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Monthly Archives: September 2014

READING, WRITING AND TRAVELLING WHILE BLACK AND ITALIAN: thoughts, realities and common places

22 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Benjamina in Daily thoughts, Education, Love as we know it, Race

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Africa, Black, Education, Female, Feminism, Ghana, Italian, Italy, Race, Stereotypes, Woman

“I, too, am Oxford” project http://itooamoxford.tumblr.com/

I’ve been out of Italy for about a year now and I cannot count on my fingers and toes the number of times people get excited when I tell them I’m Italian.[1]
Sometimes I’d get the happy person, who would invite me to a cool Italian something (it has happened!) or would gladly transform me in a google translator app and would cherish every how do you say X in Italian question asked, not minding that it’s not that easy to switch from one language to the other; other times I’d get the curious (not interested) who’d give me dodgy and side looks because I am African, yet I declare to be European. And maybe this is the biggest deal I often have to handle.
To be Black and Italian for me it sometimes involve an apologetic and explanatory attitude I don’t feel comfortable with, although I have to say many of the times I did nothing to prevent or stop it; it requires unwanted questions and unasked answers people feel entitle to know.
                              
I remember going to a gift shop in Venice during a school trip, and on one of the shelves there was a book about understanding Italians. Someone actually took the trouble to produce a manual to understand the social behaviour of people and surely everyone would have in mind what I understand to be the “typical Italian person” (loud, gesturing, smiling.. white). Someone should do a guide book about what to expect from foreigners when travelling while Black and Italian, it will be really useful.
Unwanted questions and unasked answers often throw shadow on my experience as a person and darkened the positive things that can be found in a personality with a broad background, perspective and culture. (In relation to this please take time to read a blog piece by The Afropolitan, it’ll give you some wonderful clues about what I’m discussing.) I think it all can be gathered under one term really: “knowledge”, but unfortunately I see people much more interested in stereotypical speculations, rather than spending time to acknowledge what they don’t know.
I’m African, yet I’m Italian because I eat, I breathe, I am, I see, I do and I think in and about Italy and, yes, I need no one to validate it before it becomes valid.
When it comes to writing, because one is African, one is not expected to write about certain things; ego is expected to write about the spicy and assorted African food or the colourful African print. In fact one is not expected to write at all.
When it comes to writing, you don’t talk about race because Africans don’t really care about race, even if they care they don’t bother, they don’t have time for that; or maybe you really do care but you don’t want to be labelled with the playing-the-race-card tag. (Dear reader if you have any experience to share in regards, please do, or email me.) You don’t talk about history or about books, because Africans don’t read, says a guy I went out with a while ago. Now the idea is to delete him from my world.
It happens that because one is African, it is not expected of him/her to talk about photography or architecture; so consequently it happens that when my friends Angela and Alisha, amazing blog writers with vivid passion for culture and innovation, give themselves and their brilliance to what they do, and although their aim is not to redeem a race, I feel a sense of over-proudness because their work is changing the conversation and shifting into other spaces common places.
Because most people choose not to do something, choose to tolerate something or are simply not interested in changing the conversation, it does not mean that one situation can be applicable to everyone; it’s where, how  one live and who one live with that determine its person.      
When I think about these realities my feet grow heavy of sadness and I refuse to believe that in this day and age we need to talk about how over-proud we are of the things we do.     



[1] Dear reader, please understand that this article is fruit of my own experience as individual and in some instances as individual with a story in common with friends/acquaintances. I do not pretend to talk for or on behalf of others, because different people from different backgrounds may have a different view of the world. Please feel free to share your views and experience. 
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WHY DO I HAVE TO LOOK FOR “BLACK” MAGAZINES TO FIND SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE ME?

19 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by Benjamina in Daily thoughts, Race

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Black, Race

 
Yesterday was such a productive day for me, and I am so glad to share with you.
I’m about to start my second year at university and, at the moment, there are so many activities going on at the Student Union that it would be a shame not to get involved. So yesterday I went to the BME (Black Minority Ethnic) group debate and I learnt so many things: we talked about what is common wisdom, about how black people perpetuate the “black stereotype” tag and if black (or better to say BME people) are “close minded” in achieving higher and better.
I was really happy to be in the midst of such thoughtful people, who have at heart the needs of those people who are left some steps behind when it comes to the social ladder of the society in which we live in. A great amount of people shared their experience as “minorities” and what it means to grow up in a place where one is defined by its appearance rather that its being and doing. I felt understood and not forgotten. I felt good and grateful to be there.
Problem. Talking about the approach that black people encounter, we tried to understand what is and where the line between racism, ignorance and curiosity can be found and what we, as people who struggle every day, can do to make our voice heard loud and clear.
Solution. As BME community it’s our duty, perhaps unpleasant, to educate those who often fall into racist/ignorant situations, transforming what could be an angry and unproductive confrontation, into a moment to learn and correct one’s social behaviour and manner.
The sad truth is, although we live in a world (at least in our society) where information is absolutely accessible, as black people we have to take that burden of demonising those old-aged stereotypes that are consuming our social relationships, without feeling obliged to fulfil the common wisdom.
Problem. Discussing about the statistics that show the achievements of BME people, I commented that, although opportunities are not always given to BME’s, I feel BME people are often reluctant in pursuing higher goals.
Solution. It’s not about reluctance, instead it’s the insufficient presence of BME role models in those places of the society where there is need, and in this issue the media plays a big part. On tv, in magazines, on the news and other places, I do not see people like me; they never appear, or if they do, it happens once in a while, you know, for diversity sake. Think about this: how many black women in the movie industry are given top roles? How many black women are given the not-sassy role? See, even the word “sassy” doesn’t feel right; it’s that kind of word you would use for one person and not for another. Why do I have to look for “black” magazines to find someone that looks like me?
So many topics came up and I am forever grateful to be part of this community.      

The things around your neck

12 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by Benjamina in Daily thoughts

≈ 4 Comments




The things around your neck

Are the evils you’ve built

They are the chances you’ve missed


The things around your neck

Are the forgiveness you hold

They are the sadness in your soul


The things around your neck

Are not ropes that kill

They are the love you’ve cursed

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About the Author

Benjamina E. Dadzie, founder of The African-Italian Project, is a Ghanaian born naturalised Italian. She currently lives in England. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Archaeology from the University of Manchester. During her time in Manchester she became an advocate for the cause of Black Students, by joining the University of Manchester Students' Union as the Black and Minority Ethnic Students' Officer, and extensively collaborating with the National Union of Students' Black Students' Campaign.
Benjamina is a contributor for the online platform Ezibota, and she currently holds an offer for a MA in the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas from the Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia. She aspires to become Curator of African Arts.

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Calendar of Publications

September 2014
M T W T F S S
« Aug   Oct »
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

Recent Comments

mukul chand on BENJA MUST GO: Dunkwa-on-Offin…
The African-Italian on BENJA MUST GO: Dunkwa-on-Offin…
The African-Italian on BENJA MUST GO: Dunkwa-on-Offin…

Recent Posts

  • I have moved 9 April 2017
  • Ezibota In London: meet-up 19 June 2016

About the Author

Benjamina E. Dadzie, founder of The African-Italian Project, is a Ghanaian born naturalised Italian. She currently lives in England. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Archaeology from the University of Manchester. During her time in Manchester she became an advocate for the cause of Black Students, by joining the University of Manchester Students' Union as the Black and Minority Ethnic Students' Officer, and extensively collaborating with the National Union of Students' Black Students' Campaign. Benjamina is a contributor for the online platform Ezibota, and she currently holds an offer for a MA in the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas from the Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia. She aspires to become Curator of African Arts.

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