Black American History in Paris
February is Black History Month in the U.S., and in light of that, now's an especially good time to seek out landmarks that highlight the lives and legacies of the African-American luminaries who have called Paris home. From pioneers in jazz and literary heavyweights to one-of-a-kind entertainers, the city is filled with reminders of their invaluable contributions to the arts, music, and literature.
[Photo: Getty]
Le Select
99, Boulevard du Montparnasse
75006 6ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
[link]
Piscine Joséphine Baker
Quai François Mauriac
75013 13ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
Opened to the public in the summer of 2006, this swimming pool near the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in the 13th arrondissement is noteworthy for a variety of … reasons. It is the first public swimming pool built in Paris since 1992, and it actually floats on the Seine, giving swimmers a unique perspective on the river. Not far from the piscine is a new landmark named for another French icon, the passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, a footbridge connecting the national library and the parc de Bercy. [link]
La Coupole
102, Boulevard du Montparnasse
75014 14ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
The dazzling centerpiece of the Montparnasse café scene in the 1920s and 30s, La Coupole was a favorite with luminaries like Josephine Baker, Harlem Renaissance poets … Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen, and crime fiction writer Chester Himes. Now part of the FLO Brasseries group, La Coupole still offers a taste of the good life for modern-day hedonists. (photo) [link]
Casino de Paris
16, Rue de Clichy
75009 9ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
[link]
Café de Flore
172, Boulevard Saint-Germain
75006 6ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
[link]
Bobin'O
20, Rue de la Gaîté
75014 14ème Arrondissement Paris, Paris, France
In 1975, Josephine Baker marked the 50th year of her performing career by giving a sold-out show at the Bobino in Montparnasse. This was to be her last performance as she … died shortly thereafter, and France went into mourning for the beloved entertainer. Recently this historic music hall was revamped, becoming Bobin'O, a combination cabaret/nightclub. [link]
