Black Cypriots

[Leon]

In my experience, [Greek] Cypriots seem to possess quite a strong racist attitude towards people of Black origin, and I have seen very, very few Black people in Cyprus. When I visited the homeland at Christmas, it was strange for me to be in fairly multicultural Nicosia, probably because it was so different to the other parts of Cyprus I had seen. I was quite surprised to see a tall Black man holding hands with a small Cypriot woman (both in their early twenties at the most) and my [English] aunt who has lived in Cyprus for 19 years says that was the first time she had ever seen such a union face-to-face (the only other time being a wedding photo displayed in the window of the shop where she has her photographs developed, which shocked her, too).

OK, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to sound ignorant because I know there are always exceptions to the norm, but Black people in Cyprus have always been looked down on (I have no idea about how they are regarded by the Turkish Cypriots, but I can't imagine it being that different from the Greek Cypriots), so it does surprise me when I hear of these relationships (I mean, come on, English-based Cypriot families cause a stir when one of their members decides to marry an English person!). Usually, in a Cypriot-non-Cypriot relationship, it's female who is foreign, but somehow I still can't picture a Cypriot man making a go of things with a Black woman. Recently on RIK Sat (on my favourite programme, Biz/Emis), there was a Cypriot woman who must've been either in her late 50s or early 60s who discussed mixed marriages (her husband is Pakistani) and spoke of how her father used to debate things with her when she was a teenager which are hot in Europe today, and explained that her father strongly supported that people's religion, ethnic background, and skin colour didn't matter, as long as they were decent people (he stood by her own marriage when her community looked down upon it). I was quite surprised that a Greek Cypriot man of that era especially had such a forward mentality.

Anyway, what I'm getting at is what are your experiences with Blacks in Cyprus? What have your parents said (if anything) and commented? Do you know of any Black-Cypriot relationships/marriages and/or children? Do you have any acquaintances in this kind of situation and how was the relationship perceived? Do you know (of) any mixed race Black Cypriots? Any general comments welcome and appreciated. I would be particularly interested to see what Turkish Cypriots have to say on the matter.

Leon.

[brother]

In the north we have many blacks who are Turkish Cypriot from ceturies back when the Ottomans saved them from slave ships hence no real racist attitudes towards blacks by the Turkish Cypriot.

[senzafine]

Good thread. I do believe that we 'Greek' Cypriots are very racist and that is mainly because of the mentality we were brought up (hate everyone, except ur family). Of course I wasnt brought up like that, but by observing greek cypriots that's my best guess.

I havent seen and dont know of such relationships you are talking about but I mus admit that in the last few years, we the youth are becoming more open to foreign cultures. Unfurtunately those who are, are not the majority and in my opinion most greek cypriots are indeed racists, even if they dont want to admit it.

When i went back to cyprus a couple of weeks ago I was suprised by the mixture of cultures I saw, especially in Ledras St. Usually when I go down that street, I tend to avoid it and use the parallel, Onasagorou, as I want to avoid all those greek cypriots and the noise and everything. But not this time. I was delighted. Never seen so many people from different cultures in Nicosia before and it was great. There were not many greek cypriots that day on Ledras and that was even better for me. I think it was about time to start 'opening up' and accept the fact that cyprus is not the center of the world nor the universe, and its not the only country in the world (other than greece and turkey perhaps).

[repulsewarrior]

The future will be much different for Cyprus.

We sustained ourselves and we were isolated from the world before wires carried electrons down their length. Now we are one of those points where it is all connected.

Geographically, Cyprus has had this importance to many people and the rest of the world, as a cross road, for thousands of years. It has made us the Steward of a Patrimony which is important to Human kind.

... like Othello; a Black Cypriot.

[Leon]

Good posts. Anybody else?

[stavrizatz]

Senzafine where are you from? You said you avoided Ledra because there were lots of Greek Cypriots isn't that racism in a way!

Anyway Leon your from England and in my experience British-Cypriots and Australians-Cypriots are stuck to the old norms of the society of Cyprus 50 years ago! I am not saying you are as backwards as other Cypriots in England but perhaps you jumb to that conclusion thinking that most Cypriots are like them.

There is no doubt that there was xenophobia in the past and racism existed but I believe Cyprus today is one of the most hostile country to migrants in the world. I believe that there is more racism in England, France, Australia that it is in Cyprus. Travelling and living in those countries I experience more racist than I experience in Cyprus. Perhaps there is no racism between blacks and whites but certainly Indians in Britain are victims of racism and Arabs in Australia and France.

Considering the fact that migration towards Cyprus only started recently the incidences of racial discrimination are not so many, however still there is a need for improvement.

Whether if I have any experience with blacks in Cyprus, a friend of mine from Ghana who came to study in ATI in Lefkosia, and his friends mixed well with my group of friends. But why just blacks in Nicosia there are so many Chinese, Indian, Phillipino etc.

[Leon]

I was focusing mainly on Blacks but yes, Indians, Sri Lankans, Filipinos etc. can also be included. Actually, I don't I have ever come across one Indian in Cyprus (Sri Lankans, yes, many, but Indians, no)! I know a British-bred Cypriot woman who is married to an Indian Muslim, but she lives here and is very much English in her ways. I have not come across a Cyprus-based Indian.

But what my main stress was Black-Cypriot/Indian-Cypriot/Filipino-Cypriot/Sri Lankan-Cypriot relationships and children. I know that quite a few Cypriots have married Arabs and had kids (Marcos Baghdatis, Sarbel, for example, who are both half Lebanese) but it just interests me how these couples/children are treated and perceived in the racist Cypriot society. Arabs are quite similar-looking to Cypriots anyway, and I would imagine there would be a stronger opposition to relationships where one of those in the couple is more visibly different (Sri Lankans, Filipinos, Blacks, Indians).

I do know, however, that most of the Black population in Cyprus is situated in the north, and as Brother said, there they are accepted fairly well.

[stavrizatz]

I haven't seen any black people in the North, are you sure Bro that there are Black people or are they Turkish Cypriots with darker skin?

As for Indians in Lefkosia ... they are plenty, they even organise their cricket games at the park and stuff. Most of them are students of Intercollege and Cyprus college.

[Cyprus rules!]

I don't know whether this helps, but I know two cousins (One the daughter of a priest) both recently married two young black men, and as far as I could tell there were no problems within the family or the community..

I think attitudes are changing in Cyprus, it's always ignorance that fuels racism and the fact that Greek Cypriots especially aren't used to seeing or living with black people...but times are changing, Cyprus is becoming more multicultural..I have to say I haven't really witnessed that much racism in Cyprus or someone talk about blacks or Asians, etc in a racist way...and actually I've met many youths who love reggae music and idolize bob Marley, which is always a good thing....it's quite funny actually, you see these short stocky Cypriot kids walking round with huge Rastafarian hats on, I'm guessing to keep their long Rastafarian style hair in....

[Mete]

[Cyprus rules!]

[Crash Test Dummy]

A Cypriot friend using my computer/log in

[Leon]

Giorgio, are you talking about Black Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, or Turks?

[stavrizatz]

[city]