Why descendants of France’s slaves are still fighting for their memory

People hold placards bearing names in memory of victims of French colonial slavery, on 23 May 2018 in Paris. © AFP - FRANCOIS GUILLOT

On 23 May, France marks a national day for the victims of colonial slavery. Descendants of people enslaved by the French empire fought to establish the event 25 years ago, and today they’re still fighting for a national memorial in their ancestors’ honour.

It is 175 years since France abolished slavery for good. But for the descendants of hundreds of thousands of enslaved men and women in France’s former colonies, the history is anything but distant.