Immigration and Structural Violence
By: Isabel, Zana, Reed, and Camille
Reading:
Angel-Ajani, Asale. 2003. “The Racial Economies of Criminalization, Immigration, and Policing in Italy.” Social Justice 30 (3 (93)): 48–62. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29768208
Summary of Text:
Anthropologist, Asale Angel-Ajani states her main argument that “discourses on crime and on who commits it are saturated with the language of citizenship, social class, gender, and race” (Angel-Ajani 2003, 48). She cites that Italy has high rates of imprisoning immigrants despite immigrants representing a relatively small portion of the population. She explores how immigrant and Roma populations are disproportionately targeted for identity checks, resulting in harassment, violence, and dehumanization. This adds credibility to her argument, implying that law enforcement targets immigrants and Roma populations disproportionately. She also cites research revealing that immigrants are disproportionately jailed and targeted for complaints filed against them, contributing to the idea that immigrants commit more crimes. Furthermore, Angel-Ajani analyzes how media portrayals link African women to prostitution and drug trafficking despite evidence that other immigrant groups also participate in these crimes.
This article contributes to our understanding of structural violence by providing a thorough assessment of how systemic inequities, discriminatory legislation, and power dynamics marginalize and oppress immigrant and minority populations in Italy. Comparing Angel-Ajani’s (2003) work to Paul Farmer’s (2004) Pathologies of Power, where he describes the structural and cultural violence in Haiti, both pieces emphasize the harm experienced by minoritized populations that “…occupy[ing] the bottom rung of the social ladder in inegalitarian societies” (Farmer 2004, 31).
References
Angel-Ajani, Asale. 2003. “The Racial Economies of Criminalization, Immigration, and Policing in Italy.” Social Justice 30 (3 (93)): 48–62. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29768208
Farmer, Paul. 1996. “On Suffering and Structural Violence: A View from Below.” Daedalus 125, no. 1: 261–83. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20027362.
How would you describe the “taste” of the text?
The text views the topic of criminalization by examining the experiences of female African and Eastern European immigrants in Italy. Angel-Ajani uses very analytical and empirical language providing a formal description of the violence. However, with the use of stories from individuals, the tone of the article shifts, allowing the reader to gain a more personal and vivid understanding of the tragic events occuring. With these two factors in consideration, the overall “taste” of the article is blunt, supported, yet depictive.
How does this playlist complement (visually, somatically, sonically, vibe, taste) the text?
Protest songs on social justice and inequality include "This is America" by Childish Gambino, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2, and "Get Up, Stand Up" by The Wailers. U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" instills a sense of protest and resistance, reflecting movements outlined in the text about oppressed populations in Italy. Bob Marley and Peter Tosh's "Get Up, Stand Up" is a call to action for empowerment, which may resonate with the text's analysis of how these communities resist repressive regimes. This is thematically related to the text's focus on racial economies and policing. The playlist includes music from the United States, Ireland, Jamaica, Tunisia, and England. This illustrates the worldwide scope of immigration and racial issues.
Were there ethical concerns that came up while creating this playlist?
Creating a playlist to address issues such as violence, oppression, and criminalization of marginalized groups can feel trivial and dismissive of how serious these issues are, and the fatal consequences they have on people. There is a pressure to find songs that address these issues properly, as to not incorrectly portray the depth and intensity of the oppression that marginalized groups face all over the world.