In her book “Behind the Mixed-Race Myth,” sociologist Solène Brun examines mixed-race couples in France and their children, highlighting how race and métissage are social experiences. The “mixed-race myth” refers to the idea of a happy mixing that ignores power dynamics and serves to rewrite history by downplaying racial inequalities. It portrays love as the solution to racism, framing it as a matter of hatred rather than a systemic issue rooted in the history of Europe and its laws on blood purity to prevent intermarriage between Christians and Jews or Muslims. This perspective sheds light on how race has been constructed and how white groups historically reinforced racial boundaries out of fear of mixing.
The concept of métissage, meaning both mixture and disorder, reflects the disruption of racial order caused by mixing. This challenges the notion that one cannot be both slave and free, or indigenous and colonizer. Exploring the experiences of mixed-race individuals provides insight into how race was constructed and how white groups felt compelled to maintain racial boundaries to prevent mixing, a sentiment echoed in current fears of “population replacement.” The lens of métissage also reveals how integration and citizenship have been racially linked throughout French history, with citizenship granted based on race even into the mid-20th century.
Studies on mixed-race individuals in French Indochina by historian Emmanuelle Saada demonstrate how race became intertwined with French citizenship laws. A decree in 1928, reinforced by legislation in 1944, allowed mixed-race individuals with an unknown father but presumed to be of French race to obtain French citizenship. This historical racialization of citizenship has enduring effects on discussions of French identity and belonging today, with whiteness historically equated with Frenchness. The valorization of métissage in contemporary society often overlooks non-white individuals who are not mixed-race or in mixed couples, raising questions about assimilation and societal expectations of integration.
The focus on intermarriage as an indicator of integration has shaped sociological and demographic discourse, and plays a role in political discussions on inclusion and creolization in France. However, this emphasis on intermarriage as a sign of successful integration fails to address underlying racial inequalities and perpetuates the idea that marrying into French society is a positive step for immigrants. By examining the complexities of race, métissage, and citizenship, Brun’s research challenges the superficial narratives that portray mixed-race relationships as a cure for racism and instead calls attention to the deeper structural issues at play.
In conclusion, Solène Brun’s analysis of mixed-race couples in France sheds light on the complexities of race, métissage, and citizenship, revealing how historical ideas about race continue to shape notions of belonging and identity today. By unpacking the myth of a harmonious mixing and exposing the power dynamics at play, her work prompts a critical reconsideration of the role of race in shaping social structures and individual experiences. It challenges simplistic narratives of integration based on intermarriage and highlights the need to address racial inequalities in discussions of diversity and inclusion in French society. Through this research, Brun invites readers to engage with the underlying complexities of race and métissage to foster a more nuanced understanding of identity and belonging in a multicultural world.
