Race, Revolution, and Celebrity: The Case of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George

This chapter examines the culture of celebrity as it intersected with that of race through a case study focused on Joseph Bologne, chevalier de Saint-George (1745–1799), French mixed-race virtuoso fencer, composer, violinist, and military officer. Analysing eighteenth-century legislation regarding African and African-descended people in metropolitan France, anti-Black tropes and stereotypes, and the racialising rhetoric used in public media, the chapter illuminates the persistent racialisation of Saint-George’s public image and the ways that racist notions of Black inferiority marred his success and his legacy. Conversely, the chapter considers the chevalier’s agency and savvy in utilising celebrity culture for his own benefit to bolster his livelihood and position as well as procure financial gain in a time of need. Ultimately, the chapter argues for the importance of adopting an intersectional approach to studies of celebrity and contends that such queries constitute a critical part of understanding empire, culture, and power during the era of the French and Haitian Revolutions.