Toward a relational theorization of racisms

As the title of Ann Morning and Marcello Maneri's new book implies, in Italy razza is commonly regarded as an "ugly word". And while much has certainly shifted in the last decade - particularly in the realms of scholarship and cultural politics, and largely thanks to the steadfast efforts of Black Italian scholars, activists and cultural workers - everyday white Italians still commonly express reservation about explicit discussions of race, even in the midst of an undeniable resurgence of racial nationalism and racist violence across Italy. As such, Morning and Maneri's book makes a much-needed intervention into ongoing the dilemma of "race-talk" in the Italian context.