Abstract

Using in-depth qualitative interviews with French Caribbeans of African descent (N=52) in the Paris region, this study examines minority perspectives on the possibility of racial or ethnic affirmative action in France. Through a narrative analysis of their justifications for supporting or criticizing affirmative action, we find that the majority of our respondents expressed reservations over the possibility of quotas and other affirmative action initiatives, with many describing ambivalent views and mixed emotions. In explaining their discomfort with the idea and implementation of affirmative action, respondents point to concerns over the efficacy and legitimacy of such policies, a moral defense of meritocracy, and their own reluctance to admit the failures of French Republicanism. Critics of affirmative action combine race-conscious and colorblind discourse, expressing both a challenge to colorblind notions of universalism and a nostalgic appeal to its rhetoric. With regard to migration status, we find that members of the second-generation express more ambivalent views, while members of the first generation are more emphatic in their opposition. Finally, we argue for greater attention to the dynamics of racial ambivalence in the study of anti-racism and affirmative action.

中文翻译：

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“积极的歧视没有任何意义”：了解黑人法国人对平权行动的矛盾

摘要

通过对巴黎地区的非洲裔后裔法国加勒比海地区（N = 52）进行深入的定性访谈，本研究考察了少数群体对法国种族或族裔平权行动的可能性的看法。通过对支持或批评平权行动的理由进行叙述性分析，我们发现大多数受访者对配额和其他平权行动倡议的可能性持保留意见，其中许多人描述了矛盾的观点和喜忧参半的情绪。在解释他们对平权行动的理念和实施的不满时，受访者指出，他们对此类政策的效力和合法性，道德上的精英精英辩护以及他们自己不愿承认法国共和党的失败感到担忧。平权行动的批评者将种族意识和色盲话语结合在一起，既表达了对色盲普遍主义观念的挑战，又表达了对它的言辞的怀旧吸引力。关于移民地位，我们发现第二代成员表达了更多矛盾的观点，而第一代成员则更加反对。最后，我们主张在反种族主义和平权行动的研究中更多地关注种族矛盾的动态。