THE GLOBAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY
H I S T O R Y N O T E S
BLACK ROMANIANS MAKING A WAY FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR HOMELAND
By CHUCK TODARO
Posted by RUNOKO RASHIDI
May 8, 2002
You ask Americans what they know about Romania and nine times out of ten it's Dracula, Communist dictator Ceausescu or the angelic Nadia Comaneci, but what even fewer are aware of, and that sometimes includes Romanians themselves, is that in this historically "white" country a young black community is beginning to stand up and take notice.....
There are an estimated 1000 of these young Romanian blacks spread across the country. The majority reside in the cities particularly the capital Bucharest where they can be infrequently spotted on the bus or in the streets turning heads as they pass.
The stares are so common that the good-humored Dana Lukusa no longer takes notice. "It's if they don't look that I wonder why."
The genesis of these Romanian blacks goes back to the early 1970's and 80's when the Communist government began allowing African students to enroll in their universities. Relationships formed between these students who were predominately males and Romanian women. However since marriage with foreigners during the Communist era was strictly forbidden, as well as abortions, their offsprings were left to be raised by single mothers, grandparents or Romania's already peaked orphanage system.
Outside of the capital they are viewed as an oddity. "When I was in the city Satu Mare," says Andrea Nica. "You know how they looked at me? - Like an alien. I swear. And when I speak Romanian - they say Wow, you speak very good Romanian, where you learn?"
Cristian Handragel, who they call "Harry" because of his slight resemblance to Harry Belafonte, will never forget a visit to the northern city of Suceava where he was mobbed by a crowd of curious onlookers wondering who he was and why he looked so dark.
They live generally isolated lives, deeply stigmatized by their complexion. "The thing I remember in High School was that all the other girls had boyfriends, but no one would go out with me cause I was mulatto."
"Though it is better now than during Communism," says Andrea Nica. "I had allot of problems when I was in school. They used to say, go back where you come from. But where else am I supposed to go? - I am Romanian!"
Today the Mulatto Association in Bucharest is beginning to bring them together (Elise_AMR@yahoo.com). "This is the goal of our association so that they can meet others like themselves and realize that they are not the only ones," says Elisabeta Parvu, the association founder and single mother of a black girl.
Though Andrea Nica was forced to change five schools in an effort to escape prejudice she never met another black person like herself till age 18 when she bumped into Ms Parvu's daughter. "It was definitely a turning point in my life," Andrea says.
Their meeting hall is Ms. Parvu's dining room. It is a cheery, colorful room where the large opened windows are shaded by a wall of green plants and flowers. The association is more like a club than anything political. It is a "safe house" where any of 300 members are welcome and visit quite regularly to talk, to eat, and watch television. Ms. Parvu doesn't consider herself as founder or president of the association but rather as a mother to all of them.
"She makes great pickles," chimes in Dana Lukusa. "You are always sure to get something to eat here." Which can be quite meaningful as many of these young people, especially those born out of the orphanages live a general hand to mouth existence.
Other objectives of the Mulatto Association are to unify the Romanian black community and help support those in most need. One of the Associations greatest concerns are those who were abandoned and left in the care of the doubly harsh settings of the Romanian orphanage system. The Mulatto Association has 20 members who live in the orphanage system. They learned of the association from Ms Parvu's appearance on talk shows and the news. The total number of black Romanians in the orphanages is unknown but Ms. Parvu estimates it to be into the hundreds.
Combating prejudice ugly head is yet another major goal of the association. Though prejudice in Romania is something that is often denied by its officials - it exist here not unlike any other part of the world.
"There was a famous Romanian journalist who once said to me, 'there is no racial hate in Romania'," says Elisabeta Parvu. "I was very angry that he said this and I invited him to walk out in the street with me behind a group of mulatto and he will see that they are shouted at and called names. He wouldn't believe me and refused to see for himself."
The Romanian blacks know all to well the pain of prejudice. They have been heckled in the streets, even spit at. They are called "ciora" (crow) and their mothers called prostitutes.
"What happens allot now is after a long stare I am asked where I am from," says Dana Lukusa. "'Oh so your a Romanian,' they say. 'Your mother is from here - right?' There is the general knowledge that only Romanian women marry black men and they say it with a double meaning indicating your mother is a whore... But generally I try and ignore it."
Ignoring it during the '89 revolution was impossible for Dana when she was dragged off a bus because of her darker than average skin. She was accused of being a terrorist and threatened to be shot. Somehow she managed to convince them but came inches away from ending up just one of 1000 people murdered during those ten days of violence.
For the new generation of black Romanian's life is more secure. Prejudice reactions towards nine-year-old Idrees Hassan, whose parents met and married after 1989, existed only on his very first days of school. But according to Idrees that once they got to know him they became best friends and he no longer has problems.
Also to Idrees advantage is the extraordinary high rate of media exposure and success of Romanian blacks. They are no longer just a passing blur along the boulevard, but rather making daily visits in living rooms across the nation. They are coming out in a big way - with a Saturday night variety show hosted by two black Romanians, a popular morning newscaster, they are seen on the Romanian music channel as a V.J. and singers, they are top Romanian models, soccer stars and authors.
They are young and below the age of 30. They are exceeding their peers and becoming fast role models for the entire nation. Slowly, they are conquering this "alien" stereotype thrust upon them and in sense - conquering Romania
Posted/Revised: June 14, 2002.
Webpage design: Kenneth Ritchards