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You are here: Home / Italy: Sculpting Dignity – The Meaning of a Memorial
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Video & Audio Podcast
from Italy

Produced by Radio La Benevolencija HTF © 2016-2018
Partner in Italy: L’Associazione Culturale Thèm Romanó

Directed by: Miško Stanišić
Editor: Marko Korać
Production: Georgeta Pintilie 
Production coordinator in Italy: Alexian Santino Spinelli 

Santino Spinelli

Santino Spinelli

SCULPTING DIGNITY

THE MEANING OF A MEMORIAL

In the town of Lanciano in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, Roma activists and the local Mayor joined forces in a unique cooperation with the aim to build a memorial for the Italian Roma and Sinti victims of Samudaripen. The finances were not provided by the state or the local government, but through an international crowdfunding campaign as a symbol of the dignity of Roma and Sinti all around the world.

CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

MEMORY, CULTURE, MEDIA AND ANTIGYPSISM

Culture means starting to love your own way of being, and that is a precondition for strengthening the sense of identity. Why is it so important for the young Roma to know their history, even if it is a cruel and sad history? Can they create a better future for themselves from that history? How can media in the same time be cause and consequence of the widespread antigypsyism in Italy? Is Europe without memory doomed to fail?

Subtitles and Language settings: click [CC] to choose available subtitles.
This is a version with English graphics. Click here for version in Romani.

In this video, in order of appearance: 

Gennaro Spinelli, survivor; Giulia Spinelli, activist; Paola Trevisan, researcher at the University of Bolzano; Gianni Orecchioni, historian; Graziano Halilović activist, Romà Onlus, Rome; Alexian Santino Spinelli activist, artist and scholar, Them Romanò Association; Mario Pupillo, Mayor of Lanciano; Maria Saveria Borelli The National Association of Italian Partisans – ANPI; Tonino Santeusanio, sculptor;

Subtitles and Language settings: click [CC] to choose available subtitles.
This is a version with English graphics. Click here for version in Romani.

In this video, in order of appearance: 

Dijana Pavlović, activist, The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture, Milano; Graziano Halilović, activist, Romà Onlus, Rome; Maria Saveria Borelli The National Association of Italian Partisans – ANPI; Gianni Orecchioni, historian; Stefano Pasta, journalist, Milano; Giulia di Rocco activist, Amici di Zefferino and Romanì Kriss;  Giulia Spinelli, activist; Paola Trevisan, researcher at the University of Bolzano;

Audio version:

Music: White Atlantis by Sergey Cheremisinov, Night II by Swelling, and some excerpts from the music of Barcelona Gipsy BalKan Orchestra

Developed by Miško Stanišić

Discuss, Investigate, Learn

Each episode addresses several of the following 12 themes:
1. LIFE BEFORE WORLD WAR II | 2. PERSECUTION | 3. RESISTANCE | 4. SURVIVING | 5. LASTING IMPRINTS | 6. RECOGNITION | 7. REMEMBRANCE | 8. KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION | 9. CONTINUITY OF DISCRIMINATION | 10. CHALLENGES TODAY | 11. SHARED HISTORY AND ROMA IDENTITY | 12. ROMA AND SINTI VOICES | 

Analyze each episode using this list of themes. Research further. Discuss your findings and opinions. Share your thoughts. Promote your opinions on social media. Read more about how to use this material in the classroom, in public debates, for awareness campaigns and activism, or in the Roma-run media on the page dedicated to Tajsa.eu Educational Resources:

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Highlighted Keywords

Think and Reflect

Some of the most significant statements by the interviewees, the “keywords”, are selected for further discussion and examination. The quotes are presented together with the respective screenshots from the video. Each quote is related to one of the 12 themes (this is marked above each screenshot). Review and discuss the selected quotes. You might also:

Find the selected quote in the video. Listen again to the whole conversation.
Analyze what can we learn from the selected quote.
If it is a testimony/personal experience: when and where did it happen? Who were the protagonists? Describe what happened.
Do you have any similar personal experiences, or other knowledge that helps you understand the described event/experience better?
Why, in your opinion, is the selected quote related to that particular theme. Could it also be related to some of the other proposed themes? Explain.
Watch the video again and find other significant quotes or other moments that made impression on you. Explain why did you choose it, and how did you understand it.
Relate the quote you have chosen with one of the 13 themes. Explain.

Theme:

Remembrance 

Theme:

Shared History and Roma Identity

Theme:

Persecution

Theme:

Recognition

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

The monument is really important to remember everything we suffered, the fear we had of the Germans who beat us and who always stood with guns aimed and ready to shoot. You cannot forget it. And I will never forget it. The monument is mine and is important because it is also my story, a horrible piece of my life.

Gennaro Spinelli, survivor;

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

I think that knowing the past is necessary to live the future. If I do not know my roots, my places, my origins, I cannot have a just future, so I cannot create my person, my “self”.

Giulia Spinelli, activist;

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

In the very first years, the fascist regime showed a particular interest for the foreign Roma and Sinti, who represented a problem for the regime. So, the fascist regime decides, first of all, to resolve the presence of Roma and Sinti in the border regions.

Paola Trevisan, researcher at the University of Bolzano;

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

 The awareness of all this is relatively recent. The first studies on fascist concentration camps in Italy date back to 1987 – after more than forty years since the end of the Second World War.

Gianni Orecchioni, historian;

Theme:

Knowledge, Awareness and Education

Theme:

Shared History and Roma Identity

Theme:

Challenges Today 

Theme:

Recognition

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

In the Romani community, the Porajmos, the Samurdaripen, the Genocide of the Roma is forgotten, also because our culture is oral, and therefore, today, after almost seventy years we begin to forget. For this reason, it is important to work with young people.

Graziano Halilović activist, Romà Onlus;

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

 This place will become a place of Roma and Sinti dignity, because we have not asked for money from the institutions, from the politicians who do not really recognize the Samurdaripen of Roma and Sinti. This is a place of dignity for our people because it is civil society, friends of the Roma and Sinti who have provided through a crowd founding the means to build this monument that gives dignity to our people, not only in Italy, but also all over the world.

Alexian Santino Spinelli activist, artist and scholar, Them Romanò Association;

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

Europe can be made, if we are all united, if the races are a power, a priority, and not a reason for division, to a Europe of the peoples who are united and who, like us, build bridges between diverse ethnic groups.

Mario Pupillo, Mayor of Lanciano;

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

For too long we have kept silent about the Holocaust of the Roma and the Sinti. From the city where the first revolt against nazi-fascism started, today, a new message is sent which finally puts the right emphasis on the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti.

Maria Saveria Borelli, The National Association of Italian Partisans – ANPI;

Theme:

Remembrance

Theme:

Roma Voices

Theme:

Knowledge, Awareness and Education

Theme:

Remembrance

From video 1:
SCULPTING DIGNITY 

This is a sculpture that represents the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti. The woman flees towards salvation, towards a freedom that was a dream in that sad period for Europe.

Tonino Santeusanio, sculptor;

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

Our diversity has sought to be erased by integration. Many of us are ashamed to say: We are Roma! They are ashamed of their culture. Culture is the way of living, the way of being, thinking, seeing life, death. And family. It is not just a painting, or a song. It’s the way you are inside.

Dijana Pavlović, activist, The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture;

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

For all the youngsters, especially from the Roma communities, it is important to know their history, what has happened, even if it is a very cruel and sad history, because from that history they can create a better future for themselves, but also for the mainstream society. This way they will be able to live integrated, in social cohesion, respecting each other.

Graziano Halilović, activist, Romà Onlus;

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

Memory, knowledge, history, culture are important because they are some of the cardinal principles of the European identity. Europe without memory is doomed to fail.

Maria Saveria Borelli The National Association of Italian Partisans – ANPI;

Theme:

Persecution

Theme:

Continuity of Discrimination

Theme:

Challenges Today

Theme:

Challenges Today

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

The Fascism has invented the use of radio for political propaganda. The first use of radio as a means of mass communication for political indoctrination purposes, was done by the Fascism in Italy.

Gianni Orecchioni, historian;

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

 We can say that media is at the same time cause and consequence of the widespread antigypsyism, an antigypsyism that has become socially acceptable, part of our value system. The situation during the Fascist era and today is, of course, different, but there are very strong elements of continuity. The mechanism and the ways in which we speak about Roma and Sinti in the media, can be one of them. In the media, it is possible to say anything about Roma and Sinti.

Stefano Pasta, journalist;

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

A large problem in Italy is the lack of work. They do not give you work if they know that you are Roma. The few who get hired by some companies hide their Roma identity.

Giulia di Rocco activist, Amici di Zefferino and Romanì Kriss;

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

The situation of Roma women is different from the situation of Roma men. Being women we are living double discrimination in Italy.

Giulia Spinelli, activist;

Theme:

Recognition

From video 2:
CULTURE IS THE WAY OF SEEING LIFE

The Sinti and Roma feel that it is important to tell about their experiences of internment (in concentration camps). But when they do it, they are met with disinterest from the institutions, especially from academia.

Paola Trevisan, researcher at the University of Bolzano;

AUSCHWITZ
by Alexian Santino Spinelli

Auschwitz
Muj shukho
Jakha kale
Wust shurde.
Kwite.
Jilo cindo
Bi dox
Bi lav
Nikht rovibe.

AUSCHWITZ
by Alexian Santino Spinelli

Auschwitz
Gaunt face
Dead eyes
Cold lips.
Quiet.
A broken heart
Out of breath
Without words
No tears.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Contact

Radio La Benevolencija Humanitarian Tools Foundation
(Tajsa.eu editorial)
e: e-mail contact form
t: +31 20 6166599
a: Plantage Middenlaan 27 / 4 floor
1018 DB Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Copyright (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

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