"Trevor Noah: On the African-ness of the French national soccer team" Thu Jul-19-18 02:19 PM by PimpTrickGangstaClik
Is calling the French team Africans problematic?
Trevor Noah jokes that Africa won the world cup (because of the number of players of African descent on the team).
People get up in arms about it because it downgrades the player's French identity. The ambassador to France formally responded:
"This, even in jest, legitimizes the ideology which claims whiteness is the only definition of being French.”
Full statement: “I watched with great attention your July 17 show when you spoke of the victory of the French team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final which took place last Sunday. I heard your words about an “African” victory. Nothing could be less true. As many of the players have already stated themselves, their parents may have come from another country, but the great majority of them, all but two out of 23 were born in France. They were educated in France. They learned to play soccer in France. They are French citizens. They’re proud of their country, France. The rich and various backgrounds of these players are a reflection of France’s diversity. France is indeed a cosmopolitan country but every citizen is part of the French identity and together, they belong to the nation of France. Unlike in the United States of America, France does not refer to its citizens based on their race, religion, or origin. To us, there is no hyphenated identity. Roots are an individual reality. By calling them an African team, it seems like you’re denying their French-ness. This, even in jest, legitimizes the ideology which claims whiteness is the only definition of being French.”
13. "Kinda glosses over immigration in the US vid" In response to Reply # 8 Fri Jul-20-18 12:38 PM by bentagain
It makes the case for the golden era of US soccer in the 20s, culminating in the 3rd place 1930 finish
You could make a direct correlation to immigration
I looked up some stats IRT the current topic
US doubled its population between 1910-1930 through immigration
So it could be simply as immigration from Europe peaked, so did our success in soccer
which I think is what Noah was trying to ascribe, incorrectly, to France's success
The players on France's team (I think one of the 'african' players was foreign born, the rest are born and raised in France...I believe) are actually citizens
So I agree, that it has more to do with France, being born French and their infrastructure for developing successful soccer players
as laid out in the France vid, great explanation which totally ethers Noah IMO
Not where you can trace their ancestry too
Great vids, thanks.
If Noah has kids while in the US, would they call themselves South African?
11. "Even the Roman Empire had the policy of making conquered peoples" In response to Reply # 4
Roman citizens. It's an interesting practice, but to claim one simply becomes in essence the identity of whatever country colonizes them is so delusional it's funny. This case obviously benefits the colonizing nation. "No they are not African French, they are simply French!" Easy to say in something trivial but hugely morale-boosting like winning the World Cup.
6. "A pretty interesting memory" In response to Reply # 2
When I ran World Championships for track in like err 03 in paris
the wildest thing was seeing a bunch of young assfrench white kids playing african drums during opening ceremonies.
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12. "Europe can't handle pluralism, which actually feeds racism" In response to Reply # 0
Can't jump the line of crucial elements of the civil rights movement in the United States, like reckoning of differences, and try to go straight to "we are all one people and only one people". If you refuse to have conversations or acknowledgements about differences, you'll never get away from European nationalism.
15. "I did. He was right and he was wrong" In response to Reply # 14
He was wrong in his initial joke. But it's a joke. It's not supposed to be right or wrong. It's just supposed to be funny. But if you take his joke seriously, then he is basically saying they are not French. And that is the sentiment of many people.
His response adds something that his joke didn't have. He says that by pointing out their African heritage, he isn't minimizing their Frenchness. Just recognizing both sides.
He makes a good point about the fact that the immigrants are often referred to as Africans whenever there is something negative, but French when it is positive.
18. "How does that change the fact that they are born in France?" In response to Reply # 17 Fri Jul-20-18 04:32 PM by bentagain
I get it, alot of racist xenophobic butthurt Frenchies about immigration...sure
so Noah's point is...because racists see your skin...and label you a foreigner...you should acquiesce and acknowledge your lineage when identifying yourself
isn't that kind of feeding into it?
like I asked in one of my replies above
if Noah has kids while in the US, will his kids identify as South Africans or American or South African American?
ehh...I get that he made a joke...but IMO, you born in France = French...whether French nationalists agree or not.
"You can take an African out of Africa, but you can't take Africa out of the African" Afro-Americana/Afro-Caribbana/Afro-Latino unite. We are ALL Black!
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