But, Black People Can’t Be Swiss!
But they can, and they are
Be honest, when you think of Switzerland, what comes to mind? Most probably, mountains, skiing, chocolate, cheese, and white-blond Heidis. Yes, that’s the image that most people have in their heads when they think of Switzerland. So when I, a black woman, say that I am Swiss, most people don’t believe me. They say, “But you can’t be, black people, can’t be Swiss”.
The reality is that I’ve lived here for almost all of my life, and yes, I am a proud Swiss citizen. I love this country, it is truly magnificent. From the beautiful Swiss Alps to its crystal clear blue lakes, Switzerland is a land of unparalleled beauty rarely matched anywhere else in the world. But there is ugliness here too. Some people here are hard-core racists, and that sometimes spoils everything.
So yes, I’m Swiss and I’m black. For some people, that’s an impossible combination. So whenever I travel within Switzerland, I’m always sure to have my Swiss passport on me, because many people — law enforcement included, don’t believe I am Swiss.
In Switzerland, you always need to carry a piece of identification at all times — and most Swiss carry around their credit card-sized ID card. I used to do this too, but after several unpleasant interactions with law enforcement where they questioned the authenticity of my ID card…
