a new film by Alan Govenar
Myth of a Colorblind France explores the extraordinary and sometimes difficult lives of Blacks in Paris from the 19th century to the present.

IN THE PRESS

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Alan Govenar’s fascinating documentary on the extraordinary and sometimes difficult lives of Blacks in Paris from the 19th century to the present. The engrossing film from First Run Features explores the lives and careers of renowned African Americans expats.

Bill Vaughan, Los Angeles Wave

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ScreenFish.net

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Artistry Abroad. Interweaving the thoughts of Black artists residing there today with the stories of historical figures who traveled to the country beginning in the 19th century … the movie suggests that France is less colorblind when it comes to Black people with heritage in former French colonies … The movie notes that hip-hop … has helped highlight the presence of racial prejudice in the country. This is a huge subject

​Ben Kenigsberg, The New York Times

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The documentary Myth of a Colorblind France explores whether the country that has long been a haven for Black people feeling racism in the United States really is the enlightened refuge it has seemed to be.

​Michael O’Sullivan and Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

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Worthwhile information and perspectives … Scenes introduce people whose stories are well worth hearing: painters Lois Mailou Jones and Henry Ossawa Tanner; academic Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, ‘the antithesis’ of Baker-style sensuality; and Ada ‘Bricktop’ Smith, whose Paris nightclub was as fashionable as New York's Jazz Age drinking dens.

​John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter

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The film is a celebration of African-American artists, writers, and musicians who migrated to Paris starting early in the 20th century. The film also allows us to hear some of the stories of current African-American expats who continue to find their home in Paris.

Darrel Manson, ScreenFish.net

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Even if there is information you will already have known present in the documentary, much of this is well worth recalling, and what and who you will not have known about should make the film a must-see for anyone interested in Paris, history, and Black lives and culture -- then and now.

James van Maanen, TrustMovies

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Myth of a Colorblind France is a joyful documentary that is sentimental and hard edged at the same time.​ It is exuberant and informative; worshipful history and clear-eyed.

Neely Swanson, Easy Reader

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Provides an insightful look at the continuing African American encounter with Paris. Govenar spends a great deal of time with contemporary expatriates, and the film generously gives them a showcase for their art. We see the serious French intellectual engagement with Black art as well. Govenar’s treatment of his subject is nuanced and greatly entertaining.

Cineaste

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The following review presents highlights of the Year in Black Art—key news, exhibitions, awards, appointments, and more:
​Myth of a Colorblind France, a documentary by Alan Govenar about Black American artists, includes rare footage of Henry O. Tanner in 1930s Paris.

Culture Type

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ABOUT THE FILM
For more than a century, African American artists, authors, musicians and others have traveled to Paris to liberate themselves from the racism of the United States. What made these African Americans choose France? Why were the French fascinated by African Americans? And to what extent was and is France truly colorblind?
Alan Govenar’s new film investigates these questions and examines the ways that racism has plagued not only African Americans fleeing the United States, but Africans and people of color in France today. The film explores the lives and careers of renowned African Americans who emigrated to Paris, including Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Beauford Delaney, Augusta Savage, Barbara Chase-Riboud, and Lois Mailou Jones, and includes rare home movie footage of Henry Ossawa Tanner in Paris.

Myth of a Colorblind France features interviews with Michel Fabre (author of a landmark biography on Richard Wright), psychoanalyst and jazz aficionado Francis Hofstein, poet James Emanuel, historian Tyler Stovall, filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris, graffiti artist Quik, hip hop producer Ben the Glorious Bastard, African drummer Karim Toure, and many more.

TRAILER​

POSTER

AUDIENCE RESPONSE

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Fabulous film my grandfather Richard Wright would have appreciated.

Ellen Wright-Hervé

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ScreenFish.net

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Absolutely love this movie.

Lurlean Hunt

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This is an important perspective and documentary relevant across generations... It is so important that I have encouraged and secured its inclusion in the American University of Paris library and Pop Art Culture curriculum... It's a must see for Black students studying abroad in Paris...

Karen L Thomas

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Absolutely formidable!!! This film history is wonderfully and well documented.
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Minnie Radiah Frye

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Wow ! I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone- It was a great education into this community of artists and talent that I only had a general knowledge about. Bravo!

​Anuradha Sharma Magee

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​Awesome! Loved the stories of AFAM presence in France and how it shed light on the nuances for race and racism. I've already begun to recommend the documentary to others who I know. Bravo!

Erica Mosely

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Incisive interviews and a compelling exploration of the art made by African Americans in France. The film shares perspectives that invite consideration of whether these expatriates faced less discrimination in France than in the United States, while recognizing the significant contributions made by these artists.

Selina Coleman

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​Very good to see this side of cultural history. The flow of how the film moved from one person's story to another was very well thought out. The film made what may have been a dry historical treatise an entertaining and enlightening experience. There was lots of historical photos an images woven throughout the film in a delightful way. And the many stories from those that were living the story were well chosen.

Jim Johnson

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Brilliant!! What an exhaustive, in-depth look at the artistic life of African Americans in France, mostly Paris, over the years. And how fascinating it was, from the whole segment on Josephine Baker to Barbara Chase-Riboud's remarkable artistic life in France, leading to her writing Sally Hemings and the reaction to it by “The Jeffersonians.” Loved all the other artists and scholars who told their stories--all fascinating. I had not realized that African Americans were quite accepted whereas blacks from the countries that France colonized were not. Everything about the film was so well-done.

Joan Sorkin

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​Watching this documentary during the pandemic quarantine was a gift. Yes, we'll be able to travel again and, yes, we can go to France again. Scenes of Paris past and present are so welcome. I learned of Black artists I'd not know of before, reveled in footage of some familiar artists, and enjoyed every minute.

Paddy Bowman

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Growing up in America, you are sparingly informed of the iconic Black artists of the past. Through watching Myth of a Colorblind France, I was exposed to so many African-American artists who came to France and found liberation.

Destiny Fagbohun

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