Culture as a Political Tool for Migrant Activists Facing Repression in France

This chapter explores how state restrictions and material disadvantages in France during the 1970s pushed migrant activists to use culture as a political tool. Focusing on three migrant groups – Mouvement des Travailleurs Arabes (MTA), Révolution Afrique, and the Association des Marocains en France (AMF) – it reveals how cultural activities like theatre, periodicals, and festivals served as avenues for political expression amidst economic and legal constraints. The chapter delves into archival records, including police reports and personal memoirs, to argue that these cultural initiatives allowed migrants to resist new migration policies, create visibility, and build a legacy for future movements. This analysis provides insights into the entanglement of migrant activism, culture, and state policies.