Yvette Jarvis – E.N.O.W. Greece
Sweden, ASR Conference May 4-6 2001
As the new millennium dawns in Greece the challenges this nation and it’s people face, are multiple.
The year 2001 finds Greece undergoing major transition.
Greece is undergoing transition from a society once homogeneous, to a society rapidly becoming multicultural.
Transition from a country that once experienced mass exodus of its people as economic refugees, to a country whose shores now harbor the hopes and dreams of hundreds of immigrants who flock to them daily.
Transition from a tiny country in Europe solely focused on its own independence, to a major leadership role in the Balkans.
Transition from two state owned television stations, to hundreds of privately owned stations, offering even satellite coverage.
Transition from traditional cuisine found in the neighbourhood tavernas, to restaurants with tastes from places as far reaching, as Ethiopia, India, Mexico and Japan.
The decades of the 80’s and 90’s brought with them a bombardment of new stimuli to Greek society.
As we sat in our living rooms we began to experience life far from the Greek reality on a daily basis.
Music, trends, fashion, technology, behaviours and attitudes, very different from the norm.
I came to Greece some 18 years ago, and as a citizen of Greece I observe and participate in this transition. I often find myself experiencing déjà vu. Remnants of my past begin to creep into my consciousness.
As an African American growing up in the 70’s, my existence and life experience was immersed in transition. America was in transition.
The twenty years past had seen great upheaval in the U.S.
Cross Cultural issues, identity issues and civil rights were battles that had been fought and won.
Behind me lay a legacy of marches, sit-ins, protests and landmark court decisions.
The movement shocked the nation and jarred its existence, catapulting the American Black to a status unprecedented.
This was my inheritance that I now had to make good of.
I landed in Greece in 1982, wide- eyed and ready for adventure. Needless to say I did not find many people who looked like me! The territory was not entirely virgin because of the U.S. military bases. None the less, I can remember answering thousands of questions, from what seemed to me, hundreds of interrogations on a daily basis!
My hair, my colour, my origin, my features, all of these became topics of discussion!
Sympathizers to the Black movement in the U.S. expressed their admiration for my races’ courage and tenacity. They lauded Dr. Martin Luther King, our athletic prowess and our musical endowment. On countless occasions they passionately exclaimed, “What would America be without Blacks!
Their eyes teared as they spoke about Alex Haley’s “Roots”. Their voices choked with disbelief that one man could treat another in such a barbaric fashion. Why, because of the colour of their skin? Unthinkable! They reassured me that there were no such animals as racism, prejudice, and discrimination in their country. In their eyes we were all gods children.
I soon realized that I was in the unique position of being a diplomat for my people and many assumptions about my race would come from their interaction with me
As we face the new Millennium the situation unravels. It seems that in the blink of an eye, the streets filled with strangers from far away lands, with far too many needs.
How can we absorb all of these people in our tiny country? Will they take our jobs? Will we lose our identity? These are some of the concerns expressed by my Greek compatriots. They are valid concerns.
The truth is, it is all so very new. There are no precedents or past experiences to handle what seems for many to be, “a foreign invasion”.
It saddens me somewhat to realize that the reassurances given to me in the 80’s, that prejudice and discrimination were non-existent in this society, somehow have fallen short of their promise.
The naiveté, the curiosity and the probing which once were innocent gestures of a simple people, in the 90’s had begun to disappear.
Replacing them were contempt, suspicion, animosity and distrust.
Much to my dismay the demons of racial prejudice and discrimination had begun to rear their ugly heads in my paradise.
I could recount numerous incidents of negative behaviours directed at foreigners. I myself have stories to tell to support the above statements. The most startling precedent was set this year by the Kazakos case. This incident resulted in the injury of nine people three of whom have died and two who will be permanently confined to wheel chairs! All of his victims were people of colour with the exception of one!
In preparing this oral statement, I found it necessary to interview African women in Greece. I realized that my view would come from a position of privilege being that my situation was unique. I met and interviewed nine African women from different parts of Africa. They come from different economic and educational backgrounds and the average of years in Greece between them is about ten..
The process of becoming legal in Greece has only become a process in the last 3 years. The process is long and tedious with most often demands made that are impossible to comply with, given the illegal status previously held by the immigrant. As a result of this, the African women residing in Greece has been vulnerable to exploitation.
Many African women were and even today are subjected and reduced to one type of career choice, domestic help. With the exception of some students whom by law (scholarship req.) are not allowed to work, and very few self-employed, it is safe to say that 90% of these women are confined to jobs relating to domestic help.
