Canada’s Little Black Queen is in France
October 30, 2005 · By kaqchikel
La «petite reine» noire du Canada est en France. So reads a Le Figaro’s headline yesterday. Rideau Hall’s spinning machine is doing an excellent job. Reading the piece, it would seem that Michaelle Jean’s visit to France is all about Michaelle Jean. There is brief mention that she will be going to Juno Beach. One line; that is all. Nothing about why or with whom. To be fair, that might not be Jean’s fault: it’s possible that talk about soldiers and war when it’s not to criticise the United States may be officially banned in France.
The article is about Jean, her immigrant status, her race, and her rise to notoriety. It does raise controversial issues like her separatist background, but there is no mention that she is half white. The tone is rather adoring of Michaelle Jean –good for her– with phrases like: “cette jolie princesse Ã? l’âme vagabonde” (This pretty princess with the bohemian soul).
Now, if Jean went to France to promote awareness that Canadian aboriginals fought on the French beaches to rescue and defend that cowardly and ungrateful nation, the focus of her trip has been lost. There is not a single line about them. The “Little Black Queen” has become the centre.
There is something about hyping these Governor-General-types to the point that the goal of their position is compromised. Jean should remind her staff to try to promote Canada and Canadians, even if just as a small courtesy, at the same time as they promote her. After all, the country is paying the bills.
Crossposted fromCivitatensis
Yeah, who really gives a rip about Jean? Since no one watches the CBC, her only real claim to fame is that she is black woman from Quebec, strategically useful to Paul Martin’s PR strategy in that province.
Nonetheless, God Save The Queen. If Conservatives ever see power again, they are going to have to re-invigorate and re-legitimate institutions from the top down. What a Liberal mess!
Not even, George. She is half white.
You guys should really be careful. People may think you sound racist.
Kaqchikel: Boy, she sure doesn’t look like a half-breed.
Lyndon: Racist? Nah … No one is implying her race makes her a less worthy human being than we, or that in some fashion being black inherently disables her. Unfortunately, appointing her GG solely because she is a black woman from Quebec is pretty racist; of the touchy feely sort but still based on racial prejudice.