This video seems to be reaching a wider audience almost 3 years later and while I’m grateful for the different observations and opinions. I’d like to reiterate a few things: 1. I had made this video 1 year after living in France so I’m very much aware that there are seats reserved for Elderly people. It was not the case. The woman who wouldn't let me sit next to her was not seated in the reserved section and the person who had left the seat was visibly a young lady around the same age as me. 2. I did not at any point state that it is definitely racism. I said I was not sure if she was scared of Covid, mentally ill, or just outright Racist so it baffles me to see comments about me playing the victim. Thank you to everyone who’s been respectful with their comments.
French people (the ones we call _"Français de souche"_ which means French people from an old lineage, white people actually) tend to be pissed with black people complaining about racism all the time in France. Blaming racism has become _"fashionable"_ especially since BLM. That's why racism in France is a very touchy topic. Accusing people of being racists has become a _"weapon"_ . Every time a black person has a bad behaviour in France, they put it on racism in order to avoid questioning themselves. I didn't feel like you did it, since you precised at the beginning of the chapter that you never experienced racism in France. 😋 French people are not racists, they're just pissed with people who don't behave, people who have no respect for our country, for our culture, that's it. Why would so many African people come to France if French people were that racists? 🤔 The problem is that the more these Africans piss French people off, the more French people are angry and the more they're angry, the more African people accuse us of being racists and the more they piss us off... 😑
Hi, about the bus incident, it could just be that some seats are reserved for old/handicaped people and pregnant women, so if it was, it's normal that this person told you not to sit there. But you could also be right and this person was just crazy or racist.
While I'm a mixed African American, I was treated 85 times better in France in General. It had nothing to do with me being American as most Americans tell the big lie stating that the French are rude. Not a rude sole when I went. My grandmother went too. She's darker skin. Still same treatment. I also had a few African colleagues who lived in France. They too, agree with me. To further clarify the truth of the matter, we need to differentiate the difference between De Jure (government imposed) and De Facto racism. France doesn't have and never had "de jure" racism. They never had disenfranchisement (i.e. literacy tests at polls). They never had laws like "Jim Crow". In other words, France never directly infringed/oppressed the civil and human rights of their civilians in the form of legislation; however, De Facto discrimination exists more globally, including in France. Unlike the US, however, their De Facto discrimination is not and was never influenced by any past events of De Jure discrimination. It more has to do with individual personality. Just who likes you and who doesn't. No countrywide culture like the US. In the US, most acts of racism came about as slavery was being dissolved an abolished. This is because the slaves were no longer in their government defined place and the fact that it was ultra race based. Also, French colonialism is very irrelevant in this context as I'm primarily discussing mainland France. Victims of colonialism were never allowed to be trafficked into the mainland. Also, France more so owned up to their wrongs and granted most of their colonies their independence. Lastly, victims of French colonialism were not French citizens. In the US, the situation is almost opposite. We have to understand that American racism was not legalized, but mandated. Legal just means, no laws against the act. Mandate means that the act in question is enforced by an individual against his/her will be a person/authority regardless of the legal state of the act. Secondly, laws like Jim Crow were not targeting slaves as slavery had already been abolished. Unlike the French, the US never gave it's freed slaves any self-governing independence. Instead they made them citizens and their descendants citizenship at birth. This was not actually a good idea. This is because Lincoln didn't actually free the slaves. If it was him, there wouldn't have been an underground railroad. In other words, the slaves freed themselves, bankrupting their masters. So, instead of freeing them, they made them citizens, using their newly granted freedom against them (i.e Vagrancy laws). This is how mass imprisonment began. Don't forget the 13th Amendement doesn't protect prisoners from Slavery in the US. It was also done to make leaving the country difficult. All Blacks in Mainland France self migrated there; so, if they didn't like it, all they had to do is head for the exit. Racist laws in the US and South Africa were unique among other democratized nation with racist laws as they infringed essentials to life, such as freedom of movement, voting,, public accommodation, freedom of assembly (interracial marriages), privacy rights (Loving v. VA), and freedom from bodily harm. France also lacks racist organizations like the KKK. There was never a time in Mainland France where the government imposed racism akin to the US against their own citizens. Fun fact. During the worst days of Jim Crow. African Americans who were more fortunate enough to leave to country, fled to France to escape racism. I would recommend reading about James Baldwin.
@@acheron9456 Yes and no. Pétain enforced the first laws inside the "free zone" without german inputs. Anyway, short or not, it's a traumatic collective experience in Europe. Thus, keeping files of people with ethnic/religious/sexual orientation data (unless it's anonymized) is a cause for alarm here, and is illegal. For us, it's creepy to see mention of race on US ID cards. That kind of stuff creates the same instinctive reactions in France as blackface in the US.
