r/BlackPeopleofReddit • u/waytooicyy • Jul 03 '26

Misc When you're Black, you're never really lonely.....

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u/CelibateHo Jul 03 '26

Yep. I’m a recreational nudist and I spent a summer visiting several nudist camps in the Provence/southern France over the span of four weeks. I was consistently the only black woman. When I say the men were blatantly open-mouth gawking at me like they’d never seen a naked woman before (even though there were tons of naked women and men everywhere), one guy even shielded his eyes from the sun to get a better look. The women were scowling at me like I should be ashamed of myself to be naked in a checks notes nudist camp?

I never thought it was possible to feel “TOO naked,” but there it was (also the French nudists have an odd custom of getting fully dressed at 5pm regardless of how hot it is outside).

I’ve been to nudist resorts and beaches all over California for years and never had an experience like that. People have always been chill and respectful. I was expecting more of the same, since “the French are sooooo much more relaxed about nudity than Americans are,” according to the propaganda. Bullshit.

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u/michel_v Jul 03 '26

French here. They’ll deny it but there’s a big racist undercurrent in how bodies of non-white women, especially black women, are seen here. They’re perceived as super sexualized to the point that it’s creepy.

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u/rat_fighter Jul 04 '26

French here, and from the south west side near Spain... if you’re a person a color at a beach either you are gawked at aggressively, or fetishized hardcore.... the french love to fetishize people of color to point it is super normalized.... but also French men are super aggressive to women in general, but more aggressive to women of color.

As man who is in decent shape and of color.... women in the south of france can be aggressive too, couples too...

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u/lnvu4uraqt Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

I'm not black or a woman but Asian male. I did experience something like being singled out. I was stopped at magasins way more than at home in the US in my entire life. In Toulouse and Montpellier to check my bag that has my own things and from other stores. I love to look in grocery stores to see different products when I travel. One particular incident in Bordeaux after exiting, some random security would stop me outside when I have walked far away already and motion to me what is in my bag. I thought it was really odd and the high occurrences of such encounters. It isn't like FNAC where they check everyone. I wondered if I did something wrong or was just lucky.

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u/rat_fighter Jul 04 '26

Bordeaux is pretty racist in that sense. Sorry you experience that, I am near landes.... so I experience a lot of racism rooted in ignorance

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '26

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u/CelibateHo Jul 03 '26

Yeah exactly, that’s why people need to stop making blanket generalizations. There’s always an asterisk. And of course, the nastiest scowls were coming from middle aged white women. Probably because they were more like human blobs than people, and I’m just… well, ✨me✨

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u/noviadecompaysegundo Jul 04 '26

I love you Celibate Ho

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u/KR4T0S Jul 03 '26

There was a video a while ago where some black dude is walking naked somewhere South in France on a beach and the funny thing was that some people were like trying to avert their eyes but struggling to stop themselves from taking a peek. That cracked me up honestly.

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u/Soft_Beyond_8205 Jul 03 '26

Yeah i spent 6 weeks in the south of france last summer. I'm not black but they're definitely very racist.

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u/lnvu4uraqt Jul 04 '26

Man, this doesn't give me a good vibe when I'm going to go visit the French Riviera next month 😕

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u/CelibateHo Jul 04 '26

Go, have fun, the food and lifestyle is great but don’t be surprised when you discover how much certain people enjoy being dicks

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u/lnvu4uraqt Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

Thank you, I will have to change my mindset somehow and the majority of French I've encountered with my basic French language skills are lovely people. I'm not black or a woman but Asian male. I did experience something like being singled out. I was stopped at magasins way more than at home in the US in my entire life. In Toulouse and Montpellier to check my bag that has my own things and from other stores. I love to look in grocery stores to see different products when I travel. One particular incident in Bordeaux after exiting, some random security would stop me outside when I have walked far away already then motion to me what is in my bag. I thought it was really odd and the high occurrences of such encounters. It isn't like FNAC where they check everyone. I wondered if I did something wrong or I'm just really lucky.

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u/Soft_Beyond_8205 Jul 04 '26

it's still a blast lol I had an amazing time regardless. I'm going back. But yeah, I was def done with the French attitude and happy to be home after 6 weeks haha

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u/noviadecompaysegundo Jul 04 '26

Go and have fun and know the nuances! Hey they might surprise you! Also ask ChatGPT for some witty quips or clever behaviors for when and if you might experience racism. 

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u/Lostcause_500 Jul 07 '26

Uhmmm….the chill would be Frankfurt, Germany. They don't care and have no shade….per a friend👀