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 1: The Stone Face — William Gardner Smith
William Gardner Smith’s The Stone Face follows Simeon Brown, a young African American journalist who leaves Philadelphia for Paris after years of living under the threat of racist violence. At first, Paris seems to offer the freedom and dignity denied him in the United States, but his friendship with an Algerian activist gradually exposes him to the racism and police brutality directed at North Africans during the Algerian War. Set against the violence culminating in the Paris massacre of October 1961, the novel explores race, exile, political responsibility, and the limits of seeking refuge from injustice elsewhere.
Registration will open the day after the previous meeting.