Thank you for your feedback on living in France. I like to hear perspectives from people who are not French and living in the country. I have the opportunity to take a sabbatical from my teaching job next year and I am considering spending it in France. I just want to feel welcomed. I like to meet new people and would like it to be a positive experience.
I like how you were not quick to jump to the conclusion that her treatment of you was a racist reaction. It could have been and could not have been. I am sorry you experienced that nonetheless. We all deserve better experiences from our fellow humans.
We do have chicken in the countryside, but they don't run everywhere, or else a fox, a dog, a bird of prey or a car will soon kill it. In towns, there are nearly none, because of the noise they make.
Hello Ajachukwu..i really enjoy your content . Thank you so much. Unrelated but please by God’s grace i would be relocating to france year end via the student visa route.. in the meantime i am trying to learn a skill.. i am currently skilled in wig making only and everything wigs as i sell hairs already in Nigeria. I want to learn additional skill to this as I’m not sure wigs have a big market there.I am thinking to learning Anything like nail fixing, braiding, tailoring.. just anything Please can you advice on skills that thrives there in france? I would be glad to get your candid opinion on this please. Thank you so much
Hello Chioma, thank you for watching my videos. Wig making is great but I think wig installation is the in thing now? - The lady that braids my hair, sells and installs wigs for people in addition to fixing nails, braiding, doing locs. So wig making is good but you can consider wig installation and maybe nails. Goodluck! Ps: choose one or two things and try to be good at them instead of trying to do all.
Remember that France has many African folks as France like England were taking colonisation of these countries yet accepted them in their countries when they left. French in general aren’t racist when you embrace their country. It can be different in small towns and villages but once they know you you’re as welcome as anybody. Small towns and villages usually don’t like new comers regardless of their origins. Expecting to let immigrants (African or else) build their own culture in France is a big no no.
I like the way you mentioned the scenario about the lady that said you should not sit, you obviously don't know what is wrong in her head, remain blessed in France. I'm also a Nigerian hoping to come and do my msc in France, that's why I'm here. Good video.
Maybe this lady was indeed a racist, I don't know. It can happen, especially with elders, as they don't like to see their world change and mix with other cultures, which is kinda sad, from my point of view. But there could also be another explanation : in France, in public transportation, there are some seats that are preferably "reserved" for pregnant women, older or disabled people. And valid people are supposed to let these seats vacant. Maybe this lady was talking about this.
Despite all the good things I say about France in terms of racial diversity, there's one act of discrimination that rather superficial and non-violent that I face often, even on zoom calls. That's the language. In France, they pressure you to speak "The King's French." For me, I speak Canadian French as a second language, despite being from the states and never have been the Canada. This is because my teachers were Canadian. I often get teased a lot because of my Canadian accent. At least not in a threatening manner, thank God! However, when talking with a French national, I often get corrected or called out on when using "frowned upon" Canadian style grammar or more loosely using "Tu" instead of "vous" or "on" instead of "nous". This is still nothing compared to the violent racism in the states though.
@gliese909 True. American Blacks are extremely racist. Surveys show that while between 20 to 26 percent of whites in America are racist, over 75% of American Blacks are racist toward whites. And the latter number is rising. Most of the blame falls on the politicians and leftists who look down on Blacks and think they're less intelligent. Leftists think Blacks cannot take care of themselves. They believe Black people can't understand things like the internet. I grew up in the hood. My friends and most of my family are black and believe me, they are just as smart and capable as anyone else.
Okay I think maybe I’m a French girl then lol. I had my first phone like in primary 5. I take black coffee, yeah like coffee ,no sugar no milk, almost every day. But it’s interesting to see France through you. Oh you didn’t tell us about the food . How did you cope with no spice ?
Me I know France has been calling you since you were in your mother’s belly 😂 about spice, there are usually some shops that sell pepper. Took me a while to find but i did cos I needed pepper for sure.
Tu devrais envisager ,de passé le permis de conduire ! C'est une autres total liberté de circuler avec sont véhicule. Partout quand tu veux! Merci bonne chance.👌
Quit calling racism at every opportunity when there is obviously not Grow some confidence and learn to live with yourself instead of playing the victim, Geez so annoying
You obviously have a problem like the lady in the bus. This girl has confidence, knows herself and is definitely not playing the victim in this video. If your ears are clean enough, you would understand that she just did a story time of what happened and suggested multiple reasons to understand the lady’s action. Get yourself a job, hobby or make your life exciting instead of spreading negativity🙄
This video seems to be reaching a wider audience almost 3 years later and while I’m grateful for the different observations and opinions. I’d like to reiterate a few things:
1. I had made this video 1 year after living in France so I’m very much aware that there are seats reserved for Elderly people. It was not the case. The woman who wouldn't let me sit next to her was not seated in the reserved section and the person who had left the seat was visibly a young lady around the same age as me.
