2025/10/02 by Annavittoria Sarli, Kombola T. Ramadhani Mussa, Mackda Ghebremariam Tesfau' · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Educational and Social Studies #Italian Fascism and Post-war Society #Italian Social Issues and Migration
paper · doi:10.1080/01419870.2025.2562630
openalex publication_date 2025/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
This study investigates the racialisation of urban spaces in Parma, an Italian city, through embodied experiences of Black individuals with immigrant backgrounds. Using walking conversations, it examines how sensory cues interact with public discourses to racialise urban environments, shaping perceptions of inclusion and exclusion. Media narratives amplify discomfort among long-term residents of Italian origin by associating sensory markers linked to immigrant presence with degradation and insecurity, transforming these spaces into contested sensory landscapes. Conversely, racialised individuals navigate these spaces with experiences from exclusion to cultural affirmation, which can both reinforce and challenge racialised representations. The study underscores the agency and resistance of racialised residents, who adopt tactics such as renaming spaces and engaging in sensory practices to reclaim urban environments. By adopting a multisensory approach, it deepens understanding of how racialised boundaries are produced, experienced, and contested, offering a framework for exploring race–space dynamics.