<
https://theconversation.com/what-makes-an-italian-an-olympic-gold-medal-and-a-vandalised-mural-reopen-debate-about-race-and-citizenship-238913>
"When Paola Egonu, born in Italy to Nigerian parents, won a gold medal at the
2024 Paris Olympic games volleyball tournament, a dormant discussion in Italian
politics was reignited. Egonu only [became an Italian citizen at the age of
14], after her father naturalised as Italian. Now a national hero, many felt
her story should have been different and that the pathway to Italian
citizenship should be made easier for the children of immigrants.
After her win, a mural depicting Egonu performing her signature strike appeared
outside the office of the Italian Olympic Committee. The artist gave it the
title “Italianness”. Within 24 hours someone had painted over Paola’s skin with
pink paint, leaving the title untouched. Such racist abuse hides a much harder
question Italians have been grappling with for three decades: what makes
someone Italian?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
