Join Evenings with an Author and Black History Month to discuss

Myth of a Colorblind France*

with film-maker Alan Govenar and Monique Wells

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*Please note that the event will now start at 19h CET and run for 90 minutes.

The term ‘colorblind’ is complicated and frequently ambiguous, carrying with it both negative and positive connotations. Historically, France has been celebrated for its colorblind ethos, which favors equality over difference. However, recent discussions have highlighted the ways the colorblind approach ignores socio-political structures and undervalues the particularities of the Black experience. Alan Govenar’s documentary, Myth of a Colorblind France, arrives at a pertinent moment in this debate. Detailing both historical African American artists who saw France as a place of refuge from American racism, and the experience of immigrants and people of color in present-day France, Govenar offers a rich picture of Black history in France while also criticizing oversimplified narratives depicting France as a racial utopia. 

Ultimately, the film invites us to reflect on the nature of myth: what myth is, how it can be put to use, and how we can simultaneously find truth and falsity in it. From figures such as Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, and Richard Wright, to contemporary artists such as musician Karim Toure, Govenar’s tone is neither naïve nor damning, but rather celebratory of Black life and art. 

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About the speakers:

Alan Govenar is a writer, folklorist, and visual artist. He is the author of eighteen books, including Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper’s Daughter, which won First Place in the New York Book Festival and was awarded a Boston Globe-Hornbook Honor. Also a photographer and film-maker, his film Stoney Knows How was selected as an Outstanding Film of the Year by the London Film Festival.

A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Monique Wells is the founder and CEO of the Wells International Foundation which works to empower individuals, especially women and persons of African descent. As an African-American resident of Paris, veterinary pathologist and toxicologist, world traveler, entrepreneur and arts enthusiast, Dr. Wells knows there is a great need to expose Paris-based minorities to educational and cultural opportunities that will allow them to have a richer, more rewarding life.

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*The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (Wells will appear in the Reading Room and Govenar will appear on Zoom), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions. The conversation is organized and co-sponsored by Little Africa Paris.

*Please note that the event will now start at 19h CET and run for 90 minutes.

On-site information regarding COVID-19: In compliance with French regulations, a pass sanitaire is required for all visitors ages 12+. Visitors ages 6+, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks on the premises.