African Diasporas in Latin America Essay

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Introduction

Afro-Peruvians’ main challenge is their nation’s economic stagnation, as these people have only slightly recovered from years of historical injustice expressed in racism and slavery. The voice of Afro-Peruvians is extremely weakly expressed in the political and social space – in particular, the majority of representatives of this ethnic group are not able to receive basic medical care. Afro-Peruvians have a distinct identity, which is however ignored by the state administration and does not receive official recognition.

Afro-Haitians

The African stratum of the Haitian population is very large and accounts for up to 90% of the island’s population. The Afro-Haitian identity is hybrid and borrows from both Nigerian and French traditions, which is also a legacy of colonization (De la Fuente and Reid 28). Afro-Haitian culture is associated with practices such as Vodou, a religious anti-Catholic cult that has similarities with some other black indigenous denominations. Haitians’ national identity is much more widely recognized in their homeland than it is the case with the other Afro-Latin nations, for example, Afro-Mexicans.

Afro-Mexicans

Afro-Mexicans represent only one-hundredth of the country’s population, yet they fight against invisibility to express a national identity, which proves to be these people’s main challenge. African carnival and festival culture are one of the most effective ways to draw attention to national underrepresentation. Afro-Mexicans honor the slave history of their diaspora, going back to the 19th century with a treatise on the abolition of the racial caste system.

Afro-Dominicans

In Latin America, there is a widespread prejudice about the inferiority of the black race over whites, which is why people with an African phenotype are discriminated against. Dominican dictators persecuted Africans and Haitians throughout the 20th century (Travel Documentary Films HD). It is only in the 21st century that the anti-xenophobic campaigns, supported by the political regime, have intensified to reverse the horrific experience of genocide experienced by the Haitian and Afro-Dominican populations in the past century. Living through a centennial trauma proves to be a challenge for Afro-Dominicans, as for most of the diasporas mentioned in the essay.

Conclusion

Compared to African Americans, these peoples are significantly less represented in Western culture. The processing of the collective folk trauma left over from discrimination and slavery takes place in a much less dynamic way than in America. However, each of the diasporas demonstrates a strong cultural identity and knowledge of the history of combating harassment.

Works Cited

“Black In Latin America (Episode 1) Haiti and The Dominican Republic- The Roots of Division.” YouTube, uploaded by Travel Documentary Films HD, 2016.

De la Fuente, Alejandro, and George Reid Andrews, editors. Afro-Latin American Studies: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 2018.

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IvyPanda. (2023, June 8). African Diasporas in Latin America. https://ivypanda.com/essays/african-diasporas-in-latin-america/

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IvyPanda. (2023) 'African Diasporas in Latin America'. 8 June.

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IvyPanda. 2023. "African Diasporas in Latin America." June 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/african-diasporas-in-latin-america/.

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