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African Americans in France

February 15, 2024

Not to be confused with Black people in France.

Africans (also referred to as Black People) in France are people of African heritage or black people from the United States who are or have become residents or citizens of France. This includes students and temporary workers.

France has historically been described as a "haven" for Africans, having officially declared itself a colorblind society following the abolition of slavery in 1794.[1] Africans have migrated to France since the 19th century, often to escape the prevalent racism in the United States. The emergence of WWI and the subsequent rise of jazz in France laid the foundations for bustling African community, and opened doors for black performers, writers, and artists. France does not collect information about race or ethnicity in their census, making it impossible to gauge how many Africans are currently in France.[2] Recent years have brought calls for a racial awakening in France, and a resurgence of black pride under the ideology of "négritude."[1]

Migration edit

Colonial era edit

African Americans, who are largely descended from Africans of the American Colonial Era, have lived and worked in France since the 1800s. This first mass migration of African Americans to France occurred as a result of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. When the French territory was transferred to America, many free black Americans moved to France to escape the apartheid state.[3] Unofficial estimates put this figure at nearly 50,000 free black individuals.[4]

World War I and the interwar period edit

Paris saw the beginnings of an African-American community in the aftermath of World War I, during which roughly 200,000 African American soldiers were brought over, most for non-combat duties. Nine-tenths of the soldiers were from the American South.[5] The 369th Infantry Regiment of New York, better known as the Harlem Hellfighters, were the first to arrive in France in 1917. One member, Sergeant Henry Johnson, was the first American Soldier to be awarded the Croix de guerre with palm by the French Army.[5] Many black GIs decided to stay in France after having been well received by the French, and others followed them.[6] France was viewed by many African Americans as a welcome change from the widespread racism in the United States.

It was then that jazz was introduced to the French, and black culture was born in Paris. African-American musicians, artists and writer (many associated with the Harlem Renaissance) found 1920s Paris ready to embrace them with open arms. France represented a golden opportunity for many jazz musicians to escape not only racism, but also growing competition from oversaturation in the American jazz scene.[5] Entertainers such as Josephine Baker, Charlie Parker, and Eugene Bullard are among those who experienced great success after moving to France in the 20's. Montmartre became the center of the small community, with jazz clubs such as Le Grand Duc, Chez Florence, and Bricktop's thriving in Paris. Often referred to as "Les Années Folles" (or the Crazy Years), 1920's France hosted a small but significant number of African Americans, and represented an era of black American cultural appreciation.[5]

World War II edit

The Nazi German invasion of Paris in June 1940 led to the suppression of the "corrupt" influence of jazz in the French capital and the danger of imprisonment for African Americans choosing to remain in the city. Most Americans, black as well as white, left Paris at the time.[7][8] Following World War II, the arrival of black immigrants from former French colonies had offered Blacks in France the chance to experience new forms of black culture.[9] The period after WWII brought hundreds of black Americans to Paris, including prominent American writers such as Richard Wright and James Baldwin, and a new generation of jazz musicians.[9]

In the 1950s and 1960s, the political upheavals surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War protests in the United States were mirrored by civil unrest in France.[10] The African-American journalist William Gardner Smith was a novelist (Last of the Conquerors) who worked for Agence France-Presse. The French news service reported the events of the student uprising during the May 1968 protests. Many black residents supported the movement, which escalated into a virtual shutdown of the entire country. Once order was restored, however, a notable increase in repressive tendencies was observed in the French police and the immigration authorities.[11]

Contemporary era edit

While it is illegal to collect data concerning race or ethnicity in France, immigration wave research suggest there are between 3-5 million black immigrants currently in the country.[6] France remains a hub for African-American intellectuals and creatives. Rapper Kanye West is one such example, establishing roots in the French fashion and music scene. His song "Niggas in Paris" featuring Jay-Z, was inspired by his time in France and later used in a campaign commercial by the former French president, François Hollande.[12]

Culture edit

In the 1920s many Parisians became fascinated with Africa and black individuals, due to a growing social interest in primitivism and sensuality.[5] For this reason, most Black Americans at the time were performers, often finding it difficult to obtain other forms of employment given their foreigner status. Langston Hughes writes about his own struggles with finding employment during his time in France in his autobiography, The Big Sea. The Algerian War also had a significant impact on French African-American culture, largely because it changed people's perspectives on the "colorblindness" of France. Influential writers such as William Gardner Smith (The Stone Face) and James Baldwin ("Alas, Poor Richard") brought attention to the ways France mistreated its colonial subjects, and how this mistreatment was similar to the bigotry black Americans had faced in the States.[11] These works bolstered calls for discourse about race and diaspora as France moved into the 21st century. 

Race discourse remains a taboo in France, but events in the US such as Barack Obama's election and the murder of George Floyd have prompted the race discussion. In the summer of 2020, hundreds of thousand residents protested racism and police brutality in the streets of France. There has been a resurgence of the ideology of "negritude" among the younger generations, often exemplified through their art and music.[citation needed]

Interpretation edit

Tyler Stovall, a history professor at the University of California, Berkeley, has said:

In many ways, African Americans came to France as a sort of privileged minority, a kind of model minority, if you will—a group that benefited not only from French fascination with blackness, but a French fascination about Americanness. Although their numbers never exceeded a few thousand.[4]

The Conseil Représentatif des Associations Noires (CRAN) has stated:

Figures on nationalities are allowed but a black immigrant becoming French will disappear from statistics... Based on data from immigration waves researchers have come to say there may be 3 to 5 million blacks in France.[13]

African Americans in France make up a minority of the French population, and are not represented in statistical data. French universalism and a historical fascination with black American culture have made them into what Tyler Stovall calls a "model minority."

Notable figures edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Kimmelman, Michael (June 17, 2008). "For Blacks in France, Obama's Rise Is Reason to Rejoice, and to Hope". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Bleich, Erik (May 1, 2001). "Race Policy in France". Brookings. from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Paris Has Been A Haven For African Americans Escaping Racism". NPR.org. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "LAND OF THE FREE". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Stovall, Tyler. Paris noir: African Americans in the city of light. ISBN 1-4699-0906-5. OCLC 1027495136.
  6. ^ a b "Blacks in France are Invisible". www.nationalbcc.org. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  7. ^ March, Sarah (January 31, 2010). "Americans in Paris: Life and Death Under Nazi Occupation 1940–44 | Book review". the Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "World on Fire | Episode 6 History & Images | Masterpiece | Official Site | PBS". Masterpiece. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Stovall, Tyler (2000). "The Fire this Time: Black American Expatriates and the Algerian War". Yale French Studies (98): 182–200. doi:10.2307/2903235. ISSN 0044-0078.
  10. ^ "events of May 1968 | Background, Significance, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  11. ^ a b ""How Does It Feel To Be a White Man?": William Gardner Smith's Exile in Paris". The New Yorker. August 7, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "Is Paris Still a Haven for Black Americans?". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  13. ^ "Blacks in France are Invisible". www.nationalbcc.org. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  14. ^ "Kenny Clarke, Inventor Of Modern Jazz Drumming, At 100". NPR.org. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  15. ^ . Between the Covers: African-Americana. 157. 2010. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  16. ^ "Winston Churchill's Daughter May Wed Negro Artist". Jet Magazine. January 28, 1965. Retrieved March 25, 2013.

External links edit

  • Jenkins, Maureen. "African-Americans in Paris: 'It's always been about freedom for us'". CNN. February 25, 2013.

