Sarah C. Dunstan - Race, Rights and Reform (Global and International History)

The Global and International History series seeks to highlight and explore the convergences between the new International History and the new World History. Its editors are interested in approaches that mix traditional units of analysis such as civilizations, nations and states with other concepts such as transnationalism, diasporas, and international institutions.

Race, Rights and Reform

Black Activism in the French Empire and the United States from World War I to the Cold War

Sarah C. Dunstan

Queen Mary University of London

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Sarah C. Dunstan 2021

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First published 2021

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-1-108-48697-2 Hardback

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It would take another book, at the very least, to properly thank the people who have made mine possible. My debts traverse continents. I am deeply grateful to the many people who have offered me advice, kindness and patience. A common adage is that you should never meet your heroes. My experience has been the exception that proves the rule. As a postgraduate and early career scholar, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the scholars whose work has inspired and galvanized me. On every occasion, I have been met with intellectual generosity and lively debate.

One such example is my PhD supervisor, Shane White. Shanes brilliant work on African American life first brought me to the University of Sydney, and his intellectual spirit and committed mentorship (not to mention his brilliant literary recommendations and exhortations to live beyond academia) have sustained me throughout every step of the project. From the beginning, he has challenged me to be the best that I can, both as a historian and as a writer. His attention to detail both historical and grammatical is impressive, along with his passion for African American history. I continue to benefit greatly from his wisdom and his friendship, for which I am most grateful.

The History Department at the University of Sydney is peopled with exceptional scholars and human beings. I only had the privilege of having Stephen Robertson as my associate supervisor for a few months before he moved to George Mason University in Washington, DC. Despite this, he made a point of offering support from afar advice on archival organization and reassuring conversations when we met up at conferences. This brings me to Marco Duranti, who stepped in as my associate supervisor after Stephen left. A human rights scholar and European historian, Marcos mentorship made my work stronger with his critical engagement and his constant encouragement. While Marco was on sabbatical at Cambridge, Glenda Sluga kindly stepped in as an associate supervisor for the final months of my dissertation. Unofficially, however, Glendas advice and support have shaped my intellectual trajectory from the beginning of my postgraduate degree. Her warmth and intellectual verve have been indispensable. Our conversations about transnational and international history carried over into her brilliant mentorship in my position as a Postdoctoral Fellow with the International History Laureate in 20172018 and have indelibly shaped this work. At the Laureate, I had the good fortune to work alongside Ben Huf, Claire Wright and Beatrice Wayne, who provided both intellectual challenge and a great deal of fun.

At Sydney, I also had the good fortune of being able to discuss French imperial history (and swap tales of freezing Paris winters) with Robert Aldrich. Several of my chapters have benefitted greatly from Roberts comments, criticisms and suggestions. Chris Hilliards cultural and intellectual history seminars were a source of inspiration and prompted careful reflection about my own methodologies. Michael McDonnell has been similarly thoughtful and supportive, offering crucial advice on the structure of this book. For their conversation, enthusiasm and encouragement, I would also like to thank Thomas Adams, Frances Clarke, Sophie Loy-Wilson, Iain McCalman and Mark McKenna.