Scholars and scientists are often asked how they started a project and what triggered their research. For the topic of this blog, I can bring a straightforward answer.

First I read a review of Noiriel’s book, Chocolat in the daily newspaper Le Monde. It rose my curiosity, and I bought the book. I enjoyed it so much that I could not stop reading before reaching its end.

I was fascinated by its use of electronic resources, particularly the digitalized collection of the national Library in France. And as a male Caucasian living in Japan, that is as a privileged immigrant encountering sometimes curious situations, I became interested in the distinction Noiriel offered to do between prejudices and systemic racism.

Then I remembered having read in newspapers about a short silent film, Kiriki, acrobates japonais.

Logically I submitted a query at the Gallica website with this phrase; its results were many and surprising, and I decided to explore further the situation of Japanese acrobats in France.

Links

• Igor Martinache, « Gérard Noiriel, Chocolat clown nègre. L’histoire oubliée du premier artiste noir de la scène française », Lectures [En ligne], Les comptes rendus, 2012, mis en ligne le 05 avril 2012. URL : http://lectures.revues.org/8074
• Antoine de Baecque,“Chocolat clown nègre. L’histoire oubliée du premier artiste noir de la scène française”, de Gérard Noiriel : un fier artiste noir, LE MONDE DES LIVRES 08.03.2012; http://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2012/03/08/chocolat-clown-negre-l-histoire-oubliee-du-premier-artiste-noir-de-la-scene-francaise-de-gerard-noiriel_1653767_3260.html
• Claire Rainfroy, Chocolat, l’une des premières victimes du racisme en France, Slate Afrique 15/09/2012; http://www.slateafrique.com/93217/chocolat-premier-artiste-noir-francais-culture-histoire
• Frédérique ROUSSEL, «Ce personnage est devenu synonyme du monde noir», Libération 22 février 201; http://www.liberation.fr/culture/2012/02/22/ce-personnage-est-devenu-synonyme-du-monde-noir_797759
• Olivier Roueff, « Le spectacle des catégories raciales », La Vie des idées, 25 juillet 2012. ISSN : 2105-3030. URL : http://www.laviedesidees.fr/Le-spectacle-des-categories.html

Les Kiriki – Acrobates japonais