By Kaitlyn Davie
December 5, 2014
What is means to be Afro-Mexican
The literal meaning of mestizaje can be read as the mixing of races. If you were to ask a native Mexican what races were mixed in the creation of Mexico, they would most likely reply, "Spaniard or European, and the Indigenous Mexican". Completely ignoring the fact that for hundreds of years African slaves had been shiped into the country and mixing with indigenous and European blood lines as well. In the Mexican culture, dark skin is seen as being a flaw, And as a result the Arican bloodline is usually looked down upon, denied, or discuised.
In his article on the esistance of the Afro-Mexican, James A. Barker states,
"The black presence in Mexico was essentially written out of history after the war for independence and during the revolution, with the government only classifying people as white, Indian or mestizo" (Baker).
With the creation of the casta system it was very easy for a people of mixed races to simply classify themselves as a mestizo, and not clarify as to which races they were mixed with. And as the generations have progressed, many Mexicans heritage has been lost in a long line of denial. Because the Mexican race is oftem one of median pigmentation naturally, it is very easy to play darker skin off as merely being ,from a part of Mexico where peoples skin are darker. Instead of the more probable truth being that the reason that region of mexico has darker skin is because a large group of African slaves had immigrated there.The Mexican culture, among many other cultures, correates light skin and eyes with beauty and wealth, and dark skin and kinky hair with ugliness and poverty (Baker).
Alexis Okeowo made a shocking revelation as she visited the port city of Verecruz, famous for its handling of hundreds of thousands of African slaves in the past. In her article describing her experience, she noted that it was not a pleasant one, being of African descent herself she stated that she received many unpleaseant stares. She goes on to discuss the struggle Afro-Mexicans are going through to recieve recognition and equal rights in the Mexican Legal system.
Struggling to gain recognition is a problem for modern Afro-Mexican but, they do have some. In her article titled Mexico's Hidden Blacks, Alicia states, "In response to activist pressure, Mexico's government released a study at the end of 2008 that confirmed that Afro-Mexicans suffer from institutional racism" (Okeowo). A government statement of the regognition is also a form of recognition to the ethnic group itself. With many people worldwide, naive to the presence of African Mexicans Mexico it could be awhile befor Afro-Mexican become one of the 56 other nationaly recognized ethnic groups in Mexico (Okeowo).
To be African Mexican in Mexico is to be home but not at home. The Mexican community refuses to recognize the contributions of The Afro-mexicans in history, and so they are locked out of the country hey have and dont know the country they had.
It is not that Mexico does not have racism, it is that they believe they are being prejudice t0 a "dark" mexican instead of an Afro-Mexican.
Reference:
Baker, James A. "Why Questioning the Existence of Afro-Mexicans Is Problematic." Web log post. Http://blog.chron.com/. Rice University, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2014.
Okeowo, Alicia. "MEXICO'S HIDDEN BLACKS." More Intelligent Life. Intelligent Life, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/places/alexis-okeowo/black-mexicans>.
December 5, 2014
What is means to be Afro-Mexican
The literal meaning of mestizaje can be read as the mixing of races. If you were to ask a native Mexican what races were mixed in the creation of Mexico, they would most likely reply, "Spaniard or European, and the Indigenous Mexican". Completely ignoring the fact that for hundreds of years African slaves had been shiped into the country and mixing with indigenous and European blood lines as well. In the Mexican culture, dark skin is seen as being a flaw, And as a result the Arican bloodline is usually looked down upon, denied, or discuised.
In his article on the esistance of the Afro-Mexican, James A. Barker states,
"The black presence in Mexico was essentially written out of history after the war for independence and during the revolution, with the government only classifying people as white, Indian or mestizo" (Baker).
With the creation of the casta system it was very easy for a people of mixed races to simply classify themselves as a mestizo, and not clarify as to which races they were mixed with. And as the generations have progressed, many Mexicans heritage has been lost in a long line of denial. Because the Mexican race is oftem one of median pigmentation naturally, it is very easy to play darker skin off as merely being ,from a part of Mexico where peoples skin are darker. Instead of the more probable truth being that the reason that region of mexico has darker skin is because a large group of African slaves had immigrated there.The Mexican culture, among many other cultures, correates light skin and eyes with beauty and wealth, and dark skin and kinky hair with ugliness and poverty (Baker).
Alexis Okeowo made a shocking revelation as she visited the port city of Verecruz, famous for its handling of hundreds of thousands of African slaves in the past. In her article describing her experience, she noted that it was not a pleasant one, being of African descent herself she stated that she received many unpleaseant stares. She goes on to discuss the struggle Afro-Mexicans are going through to recieve recognition and equal rights in the Mexican Legal system.
Struggling to gain recognition is a problem for modern Afro-Mexican but, they do have some. In her article titled Mexico's Hidden Blacks, Alicia states, "In response to activist pressure, Mexico's government released a study at the end of 2008 that confirmed that Afro-Mexicans suffer from institutional racism" (Okeowo). A government statement of the regognition is also a form of recognition to the ethnic group itself. With many people worldwide, naive to the presence of African Mexicans Mexico it could be awhile befor Afro-Mexican become one of the 56 other nationaly recognized ethnic groups in Mexico (Okeowo).
To be African Mexican in Mexico is to be home but not at home. The Mexican community refuses to recognize the contributions of The Afro-mexicans in history, and so they are locked out of the country hey have and dont know the country they had.
It is not that Mexico does not have racism, it is that they believe they are being prejudice t0 a "dark" mexican instead of an Afro-Mexican.
Reference:
Baker, James A. "Why Questioning the Existence of Afro-Mexicans Is Problematic." Web log post. Http://blog.chron.com/. Rice University, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2014.
Okeowo, Alicia. "MEXICO'S HIDDEN BLACKS." More Intelligent Life. Intelligent Life, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/places/alexis-okeowo/black-mexicans>.