While in France the contemporary legacy of slavery and colonialism continues to spark debate, the historical and political significance of Aimé Césaire’s writings remains as relevant as ever. In these interviews with Françoise Vergès in 2004, the poet and politician recounts, with remarkable candor, the key moments of his struggle for equality among peoples in the postcolonial era.

A key witness to this period of upheaval, Aimé Césaire reflects on his century—the era of the end of colonial empires—by raising fundamental questions about equality and the writing of history for the anonymous and the forgotten of the non-European world. We are privileged to hear the voice of a truly great man, in all its strength and modesty.