February 15, 2024
african, americans, france, confused, with, black, people, france, africans, also, referred, black, people, franceare, people, african, heritage, black, people, from, united, states, have, become, residents, citizens, france, this, includes, students, temporar. Not to be confused with Black people in France Africans also referred to as Black People in Franceare people of African heritage or black people from the United States who are or have become residents or citizens of France This includes students and temporary workers France has historically been described as a haven for Africans having officially declared itself a colorblind society following the abolition of slavery in 1794 1 Africans have migrated to France since the 19th century often to escape the prevalent racism in the United States The emergence of WWI and the subsequent rise of jazz in France laid the foundations for bustling African community and opened doors for black performers writers and artists France does not collect information about race or ethnicity in their census making it impossible to gauge how many Africans are currently in France 2 Recent years have brought calls for a racial awakening in France and a resurgence of black pride under the ideology of negritude 1 Contents 1 Migration 1 1 Colonial era 1 2 World War I and the interwar period 1 3 World War II 1 4 Contemporary era 2 Culture 3 Interpretation 4 Notable figures 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksMigration editColonial era edit African Americans who are largely descended from Africans of the American Colonial Era have lived and worked in France since the 1800s This first mass migration of African Americans to France occurred as a result of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 When the French territory was transferred to America many free black Americans moved to France to escape the apartheid state 3 Unofficial estimates put this figure at nearly 50 000 free black individuals 4 World War I and the interwar period edit Paris saw the beginnings of an African American community in the aftermath of World War I during which roughly 200 000 African American soldiers were brought over most for non combat duties Nine tenths of the soldiers were from the American South 5 The 369th Infantry Regiment of New York better known as the Harlem Hellfighters were the first to arrive in France in 1917 One member Sergeant Henry Johnson was the first American Soldier to be awarded the Croix de guerre with palm by the French Army 5 Many black GIs decided to stay in France after having been well received by the French and others followed them 6 France was viewed by many African Americans as a welcome change from the widespread racism in the United States It was then that jazz was introduced to the French and black culture was born in Paris African American musicians artists and writer many associated with the Harlem Renaissance found 1920s Paris ready to embrace them with open arms France represented a golden opportunity for many jazz musicians to escape not only racism but also growing competition from oversaturation in the American jazz scene 5 Entertainers such as Josephine Baker Charlie Parker and Eugene Bullard are among those who experienced great success after moving to France in the 20 s Montmartre became the center of the small community with jazz clubs such as Le Grand Duc Chez Florence and Bricktop s thriving in Paris Often referred to as Les Annees Folles or the Crazy Years 1920 s France hosted a small but significant number of African Americans and represented an era of black American cultural appreciation 5 World War II edit The Nazi German invasion of Paris in June 1940 led to the suppression of the corrupt influence of jazz in the French capital and the danger of imprisonment for African Americans choosing to remain in the city Most Americans black as well as white left Paris at the time 7 8 Following World War II the arrival of black immigrants from former French colonies had offered Blacks in France the chance to experience new forms of black culture 9 The period after WWII brought hundreds of black Americans to Paris including prominent American writers such as Richard Wright and James Baldwin and a new generation of jazz musicians 9 In the 1950s and 1960s the political upheavals surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War protests in the United States were mirrored by civil unrest in France 10 The African American journalist William Gardner Smith was a novelist Last of the Conquerors who worked for Agence France Presse The French news service reported the events of the student uprising during the May 1968 protests Many black residents supported the movement which escalated into a virtual shutdown of the entire country Once order was restored however a notable increase in repressive tendencies was observed in the French police and the immigration authorities 11 Contemporary era edit While it is illegal to collect data concerning race or ethnicity in France immigration wave research suggest there are between 3 5 million black immigrants currently in the country 6 France remains a hub for African American intellectuals and creatives Rapper Kanye West is one such example establishing roots in the French fashion and music scene His song Niggas in Paris featuring Jay Z was inspired by his time in France and later used in a campaign commercial by the former French president Francois Hollande 12 Culture editIn the 1920s many Parisians became fascinated with Africa and black individuals due to a growing social interest in primitivism and sensuality 5 For this reason most Black Americans at the time were performers often finding it difficult to obtain other forms of employment given their foreigner status Langston Hughes writes about his own struggles with finding employment during his time in France in his autobiography The Big Sea The Algerian War also had a significant impact on French African American culture largely because it changed people s perspectives on the colorblindness of France