Meocha Belle 6/14
Today we had class in the Citadines Saint Germaine again, instead of our usual Cafe de Flore because we had two more panel discussions. The first one was on Citizenship, where we heard from a high fashion photographer, a journalist/writer/historian, and a singer/activist. From this conversation with two American born panelists and a woman from Martinique, I got the perspective that that there is a lot of welcoming of other cultures in France, but on a substantial level. That people are prejudice in France despite its fable.
The second panel of the day on Sisters displayed the complexities of blacks in Paris most greatly on a class level, both speaking of the organization in Paris as well as a social structure of women. Nicole and Ricki seemed very disconnected from the Black struggle. In both of their testaments to their contributions to the black community here in Paris, they identified self-esteem as a driving force. However, it was clear from their dialogue and anecdotes that they were struggling with it themselves.
The two women's views were so skewed and distant from that of many Black community members, which I thought they were putting on a skit for us. When I realized they were just ingrained in their own little word, I could not believe how black women who were so well off financially could forget what it really means to be Black and a woman.
In retrospect, I see how their presence and insight added to the wide range of blacks in Paris, but I did not think it should have gone to the level that it had. Ricki was even bold enough to ask Rudy, a white male in our group, if "he ever wished he could communicate with blacks," not knowing that his best friends were black. If Rudy had a different type of personality, he might have reacted in a totally different way and could have turned into a messy situation. Luckily for Ricki, he did not say anything and Professor Mayes corrected her on her inappropriate comment and assumption.
~Paris Noir 2010
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