The latest proof that we cannot just tighten up our image, respect ourselves, and take care of our families to be respected. You hear people inside and out of our community making these claims. If we respect ourselves, then everyone else will respect us. Well, this just isn’t true. Some people just have it out for you and are not going to act right.
You may not know this, but Italy has a black Minister for Integration. This happened in April of 2013. She became the first black cabinet minister in Italy’s history. Not a small feat for anyone, but again, clear proof we can’t just “change our image” to garner respect from outside the community.
All of the bananas missed the podium where Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge was speaking, the U.K. Telegraph reported, but unleashed a storm of condemnation in the country. According to Reuters, the slurs have been blamed on far-right groups angry with Kyenge’s efforts to make it easier for immigrants to gain Italian citizenship.
Kyenge, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, responded to the incident on Twitter, calling it “sad” and a waste of food in light of the economic crisis, Reuters reported.
“The courage and optimism to change things has to come above all from the bottom up to reach the institutions,” she tweeted.
Gianni Alemanno, the former mayor of Rome, was less measured in his response: “Another shameful and disgraceful gesture. Solidarity with the Minister Kyenge. Now let’s just isolate the idiots.”
Earlier this month, an Italian senator said Kyenge reminded him of an orangutan.
As if this wasn’t enough, she was just called an orangutan by an Italian senator. Before this she was referred to as a prostetute. The list goes on and on, but Kyenge isn’t stooping to their level and moving forward with her position.
What are your thoughts on the treatment this women is enduring?
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