Scoring Race

The book delves into the intersection of aesthetics and race in Western thought, particularly its influence on Francophone African literature. It traces the emergence of "scientific" racism in France, linked to the jazz movement between the world wars, which framed jazz as intrinsically "black." Through analyses of both avant-garde French writers and contemporary African authors, the author examines how jazz has shaped notions of African authorship and artistic identity. The work questions how these writers navigate their perceived musicality while engaging with jazz's significance in diaspora aesthetics and the French cultural landscape.