Afro-suomen historia

[RA]

Part 1 (out of 3) of this documentary came up on Yle Teema last week. Was really interesting I thought. I was actually really surprised that all the way back in the 1800s a lady from Botswana became a teacher in Tampere, wow! Can't wait for the next two parts of it. Anyone else catch it?

[EP]

I saw it today (renewal), missed it last week. Really interesting. There is also a big article about this Rosa in todays Hesari.

[RA]

Oh really? I should try and get a hold of that paper then.

[EP]

Do, it has more info about her than the TV programme told. She really had a colourful life. First childhood in what then was called Ambomaa (Amboland, nowadays Namibia). Daughter of African/Arab mother and an English father. Then trip to Finland and years as a showcase in various religious events, and not a penny for salary. Then she became a teacher. Then she got engaged with a well-to-do doctor, who soon died because he did what doctors in those days did: tested new medicines on himself. Then she moved to US to a Finnish-American community, married a Finnish socialist, got two children, divorced. She was an active member of Finnish-American community all her life arranging and directing plays, acting herself, leading choirs, teaching Finnish, and so on. She died in a Finnish-American old people´s home.

[RA]

I get it tomorrow . Yes and you're right Namibia not Botswana In the documentary they said she was schooled in Kuopio a bit - I wonder in which school. The olympic medalist from the states.. I forget his name now.. was nice the way he was amazed that white ladies were cleaning after everyone, even the blacks
I can imagine how difficult it must have been here in times gone. My mother was here in the 70s of course and my aunt still talks how the people would come to look at the 'n' skiing . And the way my mom tells it, it was very difficult for her to go about with us kids without people stopping to comment and wanting to touch the curly locks, so the whole family emigrated.

[Pursuivant]

Here's the story of Rosa from the HS Int'Ed.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Rosa+F ... 5252418603

[RA]

Thanks a bunch Hank!

[onkko]

Second part came in friday and those are available in areena

[Pursuivant]

Damn areena is more congested that Helsinki traffic...

[EP]

Sunday renewal today 14.50.

[onkko]

Last part is in areena.

[FinnGuyHelsinki]

Part of the cases as such were quite interesting, but the series would have been more aptly titled as 'Menestyneiden afro-suomalaisten historia', it was very one-sided as to what kind of people were presented and interviewed. Granted, ones having been in the public eye in some way have been easier to track and make a more interesting case, but it paints a false picture as a whole.

[EP]

It was named "history". And those were just about the only African origin people here in those times.

[FinnGuyHelsinki]

It was named "history". And those were just about the only African origin people here in those times.

"Those times", you mean up till the 80s? Certainly there weren't as many as now but come on, it was like "Recent history of the British people" with Montgomery, Thatcher and John Cleese portrayed as examples, almost completely ignoring the regular folk within the group (which obviously were a majority).

[EP]

Well, there was one African American at Helsinki university in early 1970´s. Otherwise I cannot think of anybody but Billy Carson. And then there was an African exhange student at TKK when I lived in Otaniemi. He became Kaisla Löyttyjärvi´s father. There were no "regular folk".