Title screen of presentation "Black Paris: The City You Don't See"
© Entrée to Black Paris

On February 3, 2026, I had the honor and pleasure of speaking to new and visiting students at the American Business College (ABC—formerly the American Business School) in Paris.

ABC's Head of Admissions, Yuanist Woods, asked me to talk about how Entrée to Black Paris' work complements ABC's mission to provide students with a first class business education in a multicultural environment to prepare them for an international career.

I delivered a roughly 20-minute presentation to three remarkably diverse groups totaling approximately 100 students during the course of the afternoon.

Students at orientation session
© Entrée to Black Paris

I first showed images of three iconic Paris landmarks—the Eiffel Tower, the obelisk at Place de la Concorde, and the Pantheon—and asked the students if they were aware of Black people or events evoking Black people at those landmarks.  

Less than one percent of the students responded affirmatively to these questions.

Addressing students at orientation session
© Entrée to Black Paris

After providing anecdotes related to each of these landmarks, I explained that while Black presence in Paris is neither marginal nor recent, its influence on the development of the city is largely invisible.

Why does Black Paris matter?
© Entrée to Black Paris

And because of this invisibility, the majority of visitors—and even residents—will never appreciate the full richness of even the best known and most beautiful landmarks of the city.

Dean Samuel Berthet attended one of the three presentations that afternoon.

By the end of the day, Head of Admissions Woods announced that he and Dean Berthet were considering incorporating ETBP tours into the mandatory intercultural studies course that degree-seeking students must pass to graduate.

Woods sent me the following testimonial re: the presentations:

We were honored to host Entrée to Black Paris as part of the orientation day for students at American Business College on February 3^rd, 2026. At the Admissions Office, we see it as an essential part of our mission to enrich student life with meaningful cultural and educational experiences—from athletics and student clubs to deep engagements with the history and diversity of the city ABC calls home.

There is perhaps no better partner to support this mission than Dr. Monique Wells. As co-founder and driving force behind Entrée to Black Paris, Dr. Wells brought Black Paris, its history, contributions, and stories that often remain hidden to life in a way that is both compelling and deeply educational. Through her expertise, students gained insight into the vibrant Black heritage of Paris, an important complement to their academic journey.

Dr. Wells’s presentation was engaging, informative, and grounded in real experiences and historical depth. Her ability to connect with students and inspire curiosity about culture, identity, and community reflects the very spirit of what we strive for at American Business College.

We are grateful to Entrée to Black Paris and Dr. Wells for helping broaden our students’ perspectives and for contributing to a richer, more inclusive student life at ABC.

Watch a brief (3:30-minute) video of two snippets of the presentation HERE. 

To explore how your organization can engage Entrée to Black Paris to provide similar keynote presentations and / or support your institution's study abroad or international travel program, click HERE.