Bonjour tout le monde
While at the Père Lachaise cemetery with my daughter in 1995, we stumbled across the ashes of Richard Wright, who died while living in Paris. As an African-American French teacher, I knew and had studied about some of the African-Americans who sought a better life outside the United States. I have even written a blog post about Josephine Baker, who left the States and its Jim Crow laws to live more freely in France.
These days, African-Americans and those who are interested in Blacks who lived as ex-pats in France can take the Walking the Spirit, Black ParisTours offered by Ricki Stevenson. The tour visits places in Paris that were and are important to African-Americans then and now. Although I have not yet taken a tour, many of my friends and travel clients have - they are most enthusiastic about their experiences.
A documentary was created in 2016 which talks about the experiences of many famous African-Americans who lived in Paris; many for a long time, others for just a little while. Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light directed by Joanne Burke, was shown recently at the National Museum of Women in the Arts as part of the March on Washington Film Festival. It is all explained in a great article highligted on theundefeated.com, which is better known for its sports commentary. It is a great article that I recommend to everyone. Next time you go to Paris, take the tour, I know that I will!
to read the article in its entirety https://theundefeated.com/features/paris-noir-african-americans-in-the-city-of-light-documentary-march-on-washington-film-festival/
for more information on Walking the Spirit tours: http://www.walkthespirit.com/
the March on Washington film festival: http://marchonwashingtonfilmfestival.org
