Summary
Préférence Nationale is a powerful short story by Fatou Diome that exposes the bitter realities of racism, discrimination, and identity struggle faced by immigrants in France.
The narrator is a Senegalese woman married to a French man. After the law changes, she is denied French citizenship. The new rule, proposed by a symbolic figure “Mr Borders,” requires foreign spouses to wait two years for citizenship. The law indirectly aims to break such marriages, turning foreign women into outsiders without rights. The narrator bitterly notes that even her Senegalese cat has papers, but she doesn’t — a strong satire on injustice.
She looks for a job to survive. Her French friend discourages her from applying to a bakery, thinking it’s beneath her qualifications. But the narrator knows that her degree isn’t valued because of her race. She says her “brain isn’t recognised,” and she just wants to eat and live.
At the bakery, she faces blatant racism. The owner, a white man with a German moustache and Alsatian accent, rejects her. His look shows she has already failed the “qualifying round.” He humiliates her by asking, “Why don’t you go work in your own country?” Inside, she burns with anger but silently walks away, remembering how European countries exploited Africa.
Later, she applies for a tutoring job. The employer, a French cashier, meets her in a café and rudely says, “I want a European-type person,” rejecting her because she is black. The narrator replies sharply, saying if the woman had her intelligence, she wouldn’t be working as a cashier. When the cashier insults her further, calling her a “coloured,” she retorts with dignity.
Even when humiliated, she keeps her self-respect, saying, “My skin, at least, always keeps its dignity.” The story ends ironically — when the narrator gives her white friend the same tutoring contact, that friend gets the job easily. The employer even offers her a cleaner’s post!
The story exposes racial prejudice and hypocrisy in modern society and shows how immigrants, despite being qualified and dignified, face exclusion and injustice.
Textual Question–Answers (While We Read)
a. What change did Mr Borders bring to the process of granting French citizenship?
He changed the law so that foreign spouses of French citizens must wait two years before applying for citizenship. This made it harder for immigrants to gain legal rights.
b. “My Senegalese cat has his papers. Perhaps it’s because he’s ginger.” Comment.
This is a satire. The narrator mocks the system where even a pet cat can get citizenship papers, but a human being cannot — just because of her race and origin.
c. What role do ordinary people play in enforcing such laws?
The author says laws become powerful only when ordinary people start practising discrimination in daily life. Prejudice spreads through people’s attitudes.
d. What advertisement did the narrator find?
She found an ad in the newspaper: “Large bakery in the city centre looking for salesgirl. Dialect desirable. Please come to the shop.”
e. Why did the author’s French friend discourage her from applying for the bakery job?
Because she thought the narrator was overqualified and that selling bread would be a lowly job for someone educated.
f. What were the author’s reasons for applying for the bakery job?
She said her qualifications weren’t recognised because of racism, and she needed to eat and survive. Any honest job was acceptable to her.
g. How does the author highlight the racial bias of the bakery owner?
Through his behaviour and tone. He judged her by her skin colour and insulted her, showing that he didn’t like “chocolate in the flesh.”
h. What does the narrator mean by “qualifying round”?
She means that she failed before even being interviewed — because her skin colour disqualified her.
i. What did the bakery owner demand?
He demanded that she speak the Alsatian dialect, though it was unnecessary for the job — just an excuse to reject her.
j. What was the owner’s most humiliating question?
He asked her, “Why don’t you go work in your own country?” which was racist and demeaning.
k. What did the narrator think when the bakery owner humiliated her?
She silently thought about how France had exploited Africa and now refused to give Africans dignity or jobs.
l. What was the second job the narrator applied for?
She applied for a tutoring job to teach French to an eleven-year-old girl.
m. How would the narrator identify the cashier at the café?
The cashier told her she would be wearing a white jersey with blue stripes.
n. Why didn’t the narrator mention the second ad to her friend?
Because she didn’t want her friend to question her again about her earlier humiliation at the bakery.
o. What does she mean by “when it’s time to cash up, national preference is nowhere to be seen”?
She means that racism disappears when money is involved — people gladly take her money but deny her respect.
p. How does she respond to the cashier’s racist comment?
She gives a strong reply, saying, “If you had what I have between my ears, you wouldn’t be working as a cashier.”
q. What does “My skin, at least, always keeps its dignity” mean?
