Great post! I appreciate it very much. As a young naïve white college student back in 1967, I was in school for a semester in southern France. I had grown up in the US southeast, Nashville, Tennessee, to be specific, and still believed that racism Only existed in my part of the world. I was stunned to learn of the racism that abounded at that time, in Aix en Provence and Marseille, toward immigrants specifically from Algeria. It was such a significant eye-opener and helped to inspire my commitment to antiracism after I moved to the north west.
Ijeoma, I appreciate you so much! I just wish the AI technology could learn how to pronounce your name correctly 😞as I listen to your posts rather than read them. 💜
This was SO enlighteniig and disheartening all at once. I had naively harbored fantasies that racism in Europe was 'lite.' Reality bites, but it beats naivete. I look forward to more on your journey. Thank you!
It's not lite at all, I'm afraid. Just operates differently. I hope it's not an issue to post links on here, but Dr. Crystal Fleming recently did a v good thread about the differences (which Ijeoma has also touched on in the piece) https://twitter.com/alwaystheself/status/1674147468764749825
I heard a really interesting program on Voices of the Middle East and North Africa where they talked about how the French media basically conspired to keep Nahel Merzouk’s last name out of the conversation in order to downplay the racial element because his last name is identifiably Morroccan/Algerian. Here’s the link if you’re interested. https://kpfa.org/episode/voices-of-the-middle-east-and-north-africa-june-15-2023/
I hope Paris gives you and your family a bit of breathing room. Excited for your new book!
We're organizing a summer gathering of Seattle Substack writers and would love to have you join us. No date has been set yet and I realize you are on an extended trip. If you are interested, I'll reach out as details unfold. Have a great trip. I will miss Gabriel on Early but trust he has an exciting new chapter ahead.
The next to last paragraph was a real lightbulb moment for me in understanding some of the conflict I have with my white European partner around conversations about racism as a system of power. Thank you. I hope this trip is everything you need it to be - and more.
I was wondering how being in Paris at this time was affecting you all. How wonderful to get to have intelligent conversation around some of the issues happening there and here. I haven't traveled as much as I want to yet - the late start of getting on my first plane as nearly an adult - but Paris is on my list. Enjoy the heck out of it.
Great post! I appreciate it very much. As a young naïve white college student back in 1967, I was in school for a semester in southern France. I had grown up in the US southeast, Nashville, Tennessee, to be specific, and still believed that racism Only existed in my part of the world. I was stunned to learn of the racism that abounded at that time, in Aix en Provence and Marseille, toward immigrants specifically from Algeria. It was such a significant eye-opener and helped to inspire my commitment to antiracism after I moved to the north west.
Ijeoma, I appreciate you so much! I just wish the AI technology could learn how to pronounce your name correctly 😞as I listen to your posts rather than read them. 💜
This was SO enlighteniig and disheartening all at once. I had naively harbored fantasies that racism in Europe was 'lite.' Reality bites, but it beats naivete. I look forward to more on your journey. Thank you!
It's not lite at all, I'm afraid. Just operates differently. I hope it's not an issue to post links on here, but Dr. Crystal Fleming recently did a v good thread about the differences (which Ijeoma has also touched on in the piece) https://twitter.com/alwaystheself/status/1674147468764749825
I heard a really interesting program on Voices of the Middle East and North Africa where they talked about how the French media basically conspired to keep Nahel Merzouk’s last name out of the conversation in order to downplay the racial element because his last name is identifiably Morroccan/Algerian. Here’s the link if you’re interested. https://kpfa.org/episode/voices-of-the-middle-east-and-north-africa-june-15-2023/
I hope Paris gives you and your family a bit of breathing room. Excited for your new book!
We're organizing a summer gathering of Seattle Substack writers and would love to have you join us. No date has been set yet and I realize you are on an extended trip. If you are interested, I'll reach out as details unfold. Have a great trip. I will miss Gabriel on Early but trust he has an exciting new chapter ahead.
The next to last paragraph was a real lightbulb moment for me in understanding some of the conflict I have with my white European partner around conversations about racism as a system of power. Thank you. I hope this trip is everything you need it to be - and more.
Wonderful that you are able to have those in depth and enlightening discussions, but also disheartening that the topic is still so relevant.
Yes, indeed, the book belly is all too real.
I was wondering how being in Paris at this time was affecting you all. How wonderful to get to have intelligent conversation around some of the issues happening there and here. I haven't traveled as much as I want to yet - the late start of getting on my first plane as nearly an adult - but Paris is on my list. Enjoy the heck out of it.
Looking forward to hearing more of your time in Paris 😊