S2 Episode 2: Kwanza Musi dos Santos: The need for an intersectional approach to fighting racism in Italy (English) Artwork

Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur

Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur sheds light on individual and collective actions across Europe, Africa and the Americas to defend racial equality and justice. Our guests - scholars, activists, artists - share their practice with us, highlighting both the forms that historical and contemporary racial violence takes in these different contexts, and examples of possible reforms and mobilizations. Through their experiences fighting against racism, we draw the contours of racial justice efforts today. Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur is hosted by Liliane Umubyeyi and Amah Edoh, co-founders and co-directors of the African Futures Lab (AfaLab). A new episode is published every two weeks, and episodes alternate between French and English. Production credits: Production: Amah Edoh; Liliane Umubyeyi; Matt Dann; Recording and editing: Matt Dann; Music: “African Dreams,” written and composed by Seun Anikulapo Kuti; Artwork: Amélie Umuhererezi

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Future Perfect | Futur Antérieur

S2 Episode 2: Kwanza Musi dos Santos: The need for an intersectional approach to fighting racism in Italy (English)

April 12, 2023 • African Futures Lab (AfaLab) • Season 2 • Episode 1

In this episode, Kwanza Musi dos Santos, Italian activist and co-founder of anti-racist organization Questaèroma, speaks with us about the state of the struggle against racism and xenophobia in Italy. Among other topics, Kwanza discusses the challenges of Italy’s citizenship law, how the country’s colonial past and migration are addressed in national politics, and the implications of the recent election of a far-right government for the fight against racism (it’s not as straightforward as you might think!). Pointing to the links between casual and structural racism, the enduring silences around Italy’s colonial past, and anti-immigrant violence, Kwanza highlights the need for intersectional activism that addresses racism, homophobia, and xenophobia jointly. And, importantly, she shares her tips on how to stay hopeful in a persistently difficult political landscape.

Kwanza Musi dos Santos is an Italian and Afro-Brazilian activist based in Rome. She is a co-founder of Questaèroma, a sports and culture association fighting discrimination in Rome through arts and culture activities, mainly for youth and people of color. Kwanza is an expert in Diversity & Inclusion. At the moment, she’s working with organizations in both the private and public sectors. Kwanza also recently authored the chapter “Black Rome” in the book Mapping Black Europe: Monuments, Markers, Memories (Natasha Kelly & Olive Vassell, Eds., 2023).

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