“Memory is not just a bridge to the past, but a living force that can unite distant lands and different generations. To tell the stories of those who are gone is to bring them home, at least in words.”
Agnese Belardi is a literature and history teacher, writer, poet and cultural promoter of Basilicata. Founder of the Salotto Letterario Donata Doni (Donata Doni Literary Salon), for years she has dedicated herself to the enhancement of the historical and literary memory of her land, with particular attention to the stories of women and the Lucanian diaspora. Her commitment leads her to create cultural bridges between Italy and New York, strengthening the link between Lucanian communities abroad and their roots through literature and collective memory. Through her commitment, Agnese creates bridges between generations and territories, bringing out voices and traditions that are often forgotten. We interviewed her for TheNewyorker.
Agnes, tell us about your involvement in cultural promotion in Basilicata and the impact it is having on the community.
I have taught literary subjects for forty-one years, after graduating with a degree in pedagogy, a path that also led me to a position as a school leader in a social welfare institution. The years dedicated to the education of my students reinforced in me the desire to continue to promote culture beyond teaching. Having been born and raised in the south, in Lagonegro, in the province of Potenza, I often noticed and sometimes felt the weight of an entrenched patriarchy, particularly in past decades. I believed — and still believe — that women should unite to improve their condition through dialogue and culture, addressing issues that touch daily life: children, school, society. Thus the Donata Doni Literary Salon was born: a place where women could come together, share their experiences and give voice to their stories through literature and creativity. A safe space where culture becomes a tool for awareness and change. Above all, these meetings are essential to talk about and counter a dramatic and unfortunately growing phenomenon even in our region: feminicide.
The name of the Salon is dedicated to Donata Doni. Who was she and why did you decide to pay tribute to her?
The association, which now has more than 100 members, is a space of welcome, recovery and inclusion, with the goal of involving even those who usually prefer to remain in the shadows. Its name is a tribute to the Lucanian poet Santina Maccarrone, aka Donata Doni, born in Lagonegro on November 24, 1913, the first writer in our city. The encounter with her figure occurred while I was searching for women who had contributed to our cultural heritage. Through my research, I discovered not only Donata Doni’s great cultural impact, but also the courage with which she had faced an era that tended to exclude women from literature. I wanted to redeem her memory by publishing the essay Donata Doni: The Paths of a Poet’s Soul, because her story represents what I would call a “literary feminicide”: the systematic exclusion of women from the literary canon. In addition to rediscovering and enhancing Donata Doni’s legacy, I wanted to give her back the recognition she deserved: a bust in her honor was finally inaugurated in my city, and the association I had founded was named after her. It was originally called Circolo Culturale Monnalisa e Caffè Letterario, but today it has become the Salotto Letterario Donata Doni.
In your research journey have you discovered other forgotten female figures?
Yes, during my research I discovered another key figure in women’s emancipation at the time: Iolanda Baldassarri, a benefactor from Forlì. Together, Donata Doni and Iolanda Baldassarri founded the Centro Italiano Femminile (C.I.F.), an organization that even then provided recovery and assistance for people in need, including single mothers and women who were victims of violence during the war. Throughout my long career as a teacher, I have always had women figures studied, even becoming fascinated with heroines from other regions, such as the Sicilian Laura Lanza di Trabia, better known as the Baroness of Carini. These stories have always fascinated me because they share a destiny marked by violence and also because society and the Church have often relegated women to the margins, denying them space and recognition, regardless of talent or economic status. Even the wealthiest ones had their wings clipped. With the Donata Doni Salon, I want to help rewrite this history, giving a voice back to forgotten women.
What are the aims of your association and what difficulties have you faced?
In addition to presenting books and organizing cultural exhibitions, we have established an award dedicated to women, with the aim of giving voice to talents who have remained in the shadows. The award is given to women who have distinguished themselves in literature, poetry and journalism, without any political pressure. Our association is completely apolitical: our sole purpose is to promote culture and inclusion through these initiatives. We believe in peaceful, silent but incisive battles carried out through the art of literature and beyond. However, the path has not been without obstacles. Some local associations, despite having contact with the brother of the poet I was studying, refused to share research materials such as short stories or poems. They did not explicitly say no, but they avoided helping me, perhaps for fear of reopening uncomfortable discourses. When I finally published an essay on her-a text that I was not entirely satisfied with, but which I felt was important so that it would remain a written record-something unexpected happened: suddenly, everyone wanted to provide me with their materials. But by that time, I had already chosen to continue my research on my own starting with the birth certificate. In Donata Doni’s name, we talk about violence against women, especially on the international days of November 25 and March 8. In fact, we say that for us March 8 is the whole year. My efforts in this area have also been recognized by the coordination of the Pavia Women’s States General, which gave me an award for my work.
How can this cultural project create a bridge between Basilicata and the United States, particularly with New York City?
The cultural and social activities that take place in Donata Doni’s name are not limited to Italian borders: through literature, a bridge is created between Basilicata and the United States, particularly with New York, where many of our compatriots live. In my association, I have awarded several Lucanians who have moved to New York, recognizing the value of their contribution to the community. They brought with them the culture and traditions of our land, enriching the New York reality with their talent and commitment. This gave rise to the idea of strengthening this link, creating a bridge between Lucanians and New York. This could also be a way to involve our region in supporting our compatriots who wish to return often but, for economic reasons, cannot always afford to do so. Some manage to return to Italy, others do not, but culture allows them to keep alive the link with their roots, offering the possibility of rediscovering an often little-known Lucanian literary tradition. Unfortunately, in Italian school curricula we more easily find authors from other regions, while the cultural richness of Basilicata deserves to be enhanced. Literature, therefore, becomes a tool to make overseas Lucanians feel closer, especially those who cannot often return to their homeland. In particular, the town of Lagonegro holds fascinating stories, such as the one linked to the Mona Lisa: it is said that in 1507 Mona Lisa passed right through here, accompanied by her husband Ser Francesco, a leather merchant headed for Calabria. This episode, mentioned by Russian historian Dmitry Merežkovsky in 1901, is also remembered by a plaque in the village. It is through these stories-women, culture and collective memory-that I want to continue to spread the knowledge of our territory, strengthening that link between past and present, but also between distant lands such as between Basilicata and the United States, between those who stayed and those who left.
The article Agnese Belardi: Lucanian memory between Italy and the United States comes from TheNewyorker.