The environment in the workplace for the most part is congenial but there are instances of hostility. Most often, until recently these women were subjected to working for lower wages than their Greek counterparts. With the threat of deportation looming over their heads, these women often worked longer hours for less and with no insurance benefits.
In 1998 with the implementation of the green card process of registration all foreigners were obliged to register for working and residence permits. The process is still ongoing and almost 2/3 of those who applied have still not been properly processed.
With their newly acquired cards, white (temp) or green (lengthened temp. status), these same women went back into the job market only to face a new dilemma. Potential employers now legally obliged to pay their share of insurance costs, reluctantly hired or easily fired those women who demanded their legal benefits.
In fear of somehow damaging their chances of completing the requirements for obtaining the green card (accumulation of # of stamps) in the necessary time frame most women never make official complaints and consequently pay the benefits all alone or seek new employment.
In the last 5 years Greece has had a tremendous influx of eastern European immigrants who most eagerly agree to work under any circumstances, thus multiplying the problem.
Racism in the work force is evident and there is much testimony to blatant denial of employment solely because of race. Traditional means of seeking employment via agencies or newspaper ads, in most cases prove fruitless efforts for Africans. The women interviewed all had stories to tell of rejection based on race bias. Many attested to being blatantly told by agents that “Blacks were undesirable and that the demand was for Eastern Europeans” when answering ads by phone once it was determined that they were Black, once again they were informed that Blacks were undesirables.
As a result of this the women interviewed, agreed that they all found jobs through word of mouth.
They also reported discrimination in the work force if they had children.
In the search for adequate housing there were reports of discrimination as well. Many Africans found that they were unwanted tenants and rejection was even more frequent if they had children.
Fortunately there are areas that seem to be friendlier than others, and as a result large numbers of Africans reside in those communities. In these communities one will find businesses that are owned by Africans and cater to the specific needs of its residents.
Hair care for example, in the last few years many shops have opened catering to Blacks and Whites who have begun to wear traditional braids and dreadlocks. It is fashionably IN to wear these tresses especially in summer!
The second major concern for African women is education .a general shortage of primary care for children under 6 yrs.old, makes it even more difficult for African women to register their children in day care. Many women made complaints of waiting up to 3 yrs. for acceptance.
Unfortunately to date there is only one African day care centre, and of course they cannot provide services for all.
African women report religious discrimination when registering their children for elementary schools. The law in Greece entitles all children under the age of 18 to attend school. This law applies even if residency status is pending. Of course the required paper work is very much the same as that required of a Greek.
The parent is required to file a birth certificate and a certificate from the church proving baptism. Both certificates present problems for many women.
Children born in Greece to foreigners are not given automatic citizenship. Henceforth the child takes the nationality of the father. In many cases it is almost impossible to get official birth certificates from consulates in Africa for varying reasons (war etc). The municipalities issue a paper, not a legal document that simply reports the birth.
Under normal circumstances a Greek child receives a birth certificate and a certificate from the Orthodox church that the child has been christened. These documents are then presented to the school.
This is no obstacle for those wishing to convert to the orthodox religion, but to those wishing to retain their religious status ie. Muslim, many school officials deny entrance claiming that they need to be orthodox.
After researching this phenomenon, I was informed by members of parliament that the said practice is illegal!
It is imperative that people be informed of their rights. As a result of these interviews it was made clear to me that many minorities are not well informed of their rights. Language poses a big impedance for the proper dissemination of information.
Many women were concerned with the process for registration for the green card. Those who recently gave birth or had children at the time of application were informed that they were not allowed to include their children on the card. Once again public officials asked for proof of baptism or conversion as a condition for inclusion! According to new legislation minors ARE included on their parents documents and at the age of 14 acquire their own papers. As you may conclude without their children’s inclusion on official documents they are restricted in travelling.
Lastly, of major concern was health care. Health care for those who have insurance is available but services are lacking. This is a general problem in Greece. Some women reported discrimination and lack of proper care because of their skin colour. Two of the women are nurses. One of them studied and trained in Greece, both found no employment in their field and were told on applying that patients might be afraid of them!
A few months ago the minister of public health sent a mandate to the hospitals requiring doctors and officials to notify authorities if an illegal immigrant sought help. They were also asked to deny services.
In conclusion, Greece has a long way to go in rendering the kind of services many of you in other European nations enjoy with your host country. We as African Women are concerned with:
1. The birthrights and registration of our children
2. Preserving our religious beliefs
3. Opportunity to use our skills and education and not the creation of a ghetto of domestic helpers.
4. The dissemination of correct information concerning our legal rights
5. The creation of day care centres for African children
Access to language programs in order to facilitate our integration into Greek society