I put a call out on the Black Women in Europe Facebook group to find out what my sisters are doing across the continent. Here is a project worth hearing about:
dear adrianne,
in racist italy a group of parents of black and mixed-race children has set up a self-help group. we want our children to grow proud of their identity in a society where their blackness is not celebrated, nor valued and where they are constantly in the minority.through the group they can meet with other black children at least once a month in a safe, anti-racist environment, learn about their roots, and have as positive role-models other black adults.
we share children books having as main characters black children (we have to import them from the Usa or UK because in Italy there aren’t any, would you believe?) and they can play with multicultural dolls and toys ( in italy in the nurseries all of the dolls are white and multicultural toys are non -existent)
the group is the first of its kind in Italy and has been set up a couple of years ago and has since helped the growth of a black pride and sense of belonging in all the children who have attended.
Please visit the AfroItaliani website and Facebook page and share with your friends in Italy.
I'd like to connect with this group. At Color Online we promote and spotlight positive, empowering books for children celebrating diversity and multiculturalism.
Thansk for this post. Going to read more.
Thanks for promoting such positive books!
They have a Facebook group too.
I feel for you.. I lived in Italy for 2.5 years, and left because I could not handle the racism or attitude that women are inferior. Most times I went out, I would overhear a conversation about 'extracommunitari' i.e. non EU citizens, and how we were causing the downfall of the country. I would always interrupt with, 'excuse me, but I'm not from Europe' and they would wave me off with 'no no no, but you're white and anglofone'. It was infuriating. I used to get into so many arguments with them, but in retrospect think I was wasting my breath. I did not see a single non-European working in an office in Milan or Rome.
That group you have started sounds like a positive step in giving your and others' children a sense of pride and belonging. I hope that social attitudes in Italy change quickly, and for the better.
I feel for you.. I lived in Italy for 2.5 years, and left because I could not handle the racism or attitude that women are inferior. Most times I went out, I would overhear a conversation about 'extracommunitari' i.e. non EU citizens, and how we were causing the downfall of the country. I would always interrupt with, 'excuse me, but I'm not from Europe' and they would wave me off with 'no no no, but you're white and anglofone'. It was infuriating. I used to get into so many arguments with them, but in retrospect think I was wasting my breath. I did not see a single non-European working in an office in Milan or Rome.
That group you have started sounds like a positive step in giving your and others' children a sense of pride and belonging. I hope that social attitudes in Italy change quickly, and for the better.