Paris Immigrants

Series produced by Y-Press

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Image by: Kelly Wilkinson/The Indianapolis Star 

Last October, Y-Press traveled to France hoping to learn more about the 2005 and 2007 riots in the northeast Paris suburbs, which were sparked by immigrant youths' frustrations. France is home to more than 6 million immigrants, which account for more than 10 percent its population. For many, daily life is challenging. While these young people fulfill many of the traditional criteria used to determine citizenship, equal treatment and opportunities don’t follow.

As young journalists, we wanted to learn what the youth were reacting to and the roots of the problems they faced as “non-native” French. We expected to hear about racism and religious discrimination. But we were surprised to find that the underlying causes go back much further in French history and deeper into the French mentality and society.


5 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Bondy Blog
From: Y-Press
Series: Paris Immigrants
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Last fall in a modest office in Bondy, a northeastern suburb of Paris, a group of young bloggers gathered for their weekly story meeting. They writ...

  • Added: Mar 13, 2010
  • Length: 02:18
Immigrants
From: Y-Press
Series: Paris Immigrants
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Recently, French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested that elite schools reserve space for youth from poorer backgrounds. Most of the schools reject...

  • Added: Mar 13, 2010
  • Length: 03:18
Discrimination
From: Y-Press
Series: Paris Immigrants
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Before 15-year-old Y-Press journalist Joi Officer went to Paris, she though he life lives experiences would be extremely different to the youth she...

  • Added: Mar 13, 2010
  • Length: 02:06
Affirmative Action
From: Y-Press
Series: Paris Immigrants
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The United States adopted affirmative action over 50 years ago to help promote equal opportunity and diversity. But support for it has been divide...

  • Added: Mar 13, 2010
  • Length: 02:32
"Gangs"
From: Y-Press
Series: Paris Immigrants
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According to a recent Reuter article, there are about 200 organized gangs in metropolitan Paris. Last year President Nicolas Sarkozy passed a law m...

  • Added: Mar 13, 2010
  • Length: 03:33