Dr. Graham Robb lectured today at the Kennedy Center before a diverse audience of students and professors. His subject was a self-proclaimed depressing one, yet it was forward thinking and very informative.
Robb mostly spoke on issues of persecution that he addresses in his book, The Discovery of France. He recounted the general persecution and discrimination of a forgotten group known as the cagots, and further recited some sobering specifics on how they were treated. Most shocking about this group of people is that, in reality, nothing about them separated them from the average Frenchman: they were discriminated against strictly because they had a history of being discriminated against.
Robb addressed the discrimination of gypsies, jews, africans, and arabs, as well. Though the subject matter was heavy, Robb did underline that contemporary France generally views its problems on a more international level and no longer condones harsh persecution.
With that said, he also pointed out that there is still much tension and work to be done: referencing issues like the slaughter of 200 Algerian protesters in 1961, and the 2005 suburbia riots.
Don't miss him tomorrow for his question and answer session of his most recent book, The Discovery of France .
BYU French Department presents
Graham Robb Q&A
Author, The Discovery of France
Thursday, 22 October, noon
284 TNRB
-david
Au fait, copies of the book are still for sale for only $3 in 3134 JFSB. That's $15 off the cover price.
