Sopravvivenze degli stereotipi razziali nei sussidi parascolastici nel secondo dopoguerra: l’enciclopedia “Vita Meravigliosa” (1953)

Abstract

Abstract – The author aims to analyze the uses of the word “race” in parascholastic tools after the Second World War. He focuses on the encyclopedia “Vita Meravigliosa”, which was published from 1953 under the direction of Roberto Renzi, Gino Conte and Carlo Porta and had several editions in the following years. “Vita Meravigliosa” was an example of the tools that complemented school materials and increased the spread of stereotypes on racial alterity. As a consequence, these parascholastic materials contributed to the development of national colonial imagery. The author argues that the evidence of racial issues in this source shows that Italian national identity incorporated elements of racial identity as crucial parts that persisted after the abolition of racial laws and the loss of colonies with the Treaty of Paris in 1947.