Italy's First Black Minister Finds Herself A Target Of White Supremacy (racism)

NPR

When Cecile Kyenge became the first black government minister in Italian history, the appointment was hailed as a landmark for diversity. But since Kyenge became integration minister, she has been the target of death threats and vicious racial slurs.

The debate highlights growing intolerance and what Prime Minister Enrico Letta has called a shameful chapter for Italy.

When he presented his Cabinet, Letta described Kyenge as a bridge between diverse communities. The 49-year old ophthalmologist, long an activist in local politics for immigrant rights, was elected to Parliament on the Democratic Party slate.

In a campaign ad, she said her dream is that "Italy will become a cosmopolitan country." But after her appointment to the Cabinet, the mood of racial progress was quickly replaced by insults directed against her from xenophobic and ultra-right-wing parties.

The crescendo started with a senior official of the anti-immigrant Northern League who accused her of trying to impose tribal traditions on Italian society. Then, a Northern League councilor, a woman, posted a photo of Kyenge on Facebook and called for her to be raped "so that she could understand what victims feel."