Meocha Belle 6/12
Every time I am in the Metro station, I see a blind person, recognizably with a walking stick. I have never seen so many blind people before, even in other major cities. Here in Paris, I literally see at least three different blind people a day. No matter the arrondissement "district", they are present and on the move.
This observation immediately brings me to think of the "colorblind France" myth. This idea that racial identity does not matter in France, which is discussed heavily in our core texts, From Harlem to Paris and Paris Noir, is highly ironic considering the number of physically blind people living in "The City of Light".
Frenchmen -speaking of women as well- are walking around blinded by false notions that have been passed down. Many do not challenge ideas imparted upon them and fail to remember that France was linked to the slave trade and does have a history of colonialism.
Coming from Guadeloupe, one of the Black Activism & Creativity panelists thought she "would have no problems in France," until of course she lived here for a while. She soon after noticed a confrontation between the black community and legal system and got involved in organizing against discrimination. Another panelist from this same discussion, said that "racism has continued to rise and blacks have not organized to pose enough pressure."
So there are Frenchmen who recognize that France is not as colorblind as it may portray. There may be many physically blind people living in the cities and suburbs, but the government and its people still operate under racist terms. Right now there are demonstrators outside of the Bastille, organizing to be recognized as French citizens.
~Paris Noir 2010
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