France-Algeria: an “I don’t love you either” that is also written in comics

In France, the Algerian War and the stronger relations between France and its former colony are, without a doubt, among the historical themes most widely involved in comics. Not a year goes by without an author and/or illustrator focusing on the subject. The angles of attack are different, as are the points of view. As an example, we will mention the excellentTomorrow, tomorrow: Nanterre, slum of madness1962-1966 followed by Tomorrow, tomorrow: Gennevilliers, transit city, 1973 (by Laurent Maffre and Monique Hervo), who accurately narrate the welcome given to Argentine immigrants in the Paris region. We also think about In the shadow of Carona(by Alain and Désirée Frappier) andBlack October (fromDidier Daeninckx and Mako) on the Paris repression of the 1961 and 1962 demonstrations. Or even in Return to Saint-Laurent-des-Arabes(Daniel Blancou), dealing with the living conditions of the harkis in camps military.

“Algiers-Return” by Fred Neidhart

In this anniversary year of the Evian Accords, two new comics have just been published that present the memory searches of young French people specific to this colonial past experienced by their parents or grandparents. With Algiers-Return (Marabulles, 114 pages, 16.90 euros), author-illustrator Fred Neidhart narrates – or so we assume – his own journey as a young man who set out in search of the memories of his black father. Minimalist, with a raw look, it explores their prejudices, their reactions to contact with the local population, as well as the gaps in the collective memory on both sides of the Mediterranean.

No mercy for himself and his father, who has sworn never to set foot in Algeria again and who tells him: “You are going to a foreign country, my employees are very hostile towards us… You have no recourse left, if some of the guys put the hand on you, we said: “you have a history with Algeria…”

Tensions rise when he gets into trouble with a young Algerian man. “But seriously! France sacked Algeria! The truth, you have to give us back 1 billion dollars! More interest! And ask for forgiveness! », sends him the young man passionate about video games. To which Daniel couldn’t help but respond: “Hey! But aren't you tired of playing the victim? Colonization ended more than 50 years ago! I wasn't even born! » And so on... And that's all that makes this work valuable: a lucid and penetrating look at a present that remains determined by a past that painfully insists.

"Called From Argelia 1954-1962” by Swann Meralli and Deloupy

This indigestible past is also at the heart ofAlgerian recruits 1954-1962 (Marabulles, 128 pages, 18 euros), by Swann Meralli (script) and Deloupy (drawing). An album that begins with an argument on the football field, where a young woman of Algerian origin wears a t-shirt with the colors of her country.

“I said you don’t even play for your own country!” You understand me, right?!
– Normal, my country is Algeria.
– And are you proud? You don't even like the country that welcomed you!
– What do you mean by “collected”? Because I'm less French than you, right?!
– I, my country, love it, that’s all! My grandparents were Polish and I don't have a Polish shirt! »

This virulent discussion led to an investigation and a slow awareness of the young man of Polish origin, Jérôme, whose grandfather participated in the Algerian war.

Why not love your country in all its splendor, without denying its horrors?

Didactic and balanced, the albumAlgerian recruits intertwines the present and the past, insists on the silences of those who fought this dirty war on the ground. As with Fred Neidhardt, it is a search for truth – this truth that can only be born from dialogue, the desire for understanding and the peaceful confrontation of each other's points of view.

“Why not love your country in all its splendor, without denying its horrors?”, asks Jérôme. Hoping that understanding our fragmented past will help us build future solidarity! » If a united future still seems utopian, these two works have already been presented, in their own way, for a better understanding of History. It is a first no.