An Evening with Author Yasmina Jaafar

On September 9th, the French-American Foundation—United States collaborated with La Joie de Vivre bookstore and café in NYC for an evening with author and journalist Yasmina Jaafar. This event marked the Foundation’s first event of the 2024 fall season and brought together a vibrant audience of FAF community members and bookstore patrons for a discussion of her new book, Ils ont choisi la France.

Yasmina’s book explores the fascinating journeys of five iconic African-American artists—James Baldwin, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Melvin Van Peebles, and Joséphine Baker—who sought new beginnings in France during the 20th century. This narrative not only celebrates their artistic achievements but also delves into the themes of exile, universalism, and resilience.

Bookstore owner Cyril Dewavrin moderated the discussion and opened the evening by asking Yasmina about her inspiration for writing the book. Initially motivated by the 100th anniversary of James Baldwin’s life in 2024, Yasmina wanted to elevate Baldwin’s story and its significance by connecting Baldwin with his contemporaries and friends. By telling these stories, Yasmina hopes to raise awareness of lesser known artists.

The discussion also touched upon the current political and social context in France and its parallels to the U.S. Yasmina emphasized that while racism exists globally, it manifests differently in each context. She advocated for young people to engage with history and leverage art as a tool for change. Yasmina’s perspective on racism as an economic issue and her view of France’s self-perception sparked meaningful conversation with the audience.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Yasmina Jaafar, all participants for their engaging contributions, and to Cyril Dewavrin for moderating the discussion. This event was a powerful reminder of the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and the enduring relevance of our shared experiences.