Blacks in Paris: African American Culture in Europe

Blacks in Paris: African American Culture in Europe — page 5
I guess I can stay a while with seven dollars and make a go of it A LONG HISTORY African Americans had visited France long before Hughes made his trip In the 1800s a community of free and wealthy Creoles lived in Louisiana Louisiana Creoles were the descendants of French or Spanish nobles and black or Native American women Most US schools wouldn’t accept Creoles because of the color of their skin Creoles had to find other options for schooling Many Creoles sent their children to France for their educations They were accepted into French society Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s important members of the African American community also went to France African American leaders Frederick Douglass Booker T Washington and W E B Du Bois all visited the country When they came home they told everyone about how well they were treated