It means that although she is treated unfairly, she never stoops to hate or shame. Her dark skin becomes a symbol of pride and self-respect.
Let’s Rewind (Comprehension Questions)
1. Do you think Mr Borders’ law violates human rights?
Yes. It discriminates against foreign women married to French citizens. It deprives them of legal status and dignity, violating their basic human rights.
2. How does the narrator’s experience reflect the struggles of identity in a foreign country?
She faces racism, rejection, and humiliation despite being qualified. Her struggle shows how immigrants constantly battle for recognition and belonging.
3. Why does she say her qualifications aren’t recognised?
Because even though she holds a French degree, employers see only her colour, not her intelligence. This destroys her confidence and identity.
4. What does her encounter with the café woman reveal about racism?
It shows how racism is deeply rooted in society. The woman rejects her as a tutor not for lack of skill, but because she is black.
Activity 1 – Email to the Senegalese Ambassador
To: ambassador@senegalembassy.fr
Subject: Request for Support in Citizenship Issue
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am a Senegalese citizen residing in France. I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent change in the citizenship law, which now requires foreign spouses to wait two years before applying for French citizenship.
This delay has caused me severe emotional and financial distress. Despite my marriage to a French citizen and my efforts to contribute positively to this country, I am being treated as an outsider. Even my pet has legal papers, but I do not.
I kindly request the Embassy to consider representing the concerns of citizens like me who face such discrimination. I seek your guidance and support to ensure that my rights as a Senegalese citizen are protected.
Thank you for your understanding and concern.
Yours sincerely,
[Name]
Paris, France
Activity 2 – Diary Entry
Date: March 10, 2024
Today was a painful day. I went to the bakery to apply for the salesgirl job. The owner looked at me with disgust even before I spoke. He asked if I could speak his dialect — I said no. Then came the cruel words: “Why don’t you work in your own country?”
I walked away quietly, though my heart screamed with anger. I thought about how they had taken everything from Africa — its people, land, and freedom — and yet still treated us as inferior.
I felt ashamed, not of my colour, but of their ignorance. My skin may be dark, but it carries the pride of my people. I will not lose hope. I will fight with my dignity intact.
– The Narrator
Activity 3 – Letter to Mother
Dear Mother,
I hope you and everyone at home are doing well. I wanted to tell you what happened today. I went to meet a woman who wanted a French tutor for her daughter. I was confident that my degree and experience would help me get the job. But when she saw my skin colour, she said, “I want a European-type person.”
Those words broke my heart. It’s not easy living in a place where people see your colour before your character. Every rejection makes me feel less human. Sometimes, I feel I have lost my identity.
But, Mother, please don’t worry. I will stay strong. I will never let hatred destroy me. I remember your words — “Keep your head high and your heart clean.” That’s what I’ll do.
With love,
Your daughter
Activity 4 – Radio Play Script: “Préférence Nationale”
Characters:
- Narrator (Senegalese woman)
- French Friend
- Bakery Owner
- Cashier
- Waiter
- Narrator’s Inner Voice
Scene 1 – Narrator’s Room (Morning)
SFX: Pages turning, newspaper rustling
Narrator (thinking): Another day, another search. Maybe this ad — “Salesgirl needed. Dialect desirable.”
Friend (on phone): Are you crazy? You’re overqualified for that!
Narrator: My brain isn’t recognised here, my friend. I just need to eat.
SFX: Call disconnects, sigh
Scene 2 – Bakery (Next Day)
SFX: Bell jingles, footsteps, customers chatting
Owner: So, you want the job? Speak any Alsatian?
Narrator: No, sir.
Owner: Then go back to your own country.
Narrator (aside): You stole from my land, took our freedom, and now you ask me to go back.
SFX: Door slam
Scene 3 – Café (Later)
SFX: Café sounds, cups clinking, soft music
Cashier: You have a degree? Impressive. But I want a European-type person.
Narrator: If you had what I have between my ears, you wouldn’t be a cashier.
Cashier (angrily): Go back to your jungle!
Narrator: My jungle has more humanity than your city.
SFX: Chair scrape, footsteps leaving
Narrator (softly): My skin, at least, keeps its dignity.
End Message (Narrator):
Prejudice builds walls thicker than any border. But dignity — dignity crosses them all.
SFX: Soft African music fades out.