Civil Rights Movement Marches on in Mexico

Time Magazine posted an article outlining the plight of Afro-Mexicans. Time writes:

Mirroring Mexico’s history itself, most of Yanga’s Afro-Mexican population has been pushed to neighboring rural villages that are notable primarily for their deep poverty and the strikingly dark skin of their inhabitants. Mexico’s independence from Spain and new focus on building a national identity on the idea of mestizaje, or mixed race, drove African Mexicans into invisibility as leaders chose not to count them or assess their needs. Now many blacks want to fight back by improving the shoddy education and social services available to them and are petitioning for the constitution to recognize Afro-Mexicans as a separate ethnic group worthy of special consideration.

Excellent timing as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

(Afro) Hispanic Heritage Month

No, Black History Month has not been moved.  It’s still in February.

September 15th – October 15th celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.

Why should this be of interest to African Americans?  Because the African diaspora spreads throughout the Western Hemisphere from the Canada to Chile. We just got dropped off at different slave ports throughout the hemisphere.  Afro-Latinos may have different histories and assume different identities.  But our origins are the same.

• In Brazil, the last country in Latin America to abolish slavery,  more than 45% of the population identify themselves as Afro-Brazilians.
• In Colombia, 20% or more of the population actively recognize their African ancestry and identify as Afro-Colombians.
• In Venezuela, close to 20% identify their African ancestry and Afro-Cubans account for more than 30% of the population.

The list goes on throughout Latin America with majority Afro-Latino populations in the Dominican Republic.

Celebramos!