Paris: The African American Experience

Depart on a transatlantic flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport and transfer to central Paris upon arrival. Transfer time from the airport to the hotel is dependent on traffic, expect approximately one-hour to 90 minutes in travel time. Check in to your hotel in the historic Marais quarter. Each traveler will receive a customized welcome package containing general information about the area, as well as a map of the city. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available this afternoon and throughout the program for suggestions regarding sightseeing, restaurants, and independent activities. This afternoon, gather for a short orientation walking tour of the Marais, once the city’s Jewish quarter and now a trendy neighborhood full of upscale boutiques and gastronomic shops. This evening, meet for a welcome reception and dinner at a popular local restaurant. (R,D)

After breakfast at the hotel, set out with a local guide to discover the sites of Paris—and the haunts of the Black Americans who spent time in the city. Travel along fashionable avenues like the Champs-Elysees and up the steep, narrow streets of Lower Montmartre, and visit the Luxembourg Gardens and the Latin Quarter, abuzz with students. Along the way, see locales frequented by notable figures such as W.E.B Du Bois and Sidney Bechet, and the connections between 20th-century African Americans and the Louvre, La Madeleine, and the Paris Opera House. A stop will be made for lunch at a local restaurant.

South of the River Seine, explore the important legacy of Josephine Baker, an American entertainer and activist who became the first Black woman to be buried at the Panthéon in 2021. In the city’s northern arrondissements, tour memorials and statues that honor three generations of Alexandre Dumas' family—and illustrate France's relationship with slavery and race. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

As the sun begins to set, step aboard a riverboat to cruise the storied Seine through the heart of Paris. While gliding along the World Heritage-listed river banks, you’ll see legendary landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, newly restored after the devastating fire of 2019, and pass beneath elegant bridges like the Pont Neuf. (B,L)

Begin the day with an exclusive screening of the film, Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light, followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers.

Then head back to Lower Montmartre to discover more about the vibrant community of Black Americans flourished during the 1920s, becoming an enduring part of France’s cultural landscape. Learn about the dawn of the Jazz Age in Paris and history-making Black musicians, including members of the Harlem Hellfighters. See the sites of famous nightclubs run by the singer Ada “Bricktop” Smith; World War I flying ace and drummer Eugene Bullard; and Josephine Baker.

This afternoon, visit the Musée de Montmartre, housed in a quaint 17th-century home. See art collections that depict the history of the Montmartre neighborhood during the 19th and 20th centuries, including pieces by Renoir, Dufy, Suzanne Valadon, and others. It was here that Renoir painted La Balançoire in 1876. (B,L)

Delve into many delights of French gastronomy on a mid-morning culinary walking tour. As Ernest Hemingway once wrote, Paris is a “moveable feast,” and your tour will have you sampling a broad array of French specialties and flavors.

The afternoon is yours to discover Paris as you wish, perhaps with a visit to the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay or a trip up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You might stroll the Champ-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe and examine its friezes up close. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will have recommendations and can assist you with logistics. This evening, you may wish to step out and dine with newfound friends at one of the city's lively brasseries simply relax at the hotel. (B)

Travel west to the Palace of Versailles, the principal royal residence of France from 1682, during the reign of Louis XIV, until 1789, when Louis XVI was deposed during the French Revolution. In the company of a guide, meander through the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 formally ending World War I. Following lunch on your own, enjoy free time to explore the palace and gardens at your own pace.

The heart of post-WWII Paris beat to the sound of jazz, and that beat defined St. Germain-des-Pres and the Latin Quarter, two districts where art and intellectualism thrived. Strolling through the lively streets, your guide will point-out the iconic clubs and cafes where French jazz evolved and where returning African American legends attracted adoring audiences. Cross to the Right Bank where a tiny street harbors three major jazz clubs. Cap off the day with dinner and a jazz concert. (B,D)

Gather this morning for a walking tour along the Left Bank, where the African diaspora flourished. Visit iconic symbols of greatness such as the Pantheon and the Sorbonne, and delve into the Négritude movement, an explosion of Black consciousness and expression led by African and Caribbean students in the 1930s. On the esplanade of the Sorbonne, learn about the far-reaching significance of the First International Congress of Black Writers and Artists held in 1956, which featured such speakers as Richard Wright, Léopold Senghor, Aimé Césaire, and Frantz Fanon. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, meet for a presentation by American expatriate Jake Lamar, an award-winning author who hails from the Bronx. Hear his stories and insights on life as a Black American in Paris today. This evening, dine independently. (B,L)

Set off on a guided tour of the Musée du Quai Branly, located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The museum houses over 300,000 works and aims to promote the arts and civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. In the evening, gather with fellow travelers for a farewell reception followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (B,R,D)

After breakfast, transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your homeward flight. (B)