Cover image: First image in debut blog post - July 16, 2010
© Entrée to Black Paris

This week, Entrée to Black Paris proudly celebrates a milestone that fills us with gratitude and joy: 15 years of publishing the Entrée to Black Paris blog!

When we published our first blog post on July 16, 2010 (we were still Discover Paris! back then), we could not have imagined the extraordinary journey that lay ahead.

Screenshot of beginning of July 16, 2010 blog post

We started the blog as means of promoting our walking tours, which bring Black histories to life in the very spaces where they unfolded. 

Monique Y. Wells and Brown Girls International at the Luxembourg Garden
© Entrée to Black Paris

It quickly evolved into a passion for researching and reporting on the incredible depth and breadth of Black presence in the City of Light.

In short, the blog became a labor of love.

Throughout the life of this publication, we have held to one guiding truth: Paris would not be the City of Light without the contributions of Africans and people of African descent.

Our aim has always been to focus attention on this often-overlooked aspect of the city and to make Black Paris visible — not as a separate narrative, but as an essential part of the city’s story. 

We believe that knowing Paris includes acknowledging all who have built it, lived in it, and dreamed within it.

And we believe that Black Paris is for everyone — whether you’re discovering the city for the first time or deepening a lifelong connection.

Kentucky Institute for International Studies students at Galerie Intemporel
(Gallery owner Laurence Choko at far right)
© Discover Paris!

Over the past 15 years, we’ve taken you across Paris' 20 arrondissements, exploring Black history, culture, and contemporary life in off-the-beaten-track locations as well as major tourist attractions. 

Signage for Promenade Jane and Paulette Nardal
© Entrée to Black Paris

We've reviewed exhibitions, covered festivals, offered restaurant recommendations, and reflected on the many ways that Black culture has shaped and continues to shape and elevate the Parisian landscape.

Signage for Louvre exhibition Meroë - un empire sur le Nil
© Entrée to Black Paris

We've also had the privilege of sharing exclusive interviews with individuals who contribute to the rich, living heritage of the African and Afro-descendant communities of the French capital.

Samuel Akins
Image by Jeff Brohier

Thanks to the support of our readers, the ETBP blog has become a cultural archive, a travel companion, and a conversation partner for those who believe that Black stories matter everywhere—especially in places where they’ve long been overlooked or erased.

To each of you who has read, shared, commented on, or taught from our blog—merci !  We thank you!

Your interest and encouragement have affirmed the value of our work.

We’ve drawn strength and inspiration from your support — from long-time followers who’ve been with us since 2010, to newer readers just beginning to explore this aspect of Parisian life. 

As we enter our 16th year, we're energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. 

We remain dedicated to:

• Exploring untold stories of the African diaspora in Paris

• Uplifting contemporary Black voices living and creating in France

• Providing meaningful experiences for those who want to see Paris "beyond the postcard"

• Preserving the cultural memory of Black Paris for generations to come

We invite you to celebrate this moment with us by exploring the archive, revisiting your favorite posts, and sharing our work with others.

You are part of this journey.

If you've joined us on a tour, read something here that moved you, or deepened your understanding of Black history through this platform—we would love to hear from you.

Write to us at paris@entreetoblackparis.com and tell us about your experience with us. 

With your permission, we'll share it on our social media platforms with heartfelt thanks!