Cover image: Barbara Chase-Riboud in Myth of a Colorblind France
Screenshot from video documentary

I recently had the opportunity to revisit the video documentary entitled Myth of a Colorblind France as part of a project that I assigned to a Wells International Foundation volunteer. 

Barbara Chase-Riboud appears in three segments in this film. 

In the first segment, she gave a stirring description of Paris:

"... I think it is the appeal of Paris for anyone who has eyes or ears or a heart. It's the most beautiful city in the world.  It's the most comfortable city in the world.  If you also fall in love in Paris ... there's no reason not to love it."

Barbara Chase-Riboud
© Entrée to Black Paris (2022)

This caused me to reflect on other quotes by notable African Americans about the city.  Find them below.

Beauford Delaney
Photo by Carl Van Vechten (1953)
Image in the public domain

Time became different--not just an hour by the clock but a mysterious aliveness from the tips of your toes to the top of your head, touching everything and everyone. This began to be Paris for me...

~Beauford Delaney

Toni Morrison
Photo by John Mathew Smith (1998)
CC-BY-SA 2.0

I like the arrogance of Paris, how it loves itself.

~Toni Morrison

Ta-Nehisi Coates
Photo by Eduardo Montes-Bradley (2015)
CC-BY-SA 4.0

The first time I came here, I guess I felt sort of stupid for falling in love right away. It was like I have become the writer stereotype. Sometimes I feel like a total cliché for the affection I feel.

~Ta-Nehisi Coates

Hazel Scott
Image in public domain (c. 1940s-50s)

My Paris is a pot full of red beans and rice and an apartment full of old friends and glasses tinkling and the rich, happy sound of people laughing from the heart.

~Hazel Scott