RACE ISSUES

Introduction

The country's complicated colonial relationship and thus its combination of ethnic backgrounds-Spanish, African, and Indigenous-- has resulted in a nonhomogeneouspopulation.AndyetIhad felt like race and racism hadn’t been mentioned much in many of the other conferences we had, considering how much of an impact race can have on one’s life. Aracelis Rodriguez Malagón cameandspoketousassomeonewho has researched on Black women feminism.

She explained that Cuba, like other countries in the Caribbean, was a plantation economy, sustained by the enslavement of Afrians. In this period of colonialism,therewasneverapacificway of living; there were several organized rebellions,ledbyBlackmenandwomen, as well as rebellions through the use of literature. Unlike in North America, these colonies were allowed to keep their culture. Places in which Black people gathered for festivities and religion were also spaces for interchanging culture and educating,whichwouldbecomesocieties of Black and Mulatto persons. Printing laws of the type allowed Black women to freely express their struggles and publish theminmagazinessuchas Minerva.

Steps Forward

Studies showed that poverty indicators weremostlyinBlackmenandwomen.As a result, racial debates started emerging in congresses, and intellectuals took advantage of Fidel's attendance to publiclyexpresstheirviews.Itisessential to understand the history of racism in Cuba to address it effectively and promoteaninclusivesociety.