Selling Civilization?

This image in the rue Montorgueil has always puzzled me. Apparently, it is a remnant of a time when a coffee or sugar dealer sold his wares here. The caption states that this is not a branch store or part of a chain. Here, you're dealing directly with the dealer, or planter, as the text above indicates.

Of course, the image reinforced certain racial stereotypes about both Africans and the French. In the 19th century, Europeans -- and the French in particular -- considered themselves to be the height of the racial hierarchy and sought to bring "civilization" to other parts of the world. But one man's civilization is another man's barbarity. Consider this picture from the African's point of view. He's half naked and reduced to serving the owner of this plantation. The shop may very well have been an outlet for a Caribbean plantation where the French owned slaves until 1848 (I believe).

Considering the sometimes tense race relations in Paris today, it's almost surprising that this image has survived. There's another similar one in the Place de la Contrascarpe. Maybe I'll post a picture of that one too someday.