PARIS IMMIGRANTS

RADIO

Gangs

By Nick Greven, 18, Sarah Zabel, 17

Affirmative action

By Julie Kippenbrock, 17

Racism

By Joi Officer, 15

Bondy Blog

By Beverly Jenkins, 18

Immigrants

By Warren Stokes, 19, Yunseo Moh, 17

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.

Immerse yourself in Paris’ suburban culture and people with our multimedia report. Read in-depth stories, view audio slideshows and photo galleries.

Y-Press is an Indianapolis nonprofit youth-media organization (501 c 3) that stresses youth development and leadership skills and is located in downtown Indianapolis.

What it means to be French

By Sarah Zabel, 17

05/21/2013

What does it mean to be French? According to responses to the question posed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, it’s more than speaking French, respecting the flag and eating baguettes. But few can agree on what it does entail.

Talking about life in Paris

By Beverly Jenkins, 18

05/21/2013

Stories of French youth.

Parisian immigrants face hard lives

By Joi Officer, 15, Yunseo Moh, 17

05/21/2013

African and Asian immigrants first came to France by invitation of the government. But as their numbers grew, so did the polarization between them and the native Parisians, not only socioeconomically and ethnically, but geographically,...

Finding true view of suburban life

By Yunseo Moh, 17

05/21/2013

There is an old fable called “The blind men and an elephant”. Six blind men trying to comprehend an elephant. Each man feels a different part of the elephant (the tusk, the tail, the ear, the leg) and consequently draws a completely...

Police, youth relations put to test

By Warren Stokes, 19

05/21/2013

In the suburbs, youth complain about a lot of things – poor living conditions, lack of education, joblessness, boredom. But tense police relations often top the list.

Hope comes in many forms for suburbs

By Julie Kippenbrock, 17, Nick Greven, 18

05/21/2013

French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged nearly 1 billion euros in 2007 to aid the suburbs after the riots. However, youth in Banlieue 93 have not seen any of that money, nor have they seen much change at all.