Are black Parisians knowledgeable about the African American history there?
The black French know a couple of names but not much more than others. Everyone is eager to learn, though. Why do you think there is a lack of knowledge? I am not sure. There is a certain amount of elitism, as far as history goes, here. Parisians are satisfied with being known as the first jazz city but don’t always mention where jazz came from, partly because French jazz has grown into its own force but, that too, is changing. What about from the average citizen? People on the street stop and listen when I do the tours! People of all races. The tour – this history – has something for everyone; it’s universal. Everyone can learn from and identify with some part of it. What is life like for a black person, who is not French, living in Paris? One of the first shocks I got when I moved there was that just being black wasn’t enough to connect with other blacks. You can’t just go up to a group of black Parisians and start talking to them. The French may come off as very reserved. They take
