Race And Economics In Martinque

Blacks slam white minority in Martinique strike

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique: Racial and class tensions gripped the French Caribbean island of Martinique on Friday as 2,000 protesters backing a wage strike chanted slogans against the island's white elite.

Some 2,000 mostly black protesters marched Friday through the capital, chanting slogans against "bekes" — the descendants of colonists and slave holders. "Martinique is ours, not theirs!" they yelled.

The elite group makes up an estimated 1 percent of Martinique's 401,000 residents, and own the majority of industries. Most of the Martinique's population is descended from African slaves brought to work on its colonial-era sugar plantations.

Many working class families are struggling to make ends meet amid a global economic crisis, exposing racial tensions 160 years after slavery ended in Martinique.

Police say the protests remain peaceful, and 130 riot police arrived from France this week to keep order.

But racial sentiments were inflamed after a one-hour documentary, "The last owners of Martinique," was shown on TV last week. The program focused on how the white minority group has dominated the economy.

One white business owner was quoted as saying historians should look at "the positive aspects of slavery" and that a mixed-race family lacks "harmony." Officials in France have opened an investigation against the businessman, Alain Huygues-Despointes.

Martinique's prefect, or political leader, Ange Mancini, had been renting from Huygues-Despointes but announced he has terminated his lease and found somewhere else to live. Mancini is white.

France's minister for overseas territories, who was in Martinique to try to end the strike, told reporters late Thursday before departing that Huygues-Despointes' comments were "completely revolting."

"Thankfully, we have the opportunity to live in a democracy with a justice system that works," said Yves Jego, referring to the investigation.