The Meticci in the framework of school separation between the colonizers and the colonized in Italian Eritrea

Abstract

School organization was bipartite in Eritrea throughout the Italian colonial period: schools for Italians and schools for natives. The separatist structure of colonial social life was threatened by the presence of Italian Eritreans. The Meticci created ambiguity because they were partly Italian partly African. What schools could Italian Eritreans go to? To those for Italians? To those for natives? Until 1939, the few meticci acknowledged by the Italian father had the right to attend schools for Italians. Italian Eritreans could also receive an Italian education in boarding schools run by catholic missionaries. These facilities were also open to unacknowledged meticci. During the second half of the 1930s colonial policy towards Italian Eritreans assumed a segregational character. This change took place under the influence of fascist biological racism: meticci were considered the manifestation of biological degradation since they had African blood in their veins. They therefore could not be treated as Italian: they were African. Consequently, law no. 822 of 13 May 1940 denied Italian Eritreans access to schools for Italians and banned missionary boarding schools specifically designed for outcasts. Mixed «race» people were allowed only to attend schools for natives.