Racism in Italy

LAST week, Italy’s first and only black cabinet minister, Cecile Kyenge, delivered a speech in Cervia about her programme to expand immigrants’ rights. Applause followed, but so did a shockingly racist and cowardly act: one observer threw bananas at Kyenge. She pretended not to notice, later tweeting, “With so many people dying of hunger, wasting food like this is so sad.”

Elected officials lead by example, and last month, Roberto Calderoli, vice-president of Italy’s Senate, was addressing an outdoor rally for the anti-immigrant Northern League party when he said, “I love animals… but when I see pictures of Kyenge I cannot but think of, even if I’m not saying she is one, the features of an orang utan.”

Kyenge oversees matters relating to immigration and the “integration” of new Italians. She has been the target of racist, xenophobic remarks since she took office in April. In the US, we’d like to hope that remarks such as those of Calderoli would mark the end of a career. In Italy, the racism is sadly unexceptional and even an instigation for others.

Kyenge moved to Italy from the DRC as a teenager in the 1980s, graduated from medical school, became an eye surgeon, married an Italian, became an Italian citizen and served on the Modena city council before being appointed to the cabinet. She took her position at a moment when Italy is becoming a land that attracts newcomers. In the past 10 years, Italy’s immigrant population has grown from one million to 4.5 million people, about 8 percent of the population.

Like the rest of southern Europe, Italy is struggling with soaring unemployment rates. But over the long run, Italy will need every immigrant it can attract, given its minuscule fertility rate and aging population.

The casual acceptance of ugly racism is offensive. It is also self-defeating.