Introduction
The issues facing black Americans are extensive and strenuous, with years of colonization and discrimination plaguing black communities for generations to come. These ideals take form in segregation and oppressive acts that work to keep down generations of black and brown people. Yet many times we forget or lose sight of the true expanse of slavery and the spread of afro-descendent peoples from such an act. My own family in Colombia tells me the story of racial discrimination and oppression faced by the black population in a seemingly quite diverse area of the world. With stories explaining the deeply rooted idea of casual racism and values the issues of Afro-Latinos and Latins alike many of the time may be overshadowed or thrown in with the issues facing indigenous and farming communities. With many of my own family not finishing or struggling to finish secondary schooling (GED or equivalent) I see how imperative it is to begin the discussion around the issues facing the black and afro-decedent populations in Latin and South America.
It is my belief that NGOs and developed countries should explicitly take into consideration and attention to black and afro-descent communities in the global south. Communities in the global south are disproportionately misrepresented among the needs of lower-income and poor communities in the south. Many of their issues being inserted and lumped together with the needs of indigenous and rural farming communities, which are communities that require different and more specific needs. Black and afro-descent populations reside in mostly urbanized and modern cities facing racism and discrimination in many ways that could be considered human rights violations.
With over 130 million people identifying as afro-descended in South America, it is the continent with the second highest concentration of afro-descent people in the world. Considering this, it is surprising when looking at data and statics on the disproportionate issues facing these black communities. With over 81% of Nicaragua’s black population with limited access to clean water and a mortality rate among afro-descendant women triple that of the overall maternal mortality rate, these are only a few examples of the issues facing black people in the global south (Davis, 2006). There is a strong and immediate concern to be had for the afro-descendent population in the global south to be individually considered when looking at issues concerning the developing global south and the needs of their low-income citizens. A study conducted by the UN looking at the social development of afro-decedent children in Latin America found that” In this sense and considering the population aged 15 years and over in Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay, the unemployment rate of Afro-descendants around 2016 was significantly higher than that of non-Afro descendants in all cases. The most pronounced gap was observed in Ecuador, followed by Uruguay, Panama, and Brazil. In addition, in all countries considered, unemployment rates were significantly higher among women of African descent (Abramo & Ragel,2019).” The United Nations itself acknowledges the severe economic and social issues facing black communities in Latin America yet very little of the true nature and history of what has plagued the afro-descendant population. Facing discrimination both in the workplace and while trying to enter to the workforce has caused unemployment rates higher than non-Afro descendent people there is almost a direct school-to-prison pipeline formed in Latin American countries. Black communities in Latin America are disproportionally incarcerated in Latin American countries and face severe racial discrimination from the police and the state. With protests taking formation and fire in Brazil, the country with the highest percentage of people of afro-descent, over the discrimination and oppression felt by the police state as recently as 2021 there has still been little to no change to the overwhelming issue at hand (BBC, 2021). The need for more historical and global education facing afro-descent people is imperative for not only the development of black populations in the global south but the continent.
The intersectionality of colonization and Eurocentric views has caused the belief amongst NGOs that the needs of the black community are overlapping or are not individual from the needs of indigenous or rural communities. This is not to say the needs of these other communities are similar or as severe, it is to say that the intersectionality of issues does not demand said issues require the same assistance to achieve what is considered true equity. To explain while rural and black communities may both require easy and more equal access to education, black communities would benefit from affirmative action initiatives ensuring their rights to higher education, especially for younger generations. The history and long-term effects of colonization and civil unrest have come to affect the specific need of each community. And these needs should come to be examined and combed through carefully to truly assess the proper way to assist each group’s needs. The recognition of racist and discriminatory practices or systems that have been and still are put in place is a necessary first step toward societal change. With more and more non-profits and initiatives every day the needs of the afro-decedent and black populations in the global south should be forgotten in the noise and their needs should be taken seriously.
Works Cited
Abramo, L., & Rangel, M. (2019, November 26). Children of African descent in Latin America. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.cepal.org/en/notes/children-african-descent-latin-america
BBC. (2021, May 14). Black Brazilians protest against racism and police violence. BBC News. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57112382
Davis, D. (2006). Latin America: Afro-descendants – refworld. State Of the World Miniorties. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4795b32e1f.pdf
Demographics of Nicaragua. Nicaragua.com. (2020, January 17). Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.nicaragua.com/culture/demographics/
Las Personas Afrodescendientes de América Latina viven en condiciones muy desiguales que repercuten en su salud y bienestar, según UN Estudio de La Ops. OPS/OMS | Organización Panamericana de la Salud. (2021, December 3). Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.paho.org/es/noticias/3-12-2021-personas-afrodescendientes-america-latina-viven-condiciones-muy-desiguales-que
