Contesting Race and Citizenship: Youth Politics in the Black Mediterranean

Contesting Race and Citizenship is an original study of Black politics and varieties of political mobilization in Italy. It focuses on the ways Italians of African descent have become entangled with processes of redefining the legal, racial, cultural, and economic boundaries of Italy and Europe. It also opens discussions of the so-called migrant crisis by focusing on a generation of Black people who have been thrust into the same racist, xenophobic political climate as the immigrants and refugees who are arriving in Europe from the African continent.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Contesting Race and Citizenship is a groundbreaking exploration of Black politics and diverse forms of political mobilization in Italy. While there has been extensive research on first-generation immigrants and refugees from Africa who have journeyed to Italy, there is limited scholarship that delves into the experiences of Black individuals who were born and raised in Italy. In her book, Camilla Hawthorne delves into the intricate ways in which Italians of African descent have become entangled in the processes of redefining the legal, racial, cultural, and economic boundaries of Italy and, by extension, of Europe.

Contesting Race and Citizenship initiates discussions on the so-called migrant crisis by centering on a generation of Black individuals who, while born or raised in Italy, have been subjected to the same racist, xenophobic political climate as the immigrants and refugees arriving in Europe from the African continent. Hawthorne meticulously traces not only mobilizations for national citizenship but also the broader, transnational Black diasporic possibilities that arise when activists confront the ethical and political limitations of citizenship as a tool for achieving meaningful and lasting racial justice. These possibilities are grounded in shared critiques of the racial state, shared histories of racial capitalism and colonialism, and a collective commitment to challenging the dominant narratives that perpetuate racial inequality.

Through her insightful analysis, Hawthorne sheds light on the complex dynamics between race, citizenship, and social movements in Italy. She highlights the ways in which Black individuals and communities have resisted marginalization and discrimination, while also advocating for their rights and dignity. Contesting Race and Citizenship serves as a valuable contribution to the field of Black studies, offering a fresh perspective on the experiences of Black people in Europe and contributing to our understanding of the broader political and social dynamics of the region.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501762291