(In)Visible Black Europe: Race, Rights & Politics
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THE STATE OF (IN)VISIBLE BLACK EUROPE: RACE, RIGHTS & POLITICS HEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION APRIL 29, 2008 Printed for the use of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe [CSCE 110–2–10] ( Available via http://www.csce.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 63–749 PDF WASHINGTON : 2012 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:41 Dec 19, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 U:\WORK\042908.TXT KATIE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS HOUSE SENATE ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida, BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland, Chairman Co-Chairman LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER, RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin New York CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York HILDA L. SOLIS, California JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts G.K. BUTTERFIELD, North Carolina SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey GORDON SMITH, Oregon ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, Alabama SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania RICHARD BURR, North Carolina MIKE PENCE, Indiana EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS David J. Kramer, Department of State VACANT, Department of Defense David Bohigian, Department of Commerce (II) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:41 Dec 19, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 U:\WORK\042908.TXT KATIE THE STATE OF (IN)VISIBLE BLACK EUROPE: RACE, RIGHTS & POLITICS APRIL 29, 2008 COMMISSIONERS Page Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ..................................................... 1 Hon. David J. Kramer, Executive Branch Commissioner, As- sistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor ................................................................................. 3 Hon. G.K. Butterfield, Commissioner, Commission on Secu- rity and Cooperation in Europe .............................................. 6 Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Ranking Member, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ................................. 16 MEMBERS Hon. Barbara Lee (D–9) a Member of Congress from the State of California ................................................................... 6 Hon. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D–13) a Member of Congress from the State of Michigan ..................................................... 15 Hon. Donald M. Payne (D–10) a Member of Congress from the State of New Jersey .......................................................... 32 WITNESSES Joe Frans, Vice Chair, United Nations Working Group on People of African Descent, and former Swedish Parliamen- tarian ........................................................................................ 3 Gary Younge, British Columnist, The Guardian Newspaper .. 7 Philomena Essed, Antioch University, the Netherlands, Equal Treatment Commission ................................................ 16 Allison Blakely, Author and Historian, Boston University ..... 19 Clarence Lusane, International Race Politics Author, Amer- ican University ........................................................................ 22 APPENDICES Prepared statement of Hon. Alcee L. Hastings ........................ 39 Prepared statement of Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Co-Chair- man, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe . 41 (III) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:41 Dec 19, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 0484 U:\WORK\042908.TXT KATIE IV Page Prepared statement of Hon. G.K. Butterfield ........................... 43 Prepared statement of Joe Frans ............................................... 44 Prepared statement of Gary Younge ......................................... 46 Prepared statement of Philomena Essed .................................. 48 Prepared statement of Allison Blakely ...................................... 56 Prepared statement of Clarence Lusane ................................... 59 Prepared statement submitted for the record by Boris Kodjoe, Actor ............................................................................ 61 Material submitted for the record by: Brima Conteh, DIASPORA AFRIQUE .................................. 62 Initiative Black Germans (ISD) .............................................. 68 Black European Women Congress ......................................... 71 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:41 Dec 19, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 0484 U:\WORK\042908.TXT KATIE THE STATE OF (IN)VISIBLE BLACK EUROPE: RACE, RIGHTS & POLITICS April 29, 2008 COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE WASHINGTON, DC The hearing was held at 9:58 a.m. in room B–318, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, presiding. Commissioners present: Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman, Com- mission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Hon. G.K. Butterfield, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Coopera- tion in Europe; and Hon. David J. Kramer, Executive Branch Com- missioner, Department of State. Members present: Hon. Barbara Lee (D–9) a Member of Congress from the State of California; Hon. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D–13) a Member of Congress from the State of Michigan; and Hon. Donald M. Payne (D–10) a Member of Congress from the State of New Jer- sey. Witnesses present: Joe Frans, Vice Chair, United Nations Work- ing Group on People of African Descent, and former Swedish Par- liamentarian; Gary Younge, British columnist, The Guardian Newspaper; Allison Blakely, Author and Historian, Boston Univer- sity; Philomena Essed, Antioch University, the Netherlands, Equal Treatment Commission; and Clarence Lusane, International Race Politics Author, American University. HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE Mr. HASTINGS. Good morning. Let me call the hearing to order. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your answers in this morn- ing hearing focused on the experience of Blacks in Europe. For many years I’ve traveled through Europe as a tourist, Mem- ber of Congress, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and now as Chairman of the Helsinki Commission. On those trips I’d also meet other Black people living or traveling in Europe, who were thrilled to meet another Black person. This was especially true when I was traveling in the former So- viet Union. Not always so thrilling were the stories they would share with me of the racism they faced. And worse, I, too, was the victim of racial profiling by authorities and blatant discrimination, such as when I was refused service in several establishments in different places in Europe. My memory (1) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:41 Dec 19, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 U:\WORK\042908.TXT KATIE 2 serves me several times at the Frankfurt Airport, in Madrid, and in other places that one would not normally expect that to occur. In this regard there are a number of similarities between my ex- periences as a Black American and those of Black Europeans. So one central goal of this hearing is to highlight and address the very real problems of racism and discrimination faced by Black Euro- peans. Another goal is also to recall the contributions Blacks have made to Europe and the world by removing the cloak of invisibility that for so long has shown as a shroud. Recognizing and d-mythologizing the roles of Blacks in European history and modern day society has become a necessity, given the rise of virulent anti-immigrant campaigns that target non-Whites in the aftermath of 9/11 and the London bombings. Whether Blacks were forced or chose to assist in Europe’s development, they did play a role that should be noted. As globalization continues to bring the world closer together, how European countries choose to define themselves and their peoples affects all of us and will most certainly affect how I am viewed, as well as others, and treated within Europe’s borders. The third goal of this hearing is to then develop partnerships with those overseas committed to addressing these problems. Too often we highlight the problems within countries without noting the efforts that are being made, be they government, civil society or even the private sector. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, as well as the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, has compiled reports on Euro- pean countries’ positive initiatives, ranging from affirmative action to housing and education and desegregation. These are all efforts that have already been tried in the United States, and we need to be asking ourselves how we can best extend a helping hand so that Europeans don’t repeat some of the mis- takes we made here in developing and implementing these pro- grams. The fourth point, which requires us to be honest with ourselves, is that there are a number of very real barriers to addressing inclu- sion goals for Black Europeans, ranging from the small size of some communities to a need for differences in approach for recent migrant versus more established communities. I’m glad to have such esteemed witnesses here today to present thoughts on all these issues and I’d like to introduce Mr. Joe Frans from Sweden and Mr. Gary Younge joining us from the U.K. via New York to speak about their work. Unfortunately, due to scheduling constraints around Mr. Kodjoe’s