They're often rejected, sometimes accepted but mostly misunderstood. Their unique ethnic diversity is usually relegated and dismissed according to their skin color, facial features, and the many assumptions made about them. They are Afro-Latinos, also referred to as Black-Latinos. This diverse ethnic group heavily dominates the Americas as their history is steeped in the abominable actions of slavery, forced assimilation into the New World, and the legacy of struggle in which they live today.
Today Afro-Latinos still experience extensive racism and societal roadblocks throughout Latin America very similar to what blacks in North America have experienced and continue to experience to a lesser degree. They must still answer the question of whether a person can truly be a Black-Latino, and they are often perceived as somehow denying their blackness by also claiming Latino status.
The History of Afro-Latinos
It is estimated that approximately 12-15 million slaves were violently taken from their homeland in Africa and forced to work in bondage in the Western hemisphere. It is estimated that only 5% of these slaves were sent into North America while the remaining 95% were dispersed across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The slave trade was indeed big business as it fertilized the soils of the Caribbean, Latin and North America. Typically the first stop from Africa was the Caribbean where slaves boosted productivity on plantations and the agrarian economy. The "success" of the slave trade in the Caribbean was the basis for its expansion into Latin America. In fact, the country of Brazil accounted for at least 46% of all slaves brought over from Africa.
By the mid-1600's, African communities had been established throughout most of Latin America with the majority in the Caribbean islands, the Atlantic coasts of Central America, Colombia and Venezuela, and the Pacific Coast of South America, with a vast number in Brazil.
The Struggles of Afro-Latinos
Today it is estimated that 80-150 million people of African descent live in Latin America, but such large numbers does not necessarily result in fair or equitable treatment. Traditionally people of African descent throughout most of Latin America have been kept out of economic, educational, and political opportunities.
In fact, they have often been victims of intense racial hostility and often targeted unjustifiably by police. Lighter skinned Latinos receive preferential treatment and corporate advertising and television is geared towards and dominated by the lighter skinned community. In fact, the struggle of Afro-Latinos is nearly identical to the struggles of African Americans who endured the apartheid of Jim Crow laws after the end of slavery and today still experience the lingering effects of racism and discrimination.
According to researcher, Peter Oakley, during a 2001 study of Afro-Latinos, "Racial harassment and the discrimination… characterize the lives of most Afro-Latinos. For example, over 70% of the victims of Rio de Janeiro's police are black and the average black person's wage in Brazil is less than that of a white person.
One thing of which there is no doubt is that the vast majority of Afro-Latinos are
among the poorest of the region. The social, economic and political profiles of
most of the Latin American Republics attest to the lack of access of Afro-Latinos to the highest echelons of their societies."
In addition Afro-Latinos have historically been mostly excluded from political power which only exacerbates the problem. During the 1990's, African communities began to slowly organize and to push for acknowledgement of racial problems and to push for greater social opportunities as a remedy.
In 1998, twenty-two Afro-Latin American and Caribbean Organizations gathered to address the dire social needs of Afro-Latinos. They called upon governments of the region to gather accurate data and information on the social and economic status of peoples of African descent in the region. Such data would be used as a "frame of reference" to begin addressing the "racist and neo-colonist mentalities that still persist," added Oakley.
The Inter-American Dialogue, headquartered in Washington, DC, publishes extensive reports critically studying the social conditions of people of African descent in the Americas. In 2003, the organization published a Race Report studying the Latin American region and the results of the studies are staggering.
Below are the total country populations and the estimated percentage of citizens of African descent.
Dominican Republic 9 million 84%
Cuba 11 million 62%
Brazil 170 million 45%
Colombia 40 million 26%
Panama 3 million 14%
Venezuela 23 million 10%
Ecuador 12 million 10%
Nicaragua 5 million 9%
Peru 27 million 5%
Source: Inter-American Dialogue Race Report, January 2003
These numbers may be even higher as some African communities were reluctant to become a part of the census data to address the needs of inequality. The Race Report also found that the following countries did not have any anti-discrimination laws that targeted people of African descent.
