Johny Pitts explores Black European identity in 'Afropean: Notes from Black Europe'

Johny Pitts examines the concept of 'Afropean' identity through travels across European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris. The Sheffield-born writer and photographer documents everyday Black life, challenging narrow narratives. The term 'Afropean' originated in 1993 with Belgian-Congolese singer Marie Daulne of Zap Mama. Pitts tests whether this concept can unify Europe's diverse Black populations, estimated at 15 million people by the European Union, concentrated in France, the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands. His journey reveals diverse experiences, from second-generation Swedes to trafficked women in Sicily. The book acknowledges limitations, excluding aspects like religion, queerness, and intergenerational tensions. Published by Allen Lane in September 2019, the hardcover costs £20. The work connects to broader discussions including the 'black Mediterranean' concept from Italian academic Alessandra Di Maio, inspired by Paul Gilroy's 'The Black Atlantic'. This framework examines Europe's colonial history and ongoing border realities. European countries often avoid confronting histories of racism and colonial exploitation that shape contemporary Black identities.