American Stephen Wyatt has been living in Malta for a year and has regularly been at the receiving end of racist attacks. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Racist attacks aimed at black people have become so frequent that American businessman Stephen Wyatt has resorted to staying at home to avoid being harassed.

Initially drawn to what he described as a “favourable business environment”, Mr Wyatt had decided to relocate here from Germany after hearing about the people of Malta being kind-natured.

He believed it would be the perfect place to raise a family and run his business.

Now he calls it the most racist place he has ever visited.

He moved to Malta with his wife Aigul and 18-month-old son in January last year but a few months later found he would often be at the receiving end of verbal and physical attacks because of his skin colour.

“They start off by staring at me, then they tell me to go back to Africa, which actually makes no sense since I’m from America.

“Before you know it, a group of non-black people are rallying themselves against me,” 57-year-old Mr Wyatt said.

He decided to come forward with his story after reports last month about an anonymous racist letter received by journalist Victor Vella, who has adopted two black children, and a claim by human rights lawyer Neil Falzon that he regularly deals with cases of racial attacks.

An engineer by profession, Mr Wyatt offers consultation and marketing strategies on implementing green energy technology.

The island is, by far, the most racist place I have ever visited

Mr Wyatt said he could not even shop for groceries without overhearing negative comments about his skin colour or race. As a result, he had recently resorted to buying food in bulk to avoid trips to the supermarket.

While he has only been in Malta for a little over a year, Mr Wyatt believes the situation has become worse in recent months.

He recently even filed a police report following an attack on him at a fast-food restaurant in Fgura, but has not heard anything from the police since.

“I’m at a point where I prefer staying at home than going out and interacting with the community here. My wife goes out to places, I don’t. I stay here so that I’m not bothered.”

Ms Wyatt, a Kazakh, said it was painful for her to see her husband being treated in such a way, especially since she is as much a foreigner as he is. But since she is not black, she does not get harassed in the same way.

The older generation seemed to be more hostile, Mr Wyatt said, although the younger generation also did, on occasion, act in a similar way.

“What goes through a person’s mind that makes them think they have the right to approach me, or anyone, in any way they want to, just because of our skin colour?”

He believes racism in Malta is being fuelled by fear from long-standing stereotypes and a sense of superiority.

“When I’m walking down the street or I’m somewhere by myself, and they see me, you can see the shock on people’s faces. Women stop walking and if they have a purse, I see them clutching it tight.”

Mr Wyatt, who has lived in America, the UK, Germany and Hungary before coming to Malta and has visited over 70 countries, said the island was, by far, the most racist place he had ever visited.

While he planned to leave the island as soon as possible, he hoped that by sharing his experience he would help raise awareness and help others who are in a similar position.

“If you talk to any black person here, they would tell you the same story. If people in Malta want to live up to their reputation of being such a great nation, there is a lot that still has to be done.”