Countries Without Anti-Discrimination Laws Targeting People of African Descent
Bolivia
Chile
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Panama
Paraguay
Uruguay
The Race Report stated that although "The constitutions of all countries in the
region guarantee equality for their citizens…these universal policies have not
been effective in addressing the problem of racial inequality. Almost all countries in
Latin America and the Caribbean have signed the UN's 1965 international Convention
on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), yet the actual implementation of the convention has been sporadic over the last 40 years and the degree of success has varied."
Some countries like Brazil, Peru, and Honduras have created government agencies to promote racial equality, but none of these agencies have any legal authority, enforcement power or resources to track and monitor racial discrimination and inequality.
Finally, the Race Report concluded the following: "Racial discrimination permeates institutions and social practices across the region; however, no country in Latin America has laws promoting segregation or other forms of discrimination. Indeed, most constitutionally recognize the rights of Afro-descendants and other groups. Still, people of African descent rarely enjoy full protection of their rights.
They lack political representation and equal opportunity. Even specific laws and other legal protections are poorly enforced. Nonetheless, a strong legal framework provides an essential foundation for ending discrimination and achieving racial equality."
Black-Latinos in the United States
The migration north from Latin American and Caribbean nations into the United States is a path well traveled. The potential for greater opportunities has been the lure for many. Over 200,000 Black Latinos live in New York City alone.
According to the 2000 US Census Bureau, about 2% of Hispanic respondents identified themselves as being "black" compared to just over half who identified as "white" and a sizeable 42.5% who identified "some other race."
Although the numbers initially appear to be relatively small, over time more citizens may begin to ethnically identify as Black-Hispanic on census data collections. However, life in the United States for Black Latinos with all of its opportunities isn't exactly "easy street" either.
Although Black-Latinos in the United States have greater economic and education opportunities, they still encounter economic, cultural and ethnic conflicts. According to a study by the State University of New York at Albany ,"How Race Counts for Hispanic Americans," Hispanics who define themselves as "black" have lower incomes and are more likely to reside in segregated neighborhoods than those who identify themselves as "white" or "other."
In addition, Black Latinos are often accused of denying their blackness by also claiming their Latino status. Those with darker skin color immediately are perceived as African-American or Black without any thought to their possible Latino heritage. For those who are further generations removed from their Afro-Latino ancestry and born and raised in the US, they are viewed almost exclusively as black.
Then of course there is the light versus dark skin syndrome that Latinos also face. "Fair skin is preferred over darker skin within the Latino culture" Connie Taylor said in an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "It affects everything from job opportunities to romantic relationships." When marrying, for instance, Taylor said, "you've done well" when you've wed someone lighter than yourself. Sadly, skin color, texture of hair, and facial features are the determining factors behind much societal inclusion and exclusion.
Black and Panamanian
Meredith Moise of Baltimore views her cultural identity acutely. "I have ugly stuff from both sides. Black Americans will say nasty things about Latinos or just about any immigrant group. I have heard stuff like 'goya bean' and negative comments like that."
Meredith's father is from Panama and her mother was born in Pennsylvania. Meredith was born and raised in New York City and identifies as a Black Latina. "For some reason, many Black Americans don't think Black people live outside of the US. On the Latino side, a lot of times when I speak Spanish, many of the more metizo or indian looking Latinos will look at me cross-eyed. When I tell them I am Panamanian, they loosen up a bit and smile because then they don't consider me 'Black'. Then we are able to strike up a conversation and smile a bit together."
Although she has encountered cultural differences on both sides, she has learned to embrace the totality of who she is. "I consider Blackness the foundation. Before all the ethnic stuff, I am Black. I see my life through the prism of my Blackness as a pan-African view. I do find difference with Black Americans, especially in terms of religion.
Because I am not from the Black American church tradition, I am not familiar with well known hymns and the like. This has amazed many of my Black American friends and we have a laugh about it. But on a whole, I find more things in common with Black Americans than differences."
