African Americans in France (gated, living, clubs)

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by MuscogeeButterfly

You don't have to respond. No one is holding a gun to your head. You are the one that brought up "melanin" like, why would "melanin" be a problem in France. It was a legitimate question. Oh and uh, by the way, I've also heard, the French were very forgiving of, not so fluent French. So, "black people" are the only ones, that can be "very loud, acting very stupid" in countries that are foreign to them..hmm..I've heard of ugly Americans, so this term applies specifically to "black people" hmm..Why are you so hostile, that I asked about African Americans in France? Hmm.

You're so eager to see racism you're now inventing it. Adieu.

[Thomas R.]

Originally Posted by MuscogeeButterfly

She was more than an artist, and how do you know the fact that she was African American didn't have anything to do with her reception??? She was involved with civil rights work at one time,and won the hearts of the French in other ways, aside from, her style of entertainment. She was largely, UNSUCCESSFUL, in America fyi. Do not try to denounce her ethnic heritage, or downplay it. This post is no different than the one about African Americans in Japan, DUH.

Things are a bit different now. It's not far off to say black artists then, even non-famous ones, were seen as escaping a racist system. Many blacks still feel things are against them, and in some cases that might be true, but in polls blacks agree it is different now. I doubt French would be quite as proned to see a black person as escaping a "racist country" when it has a black President and a noteworthy "Congressional Black Congress." Granted ex-patriates like Tina Turner are celebrated in Europe today, but she was famous here first.

An analogous situation might be South Africa. Although I don't think she moved to the US for awhile Miriam Makeba was popular here, she was on Soul Train then much later the Cosby Show, and it's possible her being exiled from the Apartheid regime played a role. A black South African could maybe appear on American TV again, but it almost certainly wouldn't have the same meaning or impact.

[Sudcaro]

Originally Posted by MuscogeeButterfly

She was more than an artist, and how do you know the fact that she was African American didn't have anything to do with her reception??? She was involved with civil rights work at one time,and won the hearts of the French in other ways, aside from, her style of entertainment. She was largely, UNSUCCESSFUL, in America fyi. Do not try to denounce her ethnic heritage, or downplay it. This post is no different than the one about African Americans in Japan, DUH.

I also said: she was loved for what she did, which includes, among other things, the fact she adopted so many children etc.
And I know it, because I'm French, and because though I'm young, I always found this woman fascinating. Her ethnicity or nationality had nothing to do with the fact she was popular. And I don't think there were that many other "idolized" African Americans there at the time. People are popular for what they are as a person and/or an artist, not because they have such or such origin. So she can't be taken as an example to say all African Americans are idolized (or not). But, hadn't she been famous as an artist first, noone would have ever known she existed and did the great things she did as a woman!
Don't have me say what I never said. I just tried to show a point about the way the question had been asked. Maybe I should have written a longer answer then.

[Sudcaro]

And I actually forgot to answer your question!
Depending on where you are in France, African Americans will either be seen as Americans, or as black people, or as ordinary people, or even not be seen at all... there's no universal answer to your question, it all depends on who you meet.
France is far from being a perfect country, and it can be rough... In many ways, it's not very different from here!

[Moth]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

i think that theory is just a tiny bit behind the times. that was b4 massive north african migration.

And it was based on a love of black celebrities. The Parisians loved that Miles Davis, with his talent and sweet suits, lived there for a time. Were a large chunk of Detroit's or Newark's populaton take up residence there, the reaction would be a wee bit different.

[robertjohnson]

Originally Posted by MuscogeeButterfly

African Africans?? You mean, those born on the continent as opposed to those that were descendants of slaves? That's why I stated, African AMERICANS. I suppose America's racist history, made me think there would be a difference. I was looking to hear from people that actually spent time over there, not someone that would be guessing. In the U.S., we have a history of having trouble with "melanin"

America had slavery for what, fifty years? If you have a beef with
things that happened before 1776 you need to b*tch in another direction.

The French hate all those that aren't French.
If you speak very good French you will be tolerated at best.
On a positive note there are some African-muslim districts where you may find like minded pals to hang out with.

[Sudcaro]

Originally Posted by robertjohnson

The French hate all those that aren't French.
If you speak very good French you will be tolerated at best.
On a positive note there are some African-muslim districts where you may find like minded pals to hang out with.

I can't believe what I'm reading!
Not all French are racists or narrow-minded people, fortunately!

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by MuscogeeButterfly

So, "black people" are the only ones, that can be "very loud, acting very stupid" in countries that are foreign to them..hmm..I've heard of ugly Americans, so this term applies specifically to "black people" hmm.

Did you miss where the poster stated "....my countrypeople of all colors."?

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Moth

And it was based on a love of black celebrities. The Parisians loved that Miles Davis, with his talent and sweet suits, lived there for a time. Were a large chunk of Detroit's or Newark's populaton take up residence there, the reaction would be a wee bit different.

You would have to take in account history and the social climate in those cities too.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by robertjohnson

America had slavery for what, fifty years? If you have a beef with
things that happened before 1776 you need to b*tch in another direction.

The French hate all those that aren't French.
If you speak very good French you will be tolerated at best.
On a positive note there are some African-muslim districts where you may find like minded pals to hang out with.

Technically, the places that are now known as a part of the US had slavery since 1607.