While Italians supported the Black Lives Matter movement that was born in the United States, many remain blind to the rampant racism in their own society. In Italy, there is an "excessive fear" and great aversion to Africans, a condition which the UN and EU refer to as "Afrophobia." This is a systemic, endemic phenomenon with multiple origins that contributes to a negative representation and perception of Africa. This presentation analyzes the institutional discriminatory attitude towards Afro-descendants in Italy, and the inevitable related issues in a country that still associates skin colors with the status of 'foreigner.'
This presentation includes readings from Kossi Komla-Ebri's two volumes of personal, ironically humorous anecdotes translated in English as EmbaRACEments: Daily Embarrassments in Black and White...Color (2019) focuses on issues of inclusivity, racism and cultural conflict.
Dr. Komla-Ebri is a Togolese-Italian writer and medical surgeon. He has published several books and short story collections, including the novel Neyla, the first African-Italian novel to be translated into English and published in the United States, (Premio Prato CittAperta 2019), two volumes of anecdotes, Imbarazzismi and Nuovi Imbarazzisimi translated into English as EmbaRACEments (2019), two books of fables, Gente udite la mia favola and Le due lezioni (2022) and a collection of short stories Avant que tombe la nuit (2021). He is the co-founder of El-Ghibli (online magazine of migration literature).
For accommodations for a disability and to RSVP, please contact Angela Zagarella at zagarea@pdx.edu.