/ita/ - Sezione Italiana - Siamo Tornati

>>15549

ma forse il meglio è nei commenti

I'm really sorry you had this experience but I am so glad that you are telling your story. Unfortunately, this isn't a new thing and more people should be talking about study abroad in a manner that discusses the issues of racism, sexism, etc that can be experienced. I (a black woman) studied abroad in Italy myself over 10 years ago with a similar experience. I was in Bologna, which wasn't a touristy area, and was one of 2 black folks in my program. I was the only black person who couldn't pass for Italian. I had vile sexual things said to me on a daily basis, recieved threats of sexual assault, and was sexually assaulted. I tried to talk about my experience when I was there but wasn't believed by most folks (even the fellow black student who was there). Keep telling your story. It's so important. I hear you. I believe you.

Nicole, thank you for sharing your experience. I'm really sorry to hear this happened to you, and I'm almost in tears. I'm an African-American woman who shares a similar experience. I visited Rome about 15 years ago. While I was waiting at a train station, a man cornered me, pointed a gun one inch from my head, and threatened to kill me, all the while yelling the word "slave" in nearly every language other than English. The police and others looked away. Confronting the man, I imagined that the gun was made of plastic and that he was a lunatic. But suddenly I felt the meaning of the swastikas I'd seen scrawled throughout the city. I recalled that African immigrants were kicked and yelled at. But I also wondered why none of my friends had warned me about Italy. My travel companion blocked out the incident. I felt betrayed. I've lived and traveled extensively throughout numerous major cities and countries. I've never experienced anything like what happened in Rome. Throughout I was harassed, even in museums and restaurants. I didn't just see racism. I witnessed and viscerally experienced the open and routine denigration of people of African ancestry. It was frightening. But what was more frightening is when no one else seemed to notice or even care. These are not uncommon occurrences in Italy, yet people are reluctant to acknowledge them. I'm glad that you had the courage to work with NYU and to publish this essay so that others may be informed. Happy future travels!

If it makes you feel any better (and it shouldn't) I had similar experiences as a fat person. No one seemed to be the least bit shy about expressing their distaste at my appearance verbally or physically. I am a staid 60 year old with an academic look, nice clothes, pretty good manners, always try to speak a little of the language, etc. And, when you come right down to it I'm not really very fat at all. I was bumped, punched in the arm, verbally assaulted multiple times during my two week stay in Florence (I love art). I did not experience this outside of Florence, I will say, so maybe their tourist overload has them angry and on the alert for us offensive types. Or maybe they are just so much more superior than all the rest of this they have license to express their feelings in this way (yes, that's sarcasm).

(((Deborah Altman Ehrlich)))

Sydney AustraliaOct. 24

Ironic given how many Italians have African ancestors, courtesy of the Roman slave trade.

It's one of the reasons northern Italians (blonder) view southern Italians with contempt.

Serena

ColumbusOct. 25

Racism and colorism are alive and well in Italy and throughout Europe. I'm a native southern Italian from Calabria who spends every summer in Italy mainly to visit my siblings who still live there. We are a mixed bunch, with some of us being darker with curly black hair and others having lighter complexions. I even have two siblings with blonde hair and blue eyes and my children and nieces and nephews reflect this variety as well. Guess who gets better treatment, especially in the North? One of my sisters now living in Emilia Romagna after having moved from Calabria to Modena for work, was told by a bar owner that he didn't serve dogs! I was called a "terrone" in Bologna once. Another time I chaperoned some American students on a trip to Southern France and I was totally ignored by hotel management in favor of a colleague who was blond and more American looking. I could go on and on with anecdotes from various family members alone. I imagine it's much worse for black people whether from America, Africa or wherever. I'm very sorry for you, Nicole, but keep your head high wherever you go. You will encounter ignorance and rude behavior all over the world. You will also encounter acceptance and kindness. I'm ashamed of my ignorant countrymen and women.

Your account of racism in Italy is disturbing and resonant. I traveled to Italy in 2015 with my parents and left the country very glad to be American above all else (I am of Indian origin). While this country has its share of racism, I never felt as "other" as I did while traveling in Italy. One memory that sticks is when we visited Pisa and sat on a grassy knoll next to a well heeled Italian couple with their son who was around 10 years old. The mother was reading from the guidebook in Italian to the son. My mother and I were a few feet away talking animatedly in our native tongue. We inched closer to the couple and their son to sit in the shade and the mother was distinctly annoyed by our conversation. We were not being loud or obnoxious but talking as people do in outdoors spaces. I cannot chalk this encounter to racism but I definitely sensed a disdain from this woman which was concordant with a general sense of disdain from all Italians toward other non-European cultures.

>>15549

>She then shielded herself behind a parked car. I was dumbfounded.

Sono morto dal ridere.

>We inched closer to the couple and their son to sit in the shade and the mother was distinctly annoyed by our conversation. We were not being loud or obnoxious but talking as people do in outdoors spaces.

>Sei la mamma.

>Vuoi spiegare a tuo figlio la storia e l'arte.

>Inizi a leggere il libretto che hai in mano.

>All'improvviso arriva una famiglia che puzza di spezie.

>Questi iniziano a parlare tra di loro.

>La tua voce è coperta dalle loro urla, tuo figlio non capisce niente.

>Vieni arrestata per razzismo.

>>15555

reco testimonianza delle tue cifre.

comunque sì

> talking animatedly in our native tongue

mi starebbe sul cazzo anche in italiano.

Racism is wrong against terroni because those masons in turin invaded the south. You reap what you sow.

Racism against strangers were unknown of in the 80s. Because strangers were mostly tourists, no matter their color.

Then immigration happened. Then soros happened. So, nowadays, a stranger is probably some guy living on welfare, ready to flee home after their mostly clandestine commercial activity fails. So they are hated.

It's a pity for those who seek integration and are de facto Italians like me, but: if I go abroad I EXPECT to be labeled mafioso because statistically speaking we are. So, precious snowflakes, please do grow a pair yourselves.

>>15560

Come, scusi?

>>15560

primo, scrivi come mangi, che spero sia italiano.

secondo, i massoni torinesi non hanno invaso il sud. dei massoni siciliani, tra cui francesco crispi hanno convinto il massone garibaldi a imbarcarsi dandogli notizia dei successi di una rivolta in sicilia che non era nemmeno avvenuta.

il massone cavour stava lavorando alle rifiniture per la creazione di un regno dell'alta italia e non aveva intenzione di invadere le due sicilie, per il momento, e si è dovuto mangiare le mani mentre un misto di capacità di garibaldi, di indifferenza/speranza di cambiamento della popolazione locale e di incompetenza borbonica rendevano possible l'effetto valanga che ha portato all'annessione del sud.

tutto questo mentre gli staterelli in mezzo sfornavano plebisciti, più o meno bulgari per annettersi al piemonte, che il re non sapeva se accettare causa impegni diplomatici con napoleone terzo…

terzo.

>It's a pity for those who seek integration and are de facto Italians like me

> if I go abroad I EXPECT to be labeled mafioso

quindi sei di origine straniera ma hai un aspetto italiano?

e poi

> because statistically speaking we are

parla per te.