tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post1093815569205509163..comments2024-03-08T16:03:24.242+01:00Comments on Entrée to Black Paris™: Remembering Janet McDonaldAbout Beauford Delaneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12819799928238815197noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-16974718413922997642023-07-16T02:14:35.791+02:002023-07-16T02:14:35.791+02:00Ta-Nehisi Coates has also spoken and written eloqu...Ta-Nehisi Coates has also spoken and written eloquently about being a black American in Paris and feeling free.Lynn Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072264929292597367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-5132075884911936772023-07-14T18:06:55.359+02:002023-07-14T18:06:55.359+02:00also coming after a rebroadcasting of this america...also coming after a rebroadcasting of this american life. gosh this is so sad.elliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05343065965915375019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-18871996037004164752023-07-13T04:30:49.635+02:002023-07-13T04:30:49.635+02:00I too was an American in Paris in the 90’s when I ...I too was an American in Paris in the 90’s when I first heard her tell her story about cutting in line to see a movie. I later retold the story to a black friend of mine teasing her by saying do you really do that with white people in America; she just laughed and said “hell ya”! Today while listening to a replay of her story on This American Life I smiled at remembering that story and my conversation about it with my friend. What is so true about life in Paris is I knew many black Americans who too had mirrored Ms. McDonalds observation that when they arrived in Paris, they felt like they had arrived home. David Sedaris’s reflections mirrored my experiences of being an American in Paris; you long to “speak pretty someday”. I wish I had met Janet McDonald when we both were enjoying an American Life in Paris. RIP Janet, I’m sorry for this worlds loss of an amazing woman. <br />Nortonkelly46@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14786222957603111789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-33117188944867236732023-07-10T08:22:54.635+02:002023-07-10T08:22:54.635+02:00Like many before, it seems like I first learned ab...Like many before, it seems like I first learned about this interesting woman through a segment on This American Life. I had no idea until the end of the show that it was a rebroadcast and that she had sadly passed away many years ago already. Thank you NPR for introducing so many of us to Ms. McDonald, even though she is now gone. And to her loved ones, I am so sorry for your loss. She sounded like an amazing person.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01852871435765629895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-69817055704374846082023-07-09T19:06:32.665+02:002023-07-09T19:06:32.665+02:00I JUST learned of this spirited woman on NPRs This...I JUST learned of this spirited woman on NPRs This American Life. July 2023 The idea that she is long gone, that this vibrant life and light is gone makes me double down on living life to the hilt every single day. Thank you to NPR for not letting her light dim, for allowing new people to find her. I will be seeking out her books and listening to her wisdom and her voice. On a final note. Colon Cancer. At 53. It is never too early to begin colonoscopy’s, to insist on preventative care. My story should have ended 25 years ago had it not been for a Dr.who insisted on looking for needles in haystacks.Charlotte Berwindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324500428852922154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-11809501567902015692023-07-08T22:45:16.315+02:002023-07-08T22:45:16.315+02:00My goodess! I just heard part of the segment, and...My goodess! I just heard part of the segment, and I too was completely taken by Janet McDonald's way of speaking and personality. How surprised I was to find that the segment was taped so long ago. How sad I was to learn that she didn't have more time in Paris. My local library has Project Girl, so I put a hold on it. Rest in Peace Janet McDonald. Thank you NPR.E. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16772558529964531429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-67387388559994936972021-09-28T02:35:22.794+02:002021-09-28T02:35:22.794+02:00Just happened upon Janet via listening to "Am...Just happened upon Janet via listening to "Americans in Paris" today (9-2021) and I was completely captivated by her attitude and personality. I then ordered her "Project" book as a result as I want to somehow enjoy her presence some more. Only wish she was still with us ole girls (I'm 70). KFN lifelong English teacherAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12158815474744254950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-87644548386037211372021-01-31T17:40:56.558+01:002021-01-31T17:40:56.558+01:00J'ai connu Janet au travail, elle a d'abor...J'ai connu Janet au travail, elle a d'abord été une formidable collègue puis une merveilleuse amie. Elle était pétillante, brillante et avait ce grain de folie qui la rendait unique. Je pense souvent à elle, elle est inoubliable !Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13405958599820913781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-2197276604057515052020-11-28T22:26:23.858+01:002020-11-28T22:26:23.858+01:00How sweet to have found this thread. Today, for th...How sweet to have found this thread. Today, for the fourth time I listened to the "Americans in Paris" episode by TAL. Janet was sharp, inspiring, wise. The news of her passing really struck me today. To hear her exclaim about James Baldwin, "That post office is probably where he sent letters back to Harlem," I was overcome with tears, proud her accomplishments. Overjoyed that she found camaraderie with other brilliant writers and thinkers in moving to France. She had a beautiful life and was here to teach so many of us. Rest in Power, Janet. Also, though the TAL episode left us with many remarks as to how unremarkable the desire to move to France is, after listening to Janet describe her experience, I am fixated on a plan to get there one day. Merci, Janet! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13837038999608516165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-31670760979008983322020-11-21T12:00:55.076+01:002020-11-21T12:00:55.076+01:00 for janet...nina simone no ne quitte te pas xox
... for janet...nina simone no ne quitte te pas xox<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05972904932629876211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-42957712654951906312020-02-27T21:49:14.649+01:002020-02-27T21:49:14.649+01:00Bonsoir , J'ai connu Janet en 2007 une femme a...Bonsoir , J'ai connu Janet en 2007 une femme avec tant d'humanité, chaleureuse et généreuse elle aimait rire, chanter, danser , je n'oublierai jamais son rire et sa joie de vivre ! <br />SI vous organisez une rencontre en souvenir de Janet , en mars prochain!! , je réponds présente <br />mcl Maud BARNARDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125750175529252362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-90545101954117045502020-01-20T03:52:48.115+01:002020-01-20T03:52:48.115+01:00Philo: I feel sorrow and some degree of pity for a...Philo: I feel sorrow and some degree of pity for anyone who would feel anger at Janet McDonald's remarks on feeling racially liberated in Paris. Anger often comes from fear. Try reading something outside of your comfort zone, perhaps even Janet's own autobiography (Project Girl). It could alter your perspective.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680494373627907205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-31054418924123026832019-09-10T17:22:59.841+02:002019-09-10T17:22:59.841+02:00This thread is incredible! After hearing the TAL r...This thread is incredible! After hearing the TAL rebroadcast, I ordered "Project Girl" from my library. Her French insights captivated me. And because my daughter went to Vassar like Janet, I was extra curious about her experiences there. I just finished her book. Magnificent. Heartbreaking. Powerfully inspiring. But then to learn she died fewer than 10 years later is just devastating. I wish she were here for so much. For the Obamas. For Ta-Nahisi Coates. For "Hamilton." For the centuries-overdue racial reckoning that is starting to happen here and elsewhere. I'm glad her spirit will live on in her books (and that TAL broadcast!). I hope her mama is still thriving.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05887089870068513943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-80991453688553394382019-08-15T15:44:33.547+02:002019-08-15T15:44:33.547+02:00Like everyone else, I just finished listening to t...Like everyone else, I just finished listening to the rerun of Americans in Paris and was so sad to hear that Janet had died at a young age. I like that this page has become a little tribute to her effect on people even after just 15 minutes of a radio episode. EAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259882686382656526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-69760904552013174432019-08-09T20:27:11.861+02:002019-08-09T20:27:11.861+02:00Just heard the episode in The American Life about ...Just heard the episode in The American Life about Americans living in Paris. i was fascinated by Janet Macdonald and how I related with her feelings about being and living in a different country. I was sad and in shock when in the end of the program, a note announced that she passed in 2007. When the podcast was recorded, she sounded happy, and complete about her edition to move to Paris. She found home, and was happy about it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08639079299027906387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-31386064147272967892019-08-02T20:27:44.967+02:002019-08-02T20:27:44.967+02:00Besides her book Project Girl she wrote at least 7...Besides her book Project Girl she wrote at least 7--maybe 8-- books for young people. It makes me sad to think of her passing. Laureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05479925187771828842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-14677497876378926132019-08-02T04:11:01.626+02:002019-08-02T04:11:01.626+02:00Likewise. Got hear after I listened to the TAL re-...Likewise. Got hear after I listened to the TAL re-broadcast.I was in the middle of washing a large pile of dishes and I had to stop everything I was doing to do this search. <br />I was shocked and saddened to hear that joyful voice is no more... I'm going to get her book. Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01704330138711585403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-37907192626076821492019-07-29T13:18:53.345+02:002019-07-29T13:18:53.345+02:00Like many here I just heard the rebroadcast of Thi...Like many here I just heard the rebroadcast of This American Life and was charmed by Janet's warmth and insight. I'm also an American living in Paris and wanted to see if she was still living here and if it would be possible to get in touch. So sorry to hear of her passing. Quelle femme merveilleuse.Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13706816761319002937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-69188651779932172162019-07-25T03:13:18.844+02:002019-07-25T03:13:18.844+02:00Listened to the podcast today for the first time a...Listened to the podcast today for the first time and enjoyed Janet's segment.Looked her up after the segment and ended up here. I'll look for her memoir and read it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06703063104517607882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-16306138768443395902019-07-24T20:12:10.348+02:002019-07-24T20:12:10.348+02:00I had the opposite reaction listening to the This ...I had the opposite reaction listening to the This American Life episode. I was angered by her observations about race in Paris and found them to be borderline psychotic. Especially about cutting the line because white people are afraid of black people. This went unchallenged as these type of racist views of white people often do on TAL, and was even laughed off. Gross. Philohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13881176243545798901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-11344642768972723352019-07-24T15:49:47.989+02:002019-07-24T15:49:47.989+02:00I also just heard the TAL reprodcast and like many...I also just heard the TAL reprodcast and like many here was struck by what a sage Janet McDonald was. I am a sociology professor who studies many of the issues Janet spoke so eloquently about. I was struck by how she so beautifully and insightfully described her own experiences and understood them as being shaped by the broader social forces in the countries in which she lived. She just nailed it. I am excited to read her book but was so sad to hear of her death. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14120478332249489039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-75987441092033366162019-07-24T05:54:34.654+02:002019-07-24T05:54:34.654+02:00Thank you Brian for the updates and entries. And t...Thank you Brian for the updates and entries. And thanks Ira Glass for the re-broadcast of that episode from 2000. I listened tonight on WNYC in NY. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09080932852820882007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-86854330115353671252019-07-24T05:50:34.496+02:002019-07-24T05:50:34.496+02:00Sitting here with a tender heart after listening e...Sitting here with a tender heart after listening earlier to Ira Glass' interview with Janet. Such a lovely, vibrant voice. Googled her book, Project Girl during the prog and was shocked when she was mentioned in the past tense online. I had no idea she had died. I enjoyed listening to her in previous interviews elsewhere and had read about her. I spent the night reading some of her work and the beautiful memories others have shared of her. Bless you dear Janet. You were a beautiful presence and you are remembered with love.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09080932852820882007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-5478412157060134432019-07-24T03:06:56.833+02:002019-07-24T03:06:56.833+02:00just now listened to the rebroadcast of 'Ameri...just now listened to the rebroadcast of 'American in Paris," heard this show a long time ago and both times struck by the lovely voice and vitality of Janet McDonald so sad to hear of her passing just now. I will hopefully in near future find a copy of "Project Girl."Trish Vahayvoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03328044909139394146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277733071055146726.post-19663015992275453732019-07-22T18:49:45.883+02:002019-07-22T18:49:45.883+02:00Just now heard a re-re-broadcast of the episode an...Just now heard a re-re-broadcast of the episode and share all the sentiments here about Janet. What an incredible human being...<br />Jaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14654216070193971725noreply@blogger.com