2. I did not at any point state that it is definitely racism. I said I was not sure if she was scared of Covid, mentally ill, or just outright Racist so it baffles me to see comments about me playing the victim.
Thank you to everyone who’s been respectful with their comments.
French people (the ones we call _"Français de souche"_ which means French people from an old lineage, white people actually) tend to be pissed with black people complaining about racism all the time in France.
Blaming racism has become _"fashionable"_ especially since BLM. That's why racism in France is a very touchy topic.
Accusing people of being racists has become a _"weapon"_ . Every time a black person has a bad behaviour in France, they put it on racism in order to avoid questioning themselves.
I didn't feel like you did it, since you precised at the beginning of the chapter that you never experienced racism in France. 😋
French people are not racists, they're just pissed with people who don't behave, people who have no respect for our country, for our culture, that's it.
Why would so many African people come to France if French people were that racists? 🤔
The problem is that the more these Africans piss French people off, the more French people are angry and the more they're angry, the more African people accuse us of being racists and the more they piss us off... 😑
Loved every minute of this video❤️💫
Update: 2 months after making this video, I started drinking coffee without sugar 🫣
Actually isn’t that bad.
Love to see it🙌🏾😂
This video is so calm. And girl, can you gistttt. Loved it!
Truly appreciate. Thank you so much!
Hi, about the bus incident, it could just be that some seats are reserved for old/handicaped people and pregnant women, so if it was, it's normal that this person told you not to sit there. But you could also be right and this person was just crazy or racist.
While I'm a mixed African American, I was treated 85 times better in France in General. It had nothing to do with me being American as most Americans tell the big lie stating that the French are rude. Not a rude sole when I went. My grandmother went too. She's darker skin. Still same treatment. I also had a few African colleagues who lived in France. They too, agree with me.
To further clarify the truth of the matter, we need to differentiate the difference between De Jure (government imposed) and De Facto racism. France doesn't have and never had "de jure" racism. They never had disenfranchisement (i.e. literacy tests at polls). They never had laws like "Jim Crow". In other words, France never directly infringed/oppressed the civil and human rights of their civilians in the form of legislation; however, De Facto discrimination exists more globally, including in France. Unlike the US, however, their De Facto discrimination is not and was never influenced by any past events of De Jure discrimination. It more has to do with individual personality. Just who likes you and who doesn't. No countrywide culture like the US.
In the US, most acts of racism came about as slavery was being dissolved an abolished. This is because the slaves were no longer in their government defined place and the fact that it was ultra race based. Also, French colonialism is very irrelevant in this context as I'm primarily discussing mainland France. Victims of colonialism were never allowed to be trafficked into the mainland. Also, France more so owned up to their wrongs and granted most of their colonies their independence. Lastly, victims of French colonialism were not French citizens. In the US, the situation is almost opposite. We have to understand that American racism was not legalized, but mandated. Legal just means, no laws against the act. Mandate means that the act in question is enforced by an individual against his/her will be a person/authority regardless of the legal state of the act. Secondly, laws like Jim Crow were not targeting slaves as slavery had already been abolished. Unlike the French, the US never gave it's freed slaves any self-governing independence. Instead they made them citizens and their descendants citizenship at birth. This was not actually a good idea. This is because Lincoln didn't actually free the slaves. If it was him, there wouldn't have been an underground railroad. In other words, the slaves freed themselves, bankrupting their masters. So, instead of freeing them, they made them citizens, using their newly granted freedom against them (i.e Vagrancy laws). This is how mass imprisonment began. Don't forget the 13th Amendement doesn't protect prisoners from Slavery in the US. It was also done to make leaving the country difficult. All Blacks in Mainland France self migrated there; so, if they didn't like it, all they had to do is head for the exit.
Racist laws in the US and South Africa were unique among other democratized nation with racist laws as they infringed essentials to life, such as freedom of movement, voting,, public accommodation, freedom of assembly (interracial marriages), privacy rights (Loving v. VA), and freedom from bodily harm.
France also lacks racist organizations like the KKK.
There was never a time in Mainland France where the government imposed racism akin to the US against their own citizens.
Fun fact. During the worst days of Jim Crow. African Americans who were more fortunate enough to leave to country, fled to France to escape racism. I would recommend reading about James Baldwin.
There were racist laws in France, from 1940 to 1944, but they targeted mostly the Jews.
Other laws targeted Gipsy people.
@@mecha-sheep7674 but these obviously didnt last long.
@@mecha-sheep7674
Yes but that was German occupation.
@@acheron9456 Yes and no. Pétain enforced the first laws inside the "free zone" without german inputs.
Anyway, short or not, it's a traumatic collective experience in Europe. Thus, keeping files of people with ethnic/religious/sexual orientation data (unless it's anonymized) is a cause for alarm here, and is illegal. For us, it's creepy to see mention of race on US ID cards. That kind of stuff creates the same instinctive reactions in France as blackface in the US.
J’ai tellement rigolé pour le café !!! Ta vidéo est incroyable !!!
BRAVO Aja keep shining ❤️
Ma tressouneee! Merci beaucoup! Tu me manques !! ❤️❤️
Thank you for your feedback on living in France. I like to hear perspectives from people who are not French and living in the country. I have the opportunity to take a sabbatical from my teaching job next year and I am considering spending it in France. I just want to feel welcomed. I like to meet new people and would like it to be a positive experience.
Nice video.
You made me smile with the "no chicken in the street" observation, which is a rarely mentioned culture shock, but very true nonetheless.
You’re awesome girl… keep soaring ❤
Thank you so much !!
I like how you were not quick to jump to the conclusion that her treatment of you was a racist reaction. It could have been and could not have been. I am sorry you experienced that nonetheless. We all deserve better experiences from our fellow humans.
We do have chicken in the countryside, but they don't run everywhere, or else a fox, a dog, a bird of prey or a car will soon kill it.
In towns, there are nearly none, because of the noise they make.
“E dey for 2/1 market ” was it for me 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂
Very nice video. Thanks for sharing.
"E dey for 2/1 market" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 this made me smile 😁
😂😂 thank you so much for watching !!
We’ve missed you and we love youuuuu💕
❤️❤️
Inspiring! Good job❤
wonderful video Nne ...... i cant wait for more videos
Thank you so much 🤗
The reason the French did not care much about me was that they thought I will go back to my country and I don't have a future. But my destiny changed!
Also they knew my mother and judged me by her.
Hello Ajachukwu..i really enjoy your content . Thank you so much.
Unrelated but please by God’s grace i would be relocating to france year end via the student visa route.. in the meantime i am trying to learn a skill.. i am currently skilled in wig making only and everything wigs as i sell hairs already in Nigeria.
I want to learn additional skill to this as I’m not sure wigs have a big market there.I am thinking to learning Anything like nail fixing, braiding, tailoring.. just anything
Please can you advice on skills that thrives there in france? I would be glad to get your candid opinion on this please.
Thank you so much
Hello Chioma, thank you for watching my videos.
Wig making is great but I think wig installation is the in thing now?
-
The lady that braids my hair, sells and installs wigs for people in addition to fixing nails, braiding, doing locs.
So wig making is good but you can consider wig installation and maybe nails.
Goodluck!
Ps: choose one or two things and try to be good at them instead of trying to do all.
11:22 this one made me crack UP. 😀
Remember that France has many African folks as France like England were taking colonisation of these countries yet accepted them in their countries when they left. French in general aren’t racist when you embrace their country. It can be different in small towns and villages but once they know you you’re as welcome as anybody. Small towns and villages usually don’t like new comers regardless of their origins. Expecting to let immigrants (African or else) build their own culture in France is a big no no.
Yooo the 'stairs' thing ehhh 😒+ they don't even count the 1st floor that they call 'rez de chaussée'
Omo I’m telling you o!
Thank you so much for watching!
I love me some chickens running around 😢
Nice
How much did it cost you to live and study in France in your first year
Thanks dearie. Can an international student get a job without speaking French?
We missed you!!☺️
Miss me no more for I am back ☺️ Thank you so much for watching!
Can u work and pay your school fee in France?do they pay well?
😂😂😂😂😂 that’s the thing people aren’t nosy, it was a shock to me too unlike in Nigeria. “ one person doesn’t own a child” in Africa
One person doesn’t own a child o. You do anyhow you see anyhow 😂
I like the way you mentioned the scenario about the lady that said you should not sit, you obviously don't know what is wrong in her head, remain blessed in France.
I'm also a Nigerian hoping to come and do my msc in France, that's why I'm here. Good video.
Maybe this lady was indeed a racist, I don't know. It can happen, especially with elders, as they don't like to see their world change and mix with other cultures, which is kinda sad, from my point of view.
But there could also be another explanation : in France, in public transportation, there are some seats that are preferably "reserved" for pregnant women, older or disabled people. And valid people are supposed to let these seats vacant.
Maybe this lady was talking about this.
I love coffee without sugar😊
Chicken doing kukuruku 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣oh please lol
I speak french and English 😅
Am i welcome in France 😊
Despite all the good things I say about France in terms of racial diversity, there's one act of discrimination that rather superficial and non-violent that I face often, even on zoom calls. That's the language. In France, they pressure you to speak "The King's French." For me, I speak Canadian French as a second language, despite being from the states and never have been the Canada. This is because my teachers were Canadian. I often get teased a lot because of my Canadian accent. At least not in a threatening manner, thank God! However, when talking with a French national, I often get corrected or called out on when using "frowned upon" Canadian style grammar or more loosely using "Tu" instead of "vous" or "on" instead of "nous". This is still nothing compared to the violent racism in the states though.
that's pretty much because tu and on are seen as familiar in france. using them inapropriately is seen as disrespectful. it's not just to be mean.
@@Yosh-wt4lg spot on!
@gliese909
True. American Blacks are extremely racist. Surveys show that while between 20 to 26 percent of whites in America are racist, over 75% of American Blacks are racist toward whites. And the latter number is rising. Most of the blame falls on the politicians and leftists who look down on Blacks and think they're less intelligent. Leftists think Blacks cannot take care of themselves. They believe Black people can't understand things like the internet. I grew up in the hood. My friends and most of my family are black and believe me, they are just as smart and capable as anyone else.
jolie vidéo girl!
Merci beaucoup ma belle 🤩
There building will definitely keep me in shape lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂
Their buildings... vs there is/are
Hello.
Can someone change visit visa to language study in France or working visa
You look good
Are there student jobs in France?like part time jobs
Yes there are.
Okay I think maybe I’m a French girl then lol.
I had my first phone like in primary 5.
I take black coffee, yeah like coffee ,no sugar no milk, almost every day.
But it’s interesting to see France through you.
Oh you didn’t tell us about the food . How did you cope with no spice ?
Me I know France has been calling you since you were in your mother’s belly 😂 about spice, there are usually some shops that sell pepper. Took me a while to find but i did cos I needed pepper for sure.
how did you learn french?
I documented how I learnt french here : th-cam.com/video/0WNJnXVhZx0/w-d-xo.html
I love you so so much 🥺and I love your videos. They are so informative and inspiring. Can I be your friend and follow you on ig too?
Hey! Thank you! Of course you can. What’s your ig?
Du courage en France ma sœur !
Comment vous est parti en france .
Pouvez vous nous expliquer s'il vous plait.
Surtout du Nigeria
Coucou, j’ai parlé de ça dans cette vidéo : th-cam.com/video/6WNLmkpvHns/w-d-xo.html
Jaime 💗💗💗💗👌
Interesting video🥰😂
Thank you very much for watching !! ❤️
Which school are you studying
I will be coming to lille for masters soon . Can I have your IG. Work dey France?
😂😂😂😂 Coffee without sugar = cultism
Like do you getttt😂😂😂
nigerians in paris
I have missed your videos.
I’d try to be more consistent. Thank you so much for watching !
Catching a bus.. Jumping out of a moving bus .. we get am for Lagos 😂😂
😂😂😂😂
Did you learn French before leaving Nigeria?
No, learned here.
where are you from Nigeria
Catching the bus😂😂😂🤣🤣
Please are there jobs for welders in France
Asking for my husband moving down to france
I need all the help we can get sis
Did you ask her why you cannot sit there?
I did and she did not respond.
Tu devrais envisager ,de passé le permis de conduire ! C'est une autres total liberté de circuler avec sont véhicule. Partout quand tu veux! Merci bonne chance.👌
Secondary school students in Nigeria now use smart phones. Its becoming a thing here also.
Please dont sugar coat racism o..it is..and its bad
Omo, the world is rapidly changing I guess. Thank you so much for watching
love from INDIA dear
Quit calling racism at every opportunity when there is obviously not
Grow some confidence and learn to live with yourself instead of playing the victim, Geez so annoying
You obviously have a problem like the lady in the bus. This girl has confidence, knows herself and is definitely not playing the victim in this video. If your ears are clean enough, you would understand that she just did a story time of what happened and suggested multiple reasons to understand the lady’s action.
Get yourself a job, hobby or make your life exciting instead of spreading negativity🙄
Coffee without sugar..ewww..lol
Now it is 2024 , it has been 3 years and few months you are there ,are you still there ?
Are you from Jamaica ?
So many mean people in France.
Are there student jobs in France?like part time jobs
Yes there are.