Black and Puerto Rican
Hank Milbourne is a father of two who lives in Detroit, MI. For him, dual ethnicity was one that he grew in and out of depending upon his environment. "I sometimes have felt more Black/African American than Puerto Rican depending on where I was at the time or where I was living. For many years I was rather quiet about my Puerto Rican heritage unless I was 'round other Puerto Ricans. I have on few occasions had people insinuate that I wasn't really Black or not Black enough because I was also Puerto Rican."
But today Hank embraces his total diversity with no need for explanation or hesitancy. "Now, I celebrate all of me, both the Black and Puerto Rican parts of me in term of holidays, how I speak, how I acknowledge and greet others, the foods I eat etc.. I am very much involved in both the Puerto Rican festival here in Detroit as well as the annual Black pride event for same gender attracted persons."
He also encourages his two sons to understand and embrace cultural diversity as well. "I have exposed both of them to the diversity which is our cultural heritage through participation in culturally specific events, talking about the wonderful mix of being Black and Puerto Rican."
The Future of Afro and Black Latinos
As more cultural dialogue continues to interject itself into the fabric of the Americas, more attention and hopefully more remedies will be presented to aid the vastly impoverished Afro-Latino population of Latin America and Caribbean region as well as the struggling Black-Latino communities of the US.
When Afro-Latinos are able to embrace the totality of who they are without ridicule or societal impediments, only then will the rest of us be privileged to understand who they really are and experience the creativity generated from their newly found sense of self-worth.
Some parts accurate and others, like the claim of a US type apartheid patently false.
Actually, it's not too inaccurate for certain Latin American countries. The key word is "like." The oppressive nature of treatment of Afro-Latinos in Colombia or Cuba can't be dismissed. Laws or custom existed in those countries to brutally keep blacks in their place. While the One Drop Rule didn't exist, there was still discrimination against some mixed people. For instance, there is the story about exiled Cuban president Batista not being able to visit certain country clubs because of his being mulatto. Or decades before the revolution, there was the states sponsored slaughter of Afro-Cubans because of fears of revolt.
Joined: 04 May 2005 {Posts: 2021 } Location: santiago, chile
Posted: Tue 05 Dec 2006 16:16 Post subject: Laws
triguy wrote:
...
Actually, it's not too inaccurate for certain Latin American countries. The key word is "like." The oppressive nature of treatment of Afro-Latinos in Colombia or Cuba can't be dismissed. Laws or custom existed in those countries to brutally keep blacks in their place. While the One Drop Rule didn't exist, there was still discrimination against some mixed people. For instance, there is the story about exiled Cuban president Batista not being able to visit certain country clubs because of his being mulatto. Or decades before the revolution, there was the states sponsored slaughter of Afro-Cubans because of fears of revolt.
Agree!
But people should not forget the percentage of Black population varies quite a lot. These are the countries with the largest percentages of Black and Mulatto populations in Latin America. The percentages are misleading, though:
Dominican Republic 9 million 84% (Mulattoes+Blacks)
Cuba 11 million 62% (Mulattoes+Blacks)
Brazil 170 million 45% (non-whites:Mullatoes+Mestizos+Zamboe+Blacks+Indians)
Colombia 40 million 26% (Mulattoes+Zamboes+Blacks)
Panama 3 million 14% (Mulattoes+Blacks)
Venezuela 23 million 10% (Mulattoes+Zamboes+Blacks)
Ecuador 12 million 10% (Mulattoes+Zamboes+Blacks)
Nicaragua 5 million 9% (Mulattoes+Zamboes+Blacks)
Peru 27 million 5% (Mulattoes+Zamboes+Blacks)
(Source: Inter-American Dialogue Race Report, January 2003 )
Most other countries has quite fewer percentages and the Black population is absent.
Now, the problems are worst precisely in those countries that lack Black populations. The agressions against foreign Black people that have tried to go there to live exists and are a reality. Those have been detected in many countries and regions were Black people does not form part of the population. In certain parts of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina or even Chile, a Black person could be in risk of beeing attacked by criminals. And most of the people that have suffered those agressions are Black Latinos refugees or tourists.
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