Negro, Negrita, Morena: What is it Like to Be Black in Spain?

Hello Meltingpot Readers,


I need your help. I'm working on a lecture for a university audience about being Black in Spain. Much of the discussion will be about my own experience living in Salamanca, traveling around the country, and of course, visiting my in-laws in Andalucia. I will also discuss my findings of African slaves in the Iberian peninsula. But every time I give this talk, I feel like I'm doing a bit of a disservice.

How can I, one person, speak for the totality of the Black experience in Spain? Obviously, I can not. And I don't pretend to, and yet, invariably people want to take what I say and claim it is The Truth. It is only my Truth. So, I'm asking you today, dear readers, to chime in with your own experiences. If you happen to be Black or Brown, and have travelled to Spain, either recently or many years ago, would you mind telling me in a word or two how was your experience? How were you treated? Did you feel the love or did you feel unwanted? Did