During the early to middle part of the twentieth century, many African American artists left the United States for France, and specifically Paris. They arrived, in many ways, as refugees and exiles, escaping the racial violence in the United States. Some came with rose-colored glasses, seeing France's motto of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité as a welcome sign, and in fact, they did experience—some, certainly more than in the US—liberty, equality, and fraternity. Artists such as Josephine Baker experienced this, and in fact, she became, in 2021, the first Black woman and first American-born individual to be enshrined in the Panthéon. However, many, such as William Gardner Smith and James Baldwin, also saw the inequalities in France, notably the disparate treatment they received as "civilized" African Americans in relation to the mistreatment of individuals from France's colonies such as Algeria and Senegal.
This book club, which will take place over three meetings this fall, will explore the ways that the writers mentioned above experienced France and what they learned from their experiences in Paris and beyond. The book club will consist of short walking tours, a brief introduction by Matthew Teutsch for each text, and discussion at places to be determined. We will read the following, in this order.
William Gardner Smith The Stone Face (September 15—2 pm in front of Les Editeurs)
James Baldwin No Name in the Street (October 15—3 pm Top floor in Les Editeurs)
Josephine Baker Fearless and Free: A Memoir (November 11—2 pm; location to be determined)
Book 3: Fearless and Free — Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker’s Fearless and Free presents the celebrated performer and activist in her own words, drawing on conversations conducted over many years with the French journalist Marcel Sauvage. Baker recounts her rise from poverty in Missouri to international fame in 1920s Paris, where her performances made her one of the most recognizable figures of her generation. The memoir also traces her work for the French Resistance, her military honors, and her later involvement in the American civil rights movement, offering a vivid portrait of a life shaped by performance, celebrity, political commitment, and a determination to challenge racial barriers.
Registration will open the day after the previous meeting.