Indexing whiteness: practices of categorization and racialization of social relations among Maroons in French Guiana

Abstract This article investigates racial/ethnic categorizations designating the majority in a minority language and their uses meanings everyday interactions to grasp dynamics of racialization from perspective minoritized people. The investigation focuses on varieties called Businenge(e) Tongo locally or Eastern Maroon Creoles spoken by populations living French Guiana Suriname. We first examine different terms used refer whiteness, such as bakaa , wetiman poyte historical using documents before examining contemporary conversations. analysis final part at hospital Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. paper combines two approaches: sociology social relations approaches rooted ethnography. distinction between three allows considering race indexing power relations. Naming whiteness is thus way providing critical order.