Amir Issaa is an Italian rapper, hip-hop artist, producer,
writer, and social activist who has worked in the Italian
music industry since the late 1990s. Born and raised in
the diverse working-class neighborhood of
Torpignattara in Rome, he is the son of an Egyptian
father and an Italian mother. Issaa was one of the
founders of the Rome Zoo, a collective of rappers and
musicians that helped to define the rap scene in Italy
and launched the careers of many artists. He has won
several awards for his music, in particular for his work
on the 2012 film, Scialla!, which garnered him the David
di Donatello for best song and best soundtrack.
Issaa's work as an activist began as a reaction to his
own family's struggles; his father, an Egyptian
immigrant, was incarcerated for most of Issaa's
childhood. In 2017, Issaa published an autobiographical
novel, Vivo per questo (This is What I Live For), in which
he reflects on his formative years growing up in
Torpignattara and the prejudice and racism that he
faced. Issaa has long been an activist for immigrants'
rights, particularly those of the children of immigrants
living in Italy. More recently, Issaa has been involved in
the Italian Black Lives Matter movement and published
the song "Non respiro" ("I Can't Breathe") in response to
the murder of George Floyd. ​Register Here: https://pitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GJDIU1dFTLGApPc0uiu_RQ

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Join us on Monday, October 26, 2020 at 6:00 pm EST to discuss our featured article: Afro-Indigeneity in Latin America: Conversations of Diasporic Blackness, Allyship, & Advocacy written by Panoramas Intern, Ashley Brown. To read the article please visit: https://www.panoramas.pitt.edu/art-and-culture/afro-indigeneity-latin-am...

Article abstract: With the coming and passing of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we are tasked with continuing the celebration and advocacy for Indigenous communities that have been destroyed and deeply scarred by centuries of colonization. The diversity of identities in Latin America has resulted in the creation of new cultures, languages, and world perspectives. Two groups that embody this intersectionality are the Afro-Indigenous tribes known as the Garifuna and the Miskito people. Both communities are challenged with efforts to erasure their culture However, the growing recognition and representation of Indigenous people help combat this cycle of violence from continuing. How can our intentional consumption of knowledge and advocacy challenge the colonial paradigms that marginalize Afro-Indigenous communities?

Ashley Brown is a junior double majoring in English Writing and Spanish, minoring in Africana Studies and Creative Writing, and is pursuing certificates in both Latin American Studies and Sustainability. As an Afro-Honduran, her background influences much of her writing as she centralizes her work around the African diaspora within the Americas and the disparities faced by marginalized populations. In addition, she is the current President of the Latinx Student Association. She uses her position to educate the members of the organization, celebrate diversity both inside and outside of the university, and foster conversations that are vital to the growth and unity of the community. She will continue to use her platforms for advocacy and to shine a light on many of the systematic and societal obstacles faced by BIPOC.

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