my job is not ‘being black’: 16 french black actresses take a stand against erasure

Sixteen French actresses collaborated for the publication of new book ‘Noire n’est pas mon métier’ (which means ‘Black is not my job’) (ed. Seuil).
In France, Black actresses face not only a lack of representation and inclusion, but also stereotypical representation whenever they are included.
In an opinion piece for huffingtonpost.fr, actress Rachel Khan wrote: “between the maids and prostitutes roles I’m offered, for which the ‘African accent’ is required, there seems to be a new genre in cinema: the ‘less than life, next to nothing’. In short, movies that are under reality, where no Black woman can be crazy in love with someone, be a doctor or a lawyer. Where are we, and what year is this?”
The book ‘Noire n’est pas mon métier’ tackles these issues. Let’s support this Black Girl Magic!
The sixteen following actresses collaborated to write it: Nadège Beausson-Diagne, Mata Gabin, Maïmouna Gueye, Eye Haïdara, Rachel Khan, Aïssa Maïga, Sara Martins, Marie-Philomène Nga, Sabine Pakora, Firmine Richard, Sonia Rolland, Magaajyia Silberfeld, Shirley Souagnon, Assa Sylla, Karidja Touré – France Zobda, who now form the DiasporAct collective.