How Are Sicilian People - Black In Sicily

I you want to know how are sicilian people particularly what my experience was like as a black in Sicily I recommend watching this video.

Racism is a topic that I touch on from time to time on this channel, since race is as American as apple pie. Race is such an integral part of American culture that I have to discuss it in relation to me owning property in Sicily. In fact in almost all my videos where I talk about relocating to a country, you will find comments where it is brought up.

In this video I am going to give you my experience as a black man living in Italy, talk about how I am treated, and if it is safe for people who look like me. I am going to share how I was received by the locals of a small town of just 11,000 people, where I am clearly an outsider.

This video may make some uncomfortable since it’s covering a very sensitive topic, however it is made for all people regardless of race and nationality to learn something about race dynamics, American culture, and how my family was brought to tears by how we were treated.

So how are sicilian people, they have been great and a pleasure to be around.

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[Karl__Pierre]

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[MrFIDO]

I am African/Muslim and was raised in Sicily/Trapani ( I speak Italian and Sicilian). It's truly a special place and I still consider it my home after having lived in Canada for 15 yrs. Like you said, people in Sicily judge you for who you are and not what you look like. I'll be honest, Sicilian people are the warmest and most sincerer people in you for the video

[Kano_Jig]

Bruh, I lived in Northern Italy (Maron di Brugnera) for 4 years. Once I began speaking Italian after my first 6 months there, I was showed nothing but love. I was not in expat bubble either. My landlord spoke zero English and she had an adult son my same age. He used to take me out with his friend group and teach me Italian curse words. I traveled to Trieste, Udine, Padua, Pisa, Venezia....all over basically. Much love shown to me every single day. Simply warm people man. The US has traumatized folks with so much racism. I hate to say it but America is obsessed with race for some strange reason. When I travel abroad...I am known as the American guy. So refreshing!

[Rob-mr]

THANK YOU!! I lived in Sicily for three years and loved it. My experience was very similar to your experience especially the part about them taking your kids and playing them. When my wife and I landed at the airport in Catania she came running to me and said they took Jamel, our son, I just smiled and said, they' ll bring him back ... Your video brought back many good memories for me. I lived on the beach and in the town of Motta near Catania. Yes, I'm a Black man and my son had a huge afro during that time. Thanks again.

[lf]

I'm an Afro Cuban Afro Puerto Rican from the Bronx. I went to school in Rome married my husband and stayed in Rome. I will say during the rise of the Right Wing in Italy racism has been on the rise. I've lived here for almost 15 yrs and I have seen the changes. I had a very bad experience, attacked when I was pregnant with my daughter and my husband and I moved to Spain for a year. Sicily is much better. My husband is Sicilian and we spend every summer in Sicily with our extended family. We bought a sweet little summer house by the sea. I feel that Sicilians in particular are more welcoming and are warmer than in Rome and in the North. The culture is very similar to my Afro Latin culture. The love of family, good food, ancient spirituality is all very similar to my Afro Latin culture. FYI my Sicilian Roman husband and I recently bought a piece of land in Ghana too😂 My kids are not raised with the American idea of race. They think more about their culture, my rich Afro Cuban culture and their rich Sicilian culture. They are to be proud Afro Latin, Sicilian babies.

[laarawilliamsen]

I am an artist and when I saw Johnny's painting I had tears in my eyes. Good for you for putting this video on youtube. I so know that we all do belong to each other! We are all one heartbeat, one breath, one incredible song! Sending you so much Kindness and Appreciation, Laara and by the way I LOVE ITALY!

[kdclothes]

I cried and had chills when you told the two stories. I am so happy you have found Italy to be a wonderful place for you and your family. I live in a really small rural village in Abruzzo, Italy. When I first came here, I had no idea what to expect from people. But to my happy surprise, I found a village of diverse, warm, welcoming Italians. Our town has only 2700 people and out of that there are perhaps 4 mixed race families living here permanently. They were accepted as good people by the people who live here. They are not seen as a negative. They have married italian women, have children, live lives and work along with everyone else who lives here. They are invited to family dinners, said Buongiorno to when entering a bar or cafe. It is so different from what I had seen as an observer in America and you are so right about American Racism. It is a whole other animal within itself. But I am so happy you do not feel like people are eyeing you thinking your are dangerous or less valuable to others. I hoped in my lifetime I would live someplace where I could see this happen. I might cry again. Just know, you would be so welcome if you ever came to our village. You might even hear another version of Italian. But you would be hugged and kissed by everyone who greeted you. I'm really glad your story is a good one. I know your children will grow in a nurturing place you have found and purchased a home. Thank you for sharing this video. It really made my heart swell. Bravo. Molto Grazie. Katie

[tanner]

as Italian I think society IN GENERAL is rather classist... you would be treated differently if you are a rich black American or a poor black African migrant, because of the way the media portrait these two distinct groups is very different. Said that, welcoming or racist people are everywhere, racism has no borders

[queenempress]

I was in Sicilly for business. Systems Security. I was supposed to be there a week. However OMG the food was so good n fresh, the beach lulled me like a baby. I ended up being there 3 wks. Eating, falling asleep on the beach, drinking AMAZING WINE.. I hated that I had to leave and come back to the most racists country on the Planet.. The U.S. In Sicilly People were just smiling. Some guy was flirting. Had an amazing smile. I have no idea how that gentleman that had broken English And I couldn't speak a syllable of Sicilian, how he got me to spend the entire day with him, strolling, around town napping on the beach and drinking wine. I not only felt safe. I felt at ease and at peace. My Air BnB. OMG. The sweet lady made the most amazing breakfast every morning. Her smile was like the sun. And she was so tiny cute and bossy lol. Every night she would run my bath water. I still call her to this day. She's my mamma now. My heart is ok as long as she is ok. I am definitely buying a home there. Hopefully close to my new mamma.

[stupormundi]

I was born in Sicily (a town outside of Palermo) I can tell you that for a fact that if you comport yourself with good manners, you will be loved and invited in their homes and treated like family. We are warm and inviting people. The ones that get treated badly are the ones that behave badly. Do good, get treated good. Do bad, get treated bad.

[Ziggi]

I traveled to Italy about 15 years ago and as a single Black woman I loved it. I loved the people, the food and yes I was pursued and asked on dates (which I went on). Italian men were fabulous for my ego 😃 But seriously Italy and the Italian people there are awesome!

[natpaler]

My husband and me just came from our third holiday in Sicily and I can only attest to what you're saying in a video. It's the extremly rich history of Sicily that so many different folks left their footprints in this part of Italy that no one is an outsider anymore. This year we checked into the hotel and first thing the owner invited us to their kitchen and offered us coffee and biscuits and introduced us to their place. That's why we're coming back year after year.

[getalife]

I am a black woman and have traveled to Italy many times ... it is my absolute favorite place to visit and I plan on eventually living there permanently, hopefully. I must say that of all the places I have visited in Italy I have found that Sicilians are the most friendly, fun loving, warm people. I felt most comfortable with the Sicilians .... I LOVE SICILY! Cannot wait to visit again!

[cookcarmela]

I’m so proud of my country and people and this video makes me even prouder, God Bless you ❤

[mattygeno]

Beautiful. To think that this is exactly how society can be. Touched me to the absolute core. Much love from a Sicilian-Norwegian! ❤

[Cestjb]

During my time in Italy and other places one of the biggest factors was the ability to communicate in their language. I noticed that even just trying to speak the language opened so many doors from a warm smile to free drinks and conversation. There seems to be a curiosity there that only grows when you meet them where they are and language is the starting point. I won’t sit and act like I didn’t stick out but it wasn’t the defining experience that I had at least.

[christinel]

As an Italian American New Yorker (in the process of getting my Italian citizenship by decent) I just loved this, thank you for sharing your experience.

[anneporter]

As an Italian American, I am so happy to hear that you experienced Italian warmth.

[fredsamuel]

Thank you for such a thoughtful, intelligent and honest video.

[robertbrooks]

What a wonderful, heart-warming video, Karl! I'm so happy that you and your family were received with such positivity and open-mindedness.