Aime Cesaire 1913–2008: Remembering the Life and Legacy of the Black Pride Poet

[EFerrari]

Aime Cesaire 1913–2008: Remembering the Life and Legacy of the Black Pride Poet and Anti-Colonial Activist



Aime Cesaire, the esteemed poet, writer, politician, and anti-colonial activist from Martinique died on Thursday at the age of 94. Cesaire is revered in the Francophone world as a leading figure in the movement for black consciousness and pride, which he called ‘negritude.’ His use of culture to fight colonialism and racism influenced generations of activists and writers around the world.


Aime Cesaire, the esteemed poet, writer, politician, and anti-colonial activist from Martinique died on Thursday. He was 94 years old. Cesaire is revered in the Francophone world as a leading figure in the movement for black consciousness and pride, which he called negritude.

Cesaire was also a politician for a large part of his life. The Caribbean island of Martinique is administratively and politically a region of France and its residents are French citizens. Cesaire served as the mayor of Martinique"s capital and the elected representative to the French constituent assembly for close to half a century.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy led thousands of mourners at an official state funeral Sunday for Cesaire in Martinique. But in 2005 Cesaire had refused to meet Sarkozy because of a new law Sarkozy had proposed emphasizing the positive legacy of French colonialism.

Cesaire’s use of culture to fight colonialism and racism influenced generations of activists and writers around the world. Fellow Martiniqian author and revolutionary Frantz Fanon considered Cesaire to be his mentor.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/21/aime_cesaire_1913_2008_remembering_the

[Orwellian_Ghost]

1. K&R

[EFerrari]

2. Kick

[Blue_Tires]

3. r.i.p.

[laststeamtrain]

4. K & R--thanks for the heads up. In every sense a great man.

Miraculous weapons indeed.

[EFerrari]

5. I only came across him lately because I avoided Fanon like the plague.

Now, I just want to know, read everything. What a sad loss. He fought the very best of fights, though.

[laststeamtrain]

6. One of the United States best poets has translated Cesaire, Clayton Eshleman.

Put many years into it.

The French is enface in a fairly affordable paperback inviting one to tackle the original.

Cesaire is 'Savage' in the best sense of that word. Deeply moving. Like a gut shot.

When I heard he died it really got to me. His like is not easily replaceable.

[EFerrari]

7. I'm going to kick this a coupla more times in case there's a poet

or a critic or a fan out there. :)

[EFerrari]

8. Kick

[laststeamtrain]

9. Here's the obits from the Post & Times

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041701686.html?referrer=emailarticle

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/books/18cesaire.html?ref=obituaries