A French right-wing magazine’s latest issue was criticized by the French media over a racist illustration of Black politician, Danièle Obono.
The article “Danièle Obono in the Age of Slavery”, by Valeurs Actuees, is a fictional account of Obono’s return to 18th century Africa, sparking outrage across the French political class.
The image shows the left-wing member of the National Assembly with chains around her neck. Danièle Obono, who is of French-Gabonese origin, used Twitter to share her disbelief at what she called “racist sh*t”. She tweeted “it appears we can no longer say anything. Fortunately we can still write racist sh*t in a rag, illustrated by the images of a black French African deputy painted as a slave."
Valeurs Actuelles initially responded to Obono’s remarks on Twitter, saying: “Racist sh*t? It’s a fictional story setting the scene of the horrors of slavery organized by the Africans in the 18th century.”
Later, in an interview with French TV station BFMTV, the Valeurs Actuelles’ deputy editor Tugdual Denis said the magazine understood "the symbolic charge" of the image depicting Obono. Denis claims to have offered a personal apology to the politician, stating he regrets the image coming across as racially charged. The editor, however, defended the initial aim of the story saying it sought to show the “destroyers of history” that an inter African slave trade existed in tandem with the European one.
Obono also spoke with BFMTV, saying the article has “crossed a line” and was "an insult to my ancestors" and "an insult to the Republic." She said the image illustrated "the reality" of the racism and stigmatization "that millions of our French citizens suffer from."
Written by Daniela Matos
Artwork by Aurora Brooks
Comments