Why read Paris Noir?

Book cover of Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light

Book description

A history of black Americans who settled in Paris, France, from 1900 to the present.

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Why read it?

1 author picked Paris Noir as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Ellen Hampton

Author

When Tyler Stovall published Paris Noir three decades ago, he was primarily looking at the experience of postwar (WWI and WWII) African-Americans who chose to emigrate to France to escape the racial bias and oppression of mid-20th century America.

To read his account today is to measure the distance traveled, both by France and by the United States, and the depth of their social transformation. In any case, Stovall recounts the adventures (and misadventures) of Black Americans in Paris in succinct, strong, and active prose, the stories are based on thorough research and the characters are endlessly fascinating.

From Ellen's 3 favorite reads in 2023.