Are Albanians white? A thread:

Let’s go back to the basic: what is race?

Race is a socio-historical construct. You cannot be biologically or genetically any race. Racial meaning constantly shifts with time and location.

Whiteness is a racial concept that comes from Western European imperialism and colonialism. As Europeans expanded into Asia, Africa and the Americas they came in contact with people who looked very different from them.

In the United States and Western Europe the white/nonwhite color line is institutionalized. Physically passing as white is beneficial.

Even though Albanians are not historically complicit in the oppression of POC, in America their whiteness allows them to benefit from this historical oppression that is embedded in American institutions.

This does not mean Albanians do not struggle. But having access to whiteness makes things easier.

In Europe it is a bit more complicated. Balkanist/orientalist attitudes towards southeastern Europeans means that Albanians in Europe are treated differently than their Western European counterparts.

Balkan folks in Western Europe are seen as white, but not fully white. This is why they still experience racism.

Nonetheless, they are still white. They do not experience Western European society the way a POC immigrant would.

In the Balkans it get even more complicated. Here it’s important to note that race is relational.

On one hand Albanians experience racism in certain countries like Serbia and Greece

On the other hand, within Albania and Kosovo, Roma experience racism.

Racial constructs in the Balkans include the white/nonwhite color line. But there are also other historically informed racial constructs.

These racial constructs inform systemic discrimination and police brutality against Albanians outside of Albania/Kosovo. It informed colonization, forced migration and ethnic cleansing of Albanians.

We can acknowledge Albanians are white while also acknowledging the racism and systemic violence they’ve faced in the Balkans.

Albanians experience with oppression should encourage them to ally with other oppressed groups and build solidarity.

This will require rooting out racism with the Albanian community. It also involves educating others about Albanian history. Building connections between different histories of oppression.

Anyhow this is my working theory.