Immigrants arriving in Paris before 1914

Russian expatriates in Paris (1920s)

West African immigrants in Paris, 1947

Portuguese immigrants in shantytown near Paris, 1964

Asian immigrants in the 13th arrondissement

Nanterre bidonville

Nanterre (left)18th arrondissement (right)

checking id cards, Goutte d’Or neighborhood, Paris , 1955

Demonstrations of October 17, 1961

Communist demonstration against OASFebruary 8, 1962

“Algerians are drowned here.”

Maurice PaponParis Prefect of Police (1958-67)

Commemorative plaque in Aubervilliers (2001)

“In memory of the numerous Algerians killed during the bloody

repression of the peaceful demonstration of October 17, 1961”

Commemorative plaque in St-Denis (2007)

Commemorative plaque adjacent to Pont St-Michel (2001)“In memory of the numerous Algerians killed during the bloody repression of

the peaceful manifestation of October 17, 1961”

Discussion questions for The Seine Was Red 1) What story does Sebbar tell about the events of October 1961?

2) What do we learn in her novel about the lives of Algerian immigrants to Paris?

3) What is the relationship between generations in the novel?

4) How does the cityscape of Paris and its suburbs figure in the novel?

Anti-immigrant graffiti, 1979