Academics

A Literary Introduction to Paris: James Baldwin and AUP’s Common Read

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Photo by Allan Warren

When 24 year old James Baldwin arrived in Paris, he spent his days writing in cafés, living in student apartments and giving voice to the endless paradoxes and nuances of culture and identity on display in the 1980s. His time there would lay the groundwork for Encounter on the Seine—a collection of essays binding together ideas of otherness abroad. Today, new AUP students receive a copy of this literary classic when they arrive on campus, as part of the University’s Common Read.  

This annual tradition—part of the year-long First Year Success Program—is just one powerful way in which the University seeks to unite a student body which represents more than 110 nationalities and speaks more than 65 languages and dialects. By taking part in the Common Read, students unlock new friendships while also exploring the timeless themes of identity and belonging. While some students may have read Baldwin before, others will read with fresh eyes, and bring their own national literary traditions, lexicons and cultural references, adding to the already rich conversation.  

On October 22, students, staff and faculty gathered in the Combes Student Life Center for the James Baldwin Common Read event, led by AUP professors Russell Williams and Andrea Rosengarten, as well as the guest speaker, British author, journalist, broadcaster and academic, Gary Younge. Also leading the conversation was current MFA student, Brianna Holt, author of In Our Shoes: On Being a Young Black Woman in Not So “Post-Racial” America, and a regular contributor for The Guardian, The New York Times, Vogue, and other publications. 

The Common Read Panel (from left to right): Andrea Rosengarten, Brianna Holt, Sonya Stephens, Gary Younge and Hannah Westley

Holt, who is also an experienced panelist and a former teacher at Columbia University, was proud to bring the student perspective into full focus. “Sharing the stage with fellow writers and scholars, I reflected on Baldwin’s legacy as both an artist and a truth-teller who found freedom in self-exile, and how his observations continue to resonate for Black American writers today.”  

For Holt, Encounter on the Seine was a re-read. During the summer of 2020, following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, she received a set of Baldwin’s work and immediately connected with his reflections on the Black, Queer and American experience abroad. At the time, she was immersed in the works of Audre Lorde and Angela Davis. After reading Giovanni’s Room, she dove into Baldwin’s essays and non-fiction, which fundamentally changed the way in which she viewed Paris, and the possibilities therein.  Soon, Holt’s future plans would leap off the page, and lead her to discover Paris for herself.  

When the 2023 Writer’s Strike took effect, Holt decided to relocate from New York City to Paris and explore new ways of writing. Like Baldwin, she found that a sense of place had a powerful effect on her prose; the slow, introspective pace of Paris, the winding walks and leisurely café culture presented a stark juxtaposition to that of New York, and the United States as a whole. Around every corner of this diverse, international city, a new opportunity was ready to present itself.  

Holt was eager to find a master's program which would hone her craft while also expanding her ability to teach. On the recommendation of a friend, Holt discovered The American University of Paris and its newly launched MFA in Creative Writing. Now on campus as a member of the program’s inaugural class, she and her classmates have continued the long history of writers inspiring and challenging one another in the global salon of Paris. As they work toward final pieces to submit for publication, their courses drive them to experiment with form and genre in a workshop setting. Holt has previously focused on non-fiction but is finding herself increasingly open to writing fiction. This, she says, is prompted by the program’s unique assignment to produce creative responses to campus lectures across disciplines. 

As students across campus settle into their routines, the Common Read represents only the beginning of their journey here. What begins with one book often develops into unexpected dialogues, new ideas, and the chance for students to challenge themselves academically. If you are considering bringing your academic journey to AUP, Holt has a few reading recommendations of her own, including Surviving Paris (Robin Allison Davis) and I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself (Glynnis Macnicol)—both stories of exploration in Paris—and Such a Fun Age (Kiley Reed).  

To learn more about AUP’s First Year Success Program, visit our website. 

 

By Savannah Gerlach