
Breaking Down Barriers
The comic strip is an unprecedented dive into the world of immigration, covering topics such as the construction of the Great Mosque of Paris, life in the mines of northern France, and the solidarity between Algerian and French workers. It also tackles the challenges faced by Algerian immigrants, including the bloody clashes between Algerians during the Algerian War and the repressions of October 17, 1961.
A Story of Intersecting Destinies
The comic strip offers silhouettes and faces to a “missing story,” that of the transmission of struggles that are both social and political as well as anti-colonial and anti-racist within Algerian immigration in France. Naïma Yahi, a researcher, notes in the preface that the comic strip “articulates around places of memory, historical facts, but also intersecting destinies” [[3]].
Filling in the Gaps in Memory
The comic strip is a powerful tool for filling in the gaps in memory and promoting greater understanding
The Forgotten History of Algerians in France: A Story of Generations
In a new comic strip titled “Algerians in France, a story of generations,” historian Benjamin Stora and cartoonist Nicolas Le Scanff aim to tell the long and complex story of Algerian immigration in France, beyond the clichés. This comic strip is an unprecedented dive into the world of immigration, covering the history of Algerians in France from the interwar period to the present day.
A Long and Complex History
Algerian immigration to France dates back to the early 20th century, with around 4,000 to 5,000 Algerians living and working in France by 1912 [[1]]. During World War I, many Algerians came to France to work in factories and mines, and by 1939, their numbers had grown to around 100,000, mainly from Kabylie [[3]]. However, at the time, Algerians were not considered “immigrants” or “foreigners” since Algeria was a French colony, and they were not French citizens either, being colonial subjects.
The number of Algerians in France continued to grow during the Algerian War, reaching around 350,000 in 1962 [[3]]. By the 1970s and 1980s, Algerians had become the largest immigrant group in France. However, their story remained largely invisible, with few fiction films or documentaries exploring their experiences.
From “Invisible Men” to Activism
Benjamin Stora’s doctoral thesis on the history of Algerian immigration, defended in 1991, provides the basis for the comic strip. Stora and Le Scanff aim to bring this “missing story” to life, exploring the struggles and activism that have shaped the Algerian immigrant experience in France.
The comic strip covers important events and experiences, including the arrival of Algerians in Marseille in the 1920s, the construction of the Great Mosque of Paris, and the rescue of Jewish families by the rector of the mosque during World War II. It also explores the lives of Algerian workers in the mines of northern France and metallurgy construction sites, and their solidarity with French workers.
The comic strip also delves into the Algerian War in France, including the bloody clashes between Algerian militants and the French authorities, and the terrible repressions of October 17, 1961. it looks at the emergence of the “beur” movements for equal rights in the 1980s and 1990s.
A New Generation of Algerian-French
Today, many Algerian-French individuals are moving back to Algeria in search of freedom and opportunity [[2]]. In 2021, France decided to cut the quota of visas for Algerians by half, sparking a long diplomatic crisis with Algiers. However, despite these challenges, the Algerian-French community remains an important part of French society.
The comic strip “Algerians in France, a story of generations” is an important step in bringing this forgotten history to life, and in recognizing the contributions and experiences of Algerian immigrants in France. By exploring this complex and multifaceted history, Stora and Le Scanff hope to inspire a new generation of Algerian-French individuals to learn about and engage with their heritage.
References:
[1] A brief history of Algerians in France. (2024, June 4). Retrieved from
[2] The French Algerians moving to Algeria ‘seeking freedom, opportunity’. (2024, February 1). Retrieved from <https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/1/the-french-algerians-moving-to-algeria-seeking-freedom-op
