Beyond the Dark Side of the Port of the Moon: Rethinking the Role of Bordeaux's Slave Trade Past

Bordeaux's historical narrative has long been overshadowed by its role as a slave-trading port. This study challenges that perception, highlighting the agency and resilience of people of color—both enslaved and free—who shaped Bordeaux's identity from the 18th century onward. It reveals how some individuals redefined themselves in the city during the peak of the slave trade, while others, post-abolition, envisioned Bordeaux as a 'Black metropolis.' The research employs a multidirectional approach to reconstruct their lives and communities, offering a nuanced counterpoint to France's colonial history narratives.

Semley, L. (2020). Beyond the Dark Side of the Port of the Moon: Rethinking the Role of Bordeaux’s Slave Trade Past. Histoire Sociale/Social History, 53(107), 43–68. https://doi.org/10.1353/his.2020.0003