Black Paris News letter

Item

Title: Black Paris News letter
Description: This new letters shows what Black Paris is and what it means to me
Creator: Victoria Robinson
extracted text: Black Paris News Letter

Summary

This newsletter will be demonstrating how Black Paris contributed through out history. Black Paris is
history that was being made by people of color and they all had a connection Paris. Black Paris shows
the struggles and challenges that people of color predominately black people had to face while living
back in that time, whether it's the color of their skin or their sexuality. Among the many African
American artists whose uplifting narratives of success over America's strict racial social structure
continue to entice Black Americans to the City it is today are Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, and
Richard Wright.

What I've learned through my journals
The first journal gave me an eye opening of a country that speaks France and is connected to France. I've
learned about many different thing while doing research, for example :
•

Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island.

•

Madagascar is home to approximately seventy lemur species.

•

Madagascar even have famous directors and writers that impacted France like Joseph-Casimir
Rabearivelo and Raymond Rajaonarivelo.

Journal 2 and journal 3 focuses on the Harlem Hell fighters and Black women in Paris. I've learned some
many things about the Hell Fighters that I didn't know about. The Harlem Hell Fighters were a group of
African Americans that fought in WWI in France. They built a name for themselves in Europe by
delivering amazing jazz concerts to France. They had a regiment that was only able to perform jazz music
and play instruments for the allies. This was so interesting to me because i only learned about the fight
and never something that made them happy. Being a black women myself mad me feel really happy and
sad to learn about the challenges that Josephine Baker and Nina Simone. They were both influential to
the black community in America and France.

I've learned that French-speaking African and Caribbean writers in Paris started the literary movement
known as Negritude, or Négritude, in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s as a form of resistance to French
colonial control and the assimilationist strategy. The les cenelles contained poetry, music, and art, this
helped them express themselves to the public. The lost generation was give to a group of African
Americans writers who gathered in Paris after WW1 .

Exploring different music through out Black Paris
Here's a recap of my Black Paris Playlist
1.Odio by Romeo Drake
https://genius.com/Romeo-santos-odio-lyrics

Country:United States
Genre: Salsa y Tropical, Bachata, Musica tropicale
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/romeo-santos-mn0002367865/biography
I decided to pick this song because it talks about him trying to get his lover back and I think that is
something that everyone has experienced.
2. Corazon Sin Cara by Prince Royce
https://open.spotify.com/track/0u4N6w5lBw5xMrzJitRWUo?si=5ab64503c2ac4e76
Country : United States
Genre: Latin Urbano, Salsa y Tropical, Pop, Bachata, Musica tropicale
https://history-biography.com/prince-royce/
I decided to pick this because he talks about how women shouldn't worry about their appearance and
that they are beautiful no matter what. I feel like women of color was never shown as much love, so I
think this song was a good representation of showing love to women.

3.Abusadamente by MC Gustta, MC DG
Country: Brazil
Genre: Funk brasilero
https://genius.com/Mc-gustta-and-mc-dg-abusadamente-lyrics
I decided to pick this song because its an upbeat song and it will get you in the mood to dance. I think
this song relates back to our course because soldiers had use music to celebrate and dance.

4.Linda by Dalex
Country: United States
Genre:Latin Urbano
https://genius.com/Dalex-linda-lyrics

I decided to pick this song because it focuses on the problems women face inside as they try to meet the
high standards of modern society.
http://www.lamezcla.com/home/dalex-sends-a-message-of-acceptance-with-his-new-single-lindaremix/

5. Glory by Common, John Legend
Country: United Stated
Genre: hip hop soul
https://genius.com/Common-and-john-legend-glory-lyrics
I decided to pick this song because it focuses on the trials and struggles that African Americans had to go
through. I like how the song talks about glory coming after something so tragic.
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/john-legend/glory

6.Djadja by Nakamura
Country: France
Genre: Soul music, Afrobeats, Dancehall, French Urban Pop/R&B
https://genius.com/Aya-nakamura-djadja-lyrics
I decide to pick this song because I like how she is trying to stand up for herself and not let a men spread
lies about her.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/23/aya-nakamura-interview-french-afropop-reluctantface-of-empowerment

7. Aux armes armes et cætera by Gainsbourg
Country: France
Genre: Alternative/Indie, R&B/Soul, French Indie, Pop, Jazz, Reggae, French Urban Pop/R&B
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3236455/Serge+Gainsbourg/Aux+Armes+et+Caetera
I decided to pick this song because it talks about French history and the way he viewed things.
https://journals.openedition.org/volume/2277

8.Rise Up by Andra Day
Country: United States
Genre: R&B/Soul
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32092049/andra+day/rise+up
I decided to pick this song because it talks about rising up and never giving up. I think this relates to our
course because everyone we have learned about never gave up.

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/andra-day/rise-up

9.Stand Up by Cynthia Erivo
Country : United States
Genre: film scores
https://genius.com/Cynthia-erivo-stand-up-lyrics
I decided to pick this song because it represents the challenges African Americans had while being
enslaved.
https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/cynthia-erivo-stand-up-harriet-film-8543078/

10. Strange Fruit by Bille Holiday
Country: United States
Genre: Blues Jazz
https://www.austincc.edu/dlauderb/1302/Lyrics/StrangeFruitLyrics1937.htm
I decided to pick this song because it has a deep meaning to It rather it just being a song. This song talks
about the lynchings that African Americans have faced. I think this song was very empowering and
strong.
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-andinteractives/media/music/billie-holiday--strange-fruit/

A poem from my last journal
THE LOST BOY IN THE ROOM BY: VICTORIA ROBINSON
Trapped inside a box where there is no opening
Feeling confused on how I should feel
Should I stay inside this box or go to the outside world where I must pretend
Should I love her or should I love her not
Should I love him or should I love him not
Thinking about the summer where my true love was hindered
Wondering if I could go back in time and remember J
His curly hair that touched his ear and flown into my hand like the summer breeze

But my feelings went unmasked just like when my mother died
Marrying a lover who I truly didn’t feel my heart belonged to
The comfortability was the one thing that I held onto with her
I was afraid to show my true feelings that hid behind me like a Mardi gras mask
Full of decoration for you can’t see what is truly beneath it
Meeting him in the Parisian bar was all it took
I want to stay in the box, more like the room that me and Giovanni shared
Maybe I want to stay in a room instead of a box
Giovanni’s Room
This poem is a reference to Giovanni’s room and explaining David feelings that he may have felt
throughout the story. Reading Giovannis Room, gave me a different perspective of what people go
through. In this time period in Paris the lives of many people was different, especially men who were
going against the social norm. I think this showed me how brave many men were back then to show
their true selves.

Why should Black Paris be taught?
Black Paris should be taught in classes because It highlights the accomplishments of African Americans
who influenced many things in France. Some Schools are only taught about what happened in America
and no place else. I think Black Paris will really open up people eyes and make them learn more about
the war.

People we've studied in this class

1 - James Baldwin

2 - Nina Simone

3 - Harlem Hell fighters

4 - Josephine Baker

Item sets: Victoria Robinson

Media: Black Paris News Letter

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