Black Children's Choir Treated to Kids-Eye View of Black Paris

Walking The Spirit Tours, the originator of tours of Black Paris, is offering at no charge a specially-designed tour to a low-income California school choir. Twenty-two 5-to 10-year-olds will get stories, interactive booklets, special French treats as they retrace footsteps of Black American talent in Paris since the 19th century.

Paris, France (PRWEB) July 12, 2005 -- Walking The Spirit Tours is offering at no charge an all-kids tour of African-American history in Paris to a low-income school choir. On Tuesday July 12, the tour company that started the boom in tours of Black Paris will guide the 22 5- to 10-year-olds through a carefully designed walk in the footsteps and experiences of Black artists, writers, and entertainers who lived in Paris since the late 19th century.

The Roots of Unique Awareness choir is in Paris between July 7-14 by invitation to perform along with the Childrens Choir of Holland in the citys Heritage Music Festival. Among their scheduled appearances are the Notre Dame Cathedral and St. Severin Church.

Walking The Spirit Tours and the Oakland-based school share the common mission of fostering black pride and awareness of African-American heritage. A parent representative of ROUA, Maya Mosley, explained, The children are already familiar with some of the Blacks who went to Paris but they dont know the French side."

Walking The Spirit Tours created a special itinerary that takes them beyond stories in books and have them peeking in art gallery windows, while viewing paintings of turn-of-the-century and 1920s artists like Henry O. Tanner, Lois Mailou Jones, and Hale Woodruff. Not the usual walk and talk tour, the children will also be completing picture and text activities in specially-designed keepsake booklets. The director of the tour company raised her own children in Paris and has taken particular pleasure in preparing little surprises that French kids love as they stroll through an open marketplace. As an added feature, the group's tour guide is a fellow Oaklander, Paris-based Robin Mitchell.

The ROUA fundraised to make this trip possible and it is a privilege for Walking The Spirit Tours to contribute to their efforts. 'To spark in children what can be gained and shared by living in another culture, has always been the guiding motto of Walking The Spirit Tours when encouraging families to bring children along. Children will remember the press of cobblestone underfoot, imagine up the smell of Bebopper Bud Powells wife cooking up soul food at the Hôtel Louisiane, marvel at the sight of the gold and marble wall plaque at Richard Wrights former home.

In addition to videotaping their trip, the choir plans to perform concerts in the community when it returns.

Walking The Spirit Tours specializes in insightful African-American historical tours as well as a walk through the traditional African district for small groups and individuals. The tours provide a well-rounded and in-depth perspective on the lives of Blacks in Paris on a backdrop of social and political circumstances in France and United States. It is also a member of Black Paris Divas whose weeklong package of the best restaurants, sites, and experiences of Black Paris includes a first-class excursion to Josephine Bakers chateau.

Information Contact: Julia Browne, Walking The Spirit Tours
Web: http://walkthespirit.moonfruit.com
www.blackparisdivas.com

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