Statues in the French Caribbean and the Iconoclastic Assault

This article contributes to debates concerning slavery and slave museums, taking as inspiration historical novels archives from the Schwarz-Bart Library in Goyave (Guadeloupe). I question, particular, passing over of black or mulatto female heroines, sharp contrast with béké figures who, even if they have been temporarily(!) beheaded, remain more famous icons collective mind French Caribbean population at large. could indeed measure that Martinicans, are proud ‘given Napoléon’s wife’ erected her beautiful body into white marble ‘posture’ Fort-de-France Savanah . My survey touches on counter-example ‘ La mulâtresse Solitude ’, a statue Guadeloupe, but without any indication its source: best-selling novel by André Schwarz-Bart. Why does Édouard Glissant’s project for Centre national pour la mémoire des esclavages et de leurs abolitions ’ no occasion mention only heroine such should staged? What this tell us about gender bias continues wreak havoc West Indies all fields? remains central, pivotal poteau mitan iconography. In spite recent successful innovations, there is still much sort out before leaving dominant tendency statufier sur son promote male heroes instead ones.