Interview conducted, recorded, and transcribed by Ellen Kountz
Tannie Stovall was a pillar of the contemporary African-American community in Paris. A graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Minnesota with degrees in physics (B.S. and Ph.D., respectively), he came to Paris with his family in 1964 to work as a research assistant at the Ecole Normale Supérieure and eventually became an associate professor at the Université de Paris. He began writing fiction in 1967 and continued to pursue this activity throughout his adult life. He and his family moved to Nigeria in 1971, where he worked as a physics professor at the University of Ife. He became disenchanted with the level of corruption he observed in the country and moved back to Paris after two years. As founder of the African-American men’s group “The Brothers,” Tannie sought to provide a welcoming environment and a supportive network for African-American men in Paris, whether they were tourists or residents.
Tannie succumbed to pancreatic cancer in June 2012. Just a few weeks prior to his death, he agreed to grant this interview. Black Paris Profiles™'Ellen Kountz graciously consented to conduct, record, and transcribe it for the Black Paris Profiles™ series.
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Tannie Stovall
Photo from The Brothers Web site
ETBP: It’s been a long time since you came here to work as a research assistant at the Ecole Normale Supérieure. Have you kept yourself informed about what is happening in the field of physics since you retired?
TS: I have not however I still subscribe to scientific magazines in English.
ETBP: What advice do you have for blacks in physics (or any other scientific field) who want to work in Paris?
TS: If they are Americans, I’d say they’d be better off remaining in the United States. Opportunities for success are greater back home. This was not the case 50 years ago, because in Europe after a World War everything was destroyed and needed to be rebuilt. The French built up their armament and there was a surge in demand back then.
Tannie Stovall was a pillar of the contemporary African-American community in Paris. A graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Minnesota with degrees in physics (B.S. and Ph.D., respectively), he came to Paris with his family in 1964 to work as a research assistant at the Ecole Normale Supérieure and eventually became an associate professor at the Université de Paris. He began writing fiction in 1967 and continued to pursue this activity throughout his adult life. He and his family moved to Nigeria in 1971, where he worked as a physics professor at the University of Ife. He became disenchanted with the level of corruption he observed in the country and moved back to Paris after two years. As founder of the African-American men’s group “The Brothers,” Tannie sought to provide a welcoming environment and a supportive network for African-American men in Paris, whether they were tourists or residents.
Tannie succumbed to pancreatic cancer in June 2012. Just a few weeks prior to his death, he agreed to grant this interview. Black Paris Profiles™'Ellen Kountz graciously consented to conduct, record, and transcribe it for the Black Paris Profiles™ series.
Photo from The Brothers Web site
ETBP: It’s been a long time since you came here to work as a research assistant at the Ecole Normale Supérieure. Have you kept yourself informed about what is happening in the field of physics since you retired?
TS: I have not however I still subscribe to scientific magazines in English.
ETBP: What advice do you have for blacks in physics (or any other scientific field) who want to work in Paris?
TS: If they are Americans, I’d say they’d be better off remaining in the United States. Opportunities for success are greater back home. This was not the case 50 years ago, because in Europe after a World War everything was destroyed and needed to be rebuilt. The French built up their armament and there was a surge in demand back then.
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