Azouz Begag's family moved from its home in Algeria in the 1960s to seek the French version of the American Dream. After arriving in France in a town outside of Lyon, Begag's parents said they would eventually go home.

"It soon became the 'myth of return home,'" Begag said. "It was tomorrows after tomorrows, and before we knew it 50 years had passed and we hadn't left France."

Begag is a French author, sociologist and politician who once worked as the minister for equal opportunities under Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. He spoke alongside Alec Hargreaves, a specialist on post-colonial French politics, culture and media and professor at Florida State University, in a talk titled "Contemporary France, Changing France" Oct. 27.

The two friends have collaborated on several books and articles relating to French government's stance on immigration and the place of Islam in France. They discussed the difficult plight of the millions of North African immigrants who live in France today and the unstated pressure for them to fully integrate into French society.

Begag said the radio was his primary means of entertainment as a child, and his father would encourage him to listen to as many radio programs as possible to improve his French.

"He basically said the only way to integrate into French society is to speak better than the French themselves," said Begag. "I adopted the idea that the way you present yourself to the French is a major factor to your acceptance into the society."

But Begag's parents didn't necessarily live out the advice they gave to their children. Neither one learned French in their more than 50 years in the country.

Begag's story is not far off from the millions of other North African immigrant families who have lived in the country since the 1960s.

Algeria became independent from France in 1962, and Hargreaves said this caused a spike in the number of North Africans who moved to France. Most of these immigrant populations were met with hostility, and Hargreaves said the negative stigma toward them still exists today.

Hargreaves said many North Africans in France — it is estimated there are more than 5 million — still live in the same areas their families moved to when they first immigrated to France in the 1960s.

"They live in disadvantaged districts called banlieues, and these areas are largely neglected," he said. "But they were publicized in the riots of 2005."

The 2005 riots that took place in cities across France were by groups of immigrant youth who were tired of mistreatment by the French government.

"These are groups of people who felt their hopes and expectations had all but been crushed," Hargreaves said. "Young people became gradually more hostile and felt victimized over time. They sought out symbols of state who had failed to protect them from discrimination."

Begag said the young North Africans have a right to feel offended and said they represent "self-inflicted wounds" of French society.

"I'm a frustrated man," he said. "You would think there would have been more progress, but not the case. Out of 577 deputies in the French National Assembly, none is of Arab descent. Out of the millions of Arab people, barely any vote. This is the challenge today."

Hargreaves stressed that French youth should continue to put pressure on the French government and politicians, because historically that has given them the answers they're looking for. But currently, there is a major portion of French society that isn't voting.

"Right now, with politicians and the immigrant voters, there's a widespread view that there's no point," he said.

An audience member asked Begag and Hargreaves if the recent elections in Tunisia would potentially inspire those of North African descent in France to vote.

"It can inspire them to go and ask about their rights, definitely," Begag said. "The best way to increase voting, I think, would be to make voting obligatory, but that's not realistic. For now, they should want to say, 'this is my privilege' and participate in democracy. We must continue to work for the better. We can be optimistic for the future"