How important is travel in our lifelong education? For Kévi Donat, founder of Le Paris Noir walking tours, it’s a crucial element to understanding a place, a culture, a past, and a present and above all, builds empathy. He chronicles chronicles the city’s connection to Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States, covering critical themes from colonization and immigration to the literary, political, and artistic figures that have influenced the course of French history. And today, we talk about what sparked his work, the ongoing tensions around discussions of race and identity in France, and the books and films you can watch to foster understanding while travel is on hold.

Le Paris Noir

Le Paris Noir on Instagram  

Victor Schoelcher

Michel Zecler

Marianne et le Garçon Noir book

Tout Simplement Noir film

Le Tchip podcast 

Lous and the Yakuza 

"The Paris Library", the New York Times Bestselling book by novelist Janet Skeslien Charles, is based on the true story of the heroic librarians at The American Library in Paris during WWII who not only kept the library alive but continued making books available to soldiers and Jewish members in hiding. The story follows Odile, a bibliophile who works at the library as the Nazis march into Paris. She joins the Resistance but grapples with the consequences of the choices she makes, with her friendships, and her relationship with her family. I’m thrilled to be joined by Janet today to talk about the library’s tremendous history and the role it plays today.

Order the "The Paris Library" 

The American Library in Paris

"Moonlight in Odessa"

Janet on Instagram

Janet on Twitter