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.

Today we speak with Professor Robin Kelley about the life and legacy of Aime Cesaire. Kelley is Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity and History at the University of Southern California and the author of several books including “Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination.” He also wrote the introduction to a new edition of Cesaire’s famous 1955 essay called “Discourse on Colonialism.”

Robin Kelley, professor of American Studies and Ethnicity and History at the University of Southern California. He is the author of several books including “Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination.” He also wrote the introduction to the new edition of Aime Cesaire’s 1955 essay “Discourse on Colonialism.”

---

LISTEN ONLINE