Black and Irish, Navigating Racism in Ireland

" Black and Irish, Navigating Racism in Ireland" examines how institutional racism affects Black Irish, Mixed-Race Irish and African migrants within the industrial care system, the direct provision system and the education system. Assistant Professor of Black Studies Dr. Philomena will give an in-depth look at her childhood in the Irish industrial school system to depict race relations in the 1960s and 1970s and how they affected the construction of Mixed- race women’s identity. We also discuss the recent introduction of Black Studies in Ireland’s curriculum. We delve into the impact of encounters with racism on Mia O’Neill, who took her own life in 2019. Her mother, Aisling O’Neill, shares an emotional testimony as she sheds light on the trauma inherent to racism. She reflects on the role of the education system to foster a better understanding of race and racism. We talk to Bukky Adebowale, born in Ireland, President of the student life at Maynooth University); Sandrine Ndahiro, PhD student in African Literature originally from Kenya; Cameroon-born artist Alicia Raye, who spent her teenage years in Direct Provision centers. They share personal stories to explain how racism and discrimination is prevalent in their daily interactions in colleges and universities. We meet Black Irish teacher Alex Mbowua, activist Myriam Poizat (Youth Against Racism and Inequality), Adult learner advocate and Africa-Ireland Network’s founder Joy-Tendai Kangere to give an overview of the education system: curriculum, income disparity, lack of opportunities. The Policy Officer for the Irish Network Against Racism, Patricia Munatsi, shares her determination to call for a national action plan against racism. Credits: “Black and Irish, Navigating Racism in Ireland” was produced by Caroline Mudingo Dipanda and was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland