The BUMIDOM in Paris and its suburbs: contradictions in a state migration policy, 1960s–1970s

ABSTRACT

In 1962, the BUMIDOM, a state agency, was founded to organize and increase migration flows from the West Indies and La Reunion to the metropole. A major difference with the immigration from Sub-Saharan Africa was that, as French citizens, the migrants from the DOM were encouraged to come to metropole. Paris was a pivotal place where they were welcomed thanks to the creation of community centers. But experiences of living in the capital city also exposed the hardship and contradictions of this migration. Indeed, the egalitarian and republican discourse generated hope among migrants while the living conditions, particularly housing, were found to be disappointing. For these migrants, citizenship was not only formal but it enabled them to define places in Paris, such as the community centers, as specifically West Indian or Reunionese. These were spaces where a regional identity was built in-between a racialized definition and the2017 celebration of cultural particulars. It also expressed an irreducible difference between Sub-Saharan migrants on the one hand and West Indian and Reunionese ones on the other. Then, the common experience of discrimination was not enough to create a unified representation of a Black Paris beyond legal statuses and geographical origins.

KEYWORDS:

• BUMIDOM
• migrations
• racialisation
• West Indies
• housing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. National Archives (NA), 1982 0104/4, note from Mr. Hon to Mr. Bros, administrator-general of the BUMIDOM, 25 January 1974.

2. On the BUMIDOM, see Célestine; Wuhl-Ebguy (2006).

3. NA, 1982 0104/1, report from the adminstrative board of the BUMIDOM, 11 October 1971, remarks from Jean-Emile Vié.

4. NA, 1982 0104/3, Report from 20 December 1966.

5. NA, 1982 0104/1, Report from the administrative board of the BUMIDOM, 30 June 1970, remarks from M. Bros, chief executive of the BUMIDOM.

6. NA, 1982 0104/1, Report from the administrative board of the BUMIDOM, 22 February 1972, remarks from Jean-Emile Vié.

7. AN, 1982 0104/1, Report from the administrative board of the BUMIDOM, 22 February 1972, remarks from Mr. Servat.

8. NA, 1982 0104/1, Report from the administrative board of the BUMIDOM, 16 June 1971, comments from Mr. Bros, chief executive of the BUMIDOM.

9. Race is obviously considered here as a social construct and not as a biological or genetical factor.

10. NA, 1982 0104/4, study from the BDPA on problems with the information of migrants, October 1968. The Bureau Pour le Développement de la Production Agricole (Bureau for the Development of Agricultural Production) was an agency Under the Ministry of Agricultur which predated the BUMIDOM.

11. NA, 1982 0104/4, BUMIDOM information newsletter, 1966.

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid.

14. Ibid.

15. Ibid.

16. Ibid.

17. Ibid.

18. NA, 1994 0380/36, CNARM Annual Report, November 1974.

19. Curry is a traditional spicy dish from La Réunion.

20. NA, 1982 0104/4, BUMIDOM information newsletter, 1966.

21. NA, 1994 0380/41, CNARM 1975 and 1978 annual reports.

22. Ibid.

23. NA, 1994 0380/36, AMITAG Annual Report, 1970.

24. NA, 1994 0380/36, AMITAG Annual Report, 1974.

25. Ibid.

26. NA, 1984 0442/7, internal file, ‘Migrational Problems' (‘ Problèmes de la migration'), 1979.

27. NA, 1981 0104/4, ‘Migrants Housing problems' (‘Les problèmes de logement des migrants'), note to the Policy Offier for the DOM from G. Roux, Project Leader for the DOM, 13 March 1974.

28. NA, 1981 0104/4, 1973 Annual Report, Housing services, 22 January 1974.

29. NA, 1982 0104/3, Report # 4, ‘Social Activities', 20 December 1966.

30. NA, 1982 0104/4, BUMIDOM information newsletter, 1966.

31. NA, 1982 0104/1, Report from the Administrative board of the BUMIDOM, 11 October 1971.

32. NA, 1982 0104/3, BUMIDOM Annual Report, 31 December 1976.

33. The ‘1% patronal' is a system created in 1943. Firms dedicate 1 percent of their profits to helping workers find housing. The money collected is used for building construction or is loaned workers renting housing.

34. NA, 1981 0104/4, 1973 Annual Report, housing services, 22 January 1974.

35. Ibid.

36. NA, 1981 0104/4, Survey from the BPDA.

37. Ibid.

38. Ibid.

39. NA, 1981 0104/4, 1973 Annual Report, housing services, 22 January 1974

40. NA, F/1/a/5106, Moral report from the general assembly of the Union of community centers for Young/youth workers, 26-27 May 1964. ‘Rapatriés' are French citizens who were repatriated to France after Algeria became independent.

41. Ibid.

42. NA, 1981 0104/4, ‘Migrants' housing problems', note to the Minister from G. Roux, 13 March 1974.

43. Ibid.

44. NA, 1981 0104/4, Report on West Indian migrations to the metropole supervised by the BUMIDOM, January 1969.

45. NA, 1981 0104/4, 1973 Annual report, housing services, 22 January 1974.

46. NA, 1981 0104/4, Annual report, housing services, 22 January 1974.

47. Archives from the National Institute of the media (INA), « Le BUMIDOM saccagé », ORTF, evening news, 2 June 1968.

48. The Secours rouge is an activist and charitable organization founded by Jean-Paul Sartre which was close to Maoist movements.

49. The Mutualité is conference hall in downtown Paris where political meetings are regularly organized. NA, 1982 0104/3, BUMIDOM 1971 Annual Report; NA, 1982 0104/1, report from the BUMIDOM board meeting, 11 October 1971.

50. NA, 1982 0104/3, BUMIDOM 1972 Annual Report.

51. NA, 1994 0380/36, CNARM Annual Report, November 1974.

52. Ibid.