Being a Black American Artist in Paris: The Privileges Abroad vs. the Setbacks at Home
As it is, Paris is a highly romanticized city. Given the well-known history of Black American artists like James Baldwin and Josephine Baker who sought to escape the racism in America and thrived in Paris, it’s tempting to view Paris as a paradise for Black creatives. But what is it really like behind the veneer of its glamourous reputation?
In this episode, I speak with singer and former Paris resident (of 8 years!) Shola Adisa-Farrar to illuminate what exactly Black freedom, mobility, and expression means in the City of Lights. In this conversation, we will pull the veil back on race relations in France, and the advantages of being an American woman of color abroad, while connecting it to the setbacks at home in American soil.
With shared roots in Oakland, CA, Shola was also my closest friend in Paris before she moved back to NYC! Tune in to hear our conversation as we reflect on our shared experience as women of color abroad.