Influential writers such as William Gardner Smith The Stone Face and James Baldwin Alas Poor Richard brought attention to the ways France mistreated its colonial subjects and how this mistreatment was similar to the bigotry black Americans had faced in the States 11 These works bolstered calls for discourse about race and diaspora as France moved into the 21st century Race discourse remains a taboo in France but events in the US such as Barack Obama s election and the murder of George Floyd have prompted the race discussion In the summer of 2020 hundreds of thousand residents protested racism and police brutality in the streets of France There has been a resurgence of the ideology of negritude among the younger generations often exemplified through their art and music citation needed Interpretation editTyler Stovall a history professor at the University of California Berkeley has said In many ways African Americans came to France as a sort of privileged minority a kind of model minority if you will a group that benefited not only from French fascination with blackness but a French fascination about Americanness Although their numbers never exceeded a few thousand 4 The Conseil Representatif des Associations Noires CRAN has stated Figures on nationalities are allowed but a black immigrant becoming French will disappear from statistics Based on data from immigration waves researchers have come to say there may be 3 to 5 million blacks in France 13 African Americans in France make up a minority of the French population and are not represented in statistical data French universalism and a historical fascination with black American culture have made them into what Tyler Stovall calls a model minority Notable figures editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources African Americans in France news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message J Alexander model Evelyn Anderson dancer Josephine Baker entertainer and actress Longineu W Parsons III Mickey Baker influential guitarist in rock and roll and rhythm and blues James Baldwin author and essayist Sidney Bechet jazz musician Dee Dee Bridgewater jazz singer and actress Arthur Briggs jazz musician Eugene Bullard world s first Black military pilot Barbara Chase Riboud novelist poet sculptor and visual artist Kenny Clarke jazz musician 14 Bessie Coleman first African American pilot Beauford Delaney modernist painter Carole Fredericks singer Johnny Griffin jazz musician Chester Himes crime novelist Quincy Jones musician composer record producer Eartha Kitt singer actress and entertainer Lenny Kravitz rock musician Ealy Mays painter Memphis Slim blues pianist and singer Chloe Mortaud Miss France 2009 Shaun Ollison model Ms California 2000 Rashaan Nall actor director screenwriter painter Lobo Nocho jazz singer and painter who was romantically involved with Winston Churchill s daughter Sarah 15 16 Charlie Parker jazz musician Tony Parker basketball player for the NBA s San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets born in Belgium but raised in France Melvin Sanders professional basketball player Victor Sejour playwright Nina Simone jazz and blues singer a prominent leader during the American Civil Rights Movement Ada Bricktop Smith dancer singer vaudevillian and self described saloon keeper William Gardner Smith journalist novelist and editor Barbara Summers Henry Ossawa Tanner painter Melvin Van Peebles filmmaker Dominique Wilkins NBA Hall of Famer born in France while his father was stationed there with the U S Air Force Richard Wright author of novels short stories and non fiction Amir RichardsonSee also edit nbsp France portal nbsp United States portalAfro French Americans in France Mexicans in France Romani people in France Jews in France Senegalese people in France Cameroonians in France Congolese people in France Beninese people in France Ghanaians in France Ivorians in France Malians in France Togolese people in FranceReferences edit a b Kimmelman Michael June 17 2008 For Blacks in France Obama s Rise Is Reason to Rejoice and to Hope The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved December 11 2021 Bleich Erik May 1 2001 Race Policy in France Brookings Archived from the original on November 14 2016 Retrieved December 12 2021 Paris Has Been A Haven For African Americans Escaping Racism NPR org Retrieved December 5 2021 a b LAND OF THE FREE Tampa Bay Times Retrieved December 12 2021 a b c d e Stovall Tyler Paris noir African Americans in the city of light ISBN 1 4699 0906 5 OCLC 1027495136 a b Blacks in France are Invisible www nationalbcc org Retrieved December 12 2021 March Sarah January 31 2010 Americans in Paris Life and Death Under Nazi Occupation 1940 44 Book review the Guardian Retrieved December 13 2021 World on Fire Episode 6 History amp Images Masterpiece Official Site PBS Masterpiece Retrieved December 13 2021 a b Stovall Tyler 2000 The Fire this Time Black American Expatriates and the Algerian War Yale French Studies 98 182 200 doi 10 2307 2903235 ISSN 0044 0078 events of May 1968 Background Significance amp Facts Britannica www britannica com Retrieved December 13 2021 a b How Does It Feel To Be a White Man William Gardner Smith s Exile in Paris The New Yorker August 7 2019 Retrieved December 13 2021 Is Paris Still a Haven for Black Americans Smithsonian Magazine Retrieved December 13 2021 Blacks in France are Invisible www nationalbcc org Retrieved December 13 2021 Kenny Clarke Inventor Of Modern Jazz Drumming At 100 NPR org Retrieved August 12 2017 Ernest Lobo Nocho Three Original Paintings Between the Covers African Americana 157 2010 Archived from the original on May 23 2013 Retrieved March 25 2013 Winston Churchill s Daughter May Wed Negro Artist Jet Magazine January 28 1965 Retrieved March 25 2013 External links editJenkins Maureen African Americans in Paris It s always been about freedom for us CNN February 25 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title African Americans in France amp oldid 1202256697, 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