As part of my doctoral research, I consider minority negotiations of citizenship, identity, and collective history through participation in cultural associations in France. The French case study exemplifies many of the tensions nation-states face in the contemporary, globalized world. France struggles with translating its official philosophy of humanist universalism into practices for managing and benefitting from its own diversity. This is particularly true of former colonial populations, and these minority communities are often viewed as threatening the ideal coherence of the French nation. Mutual distrust and misunderstandings within the national community are evident in official and public discussions about minorities and social relations. This situation has contributed to varied responses by minorities, including violent outbursts, efforts at assimilation, increased factionalism, and attempts at constructive communication. The creation and maintenance of minority cultural associations represents one attempt to create forums for discussion and communication and ameliorate the situation. Cultural associations are official organizations. Registered with local authorities and eligible to receive public funds, associations often serve as mouthpieces for their communities. In this role they are touted as places where social discussions can take place, offering the possibility of collaborative action. Alternatively, when attempts at integration fail or are deemed unsatisfactory, cultural associations are used to reinforce minority identity and group cohesion, which has been understood by some as a sign of rejection of the larger state and society. Yet the strengthening of minority identity and integration of that minority into French society are not necessarily mutually exclusive: associations serve as platforms for participation in national discussions and insulate members from elements of society perceived as hostile. Association leaders use this ambiguity as a strategy to maintain legitimacy with both funding agencies and their minority constituency. Three minority populations – the French-North African, Pied-Noir, and Harki communities – are the focus of my doctoral research. These populations share a common geography and history while representing a range of national and ethnic origins, historical relationships with the French state, and contemporary social and economic conditions. These groups are heavily implicated in current national discussions on citizenship, identity, and collective history. They vary in their level of participation in and approach to these conversations. This paper presents select findings from twelve months of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Grenoble and Aix-en-Provence to explore the role of cultural associations in negotiations of culture and identity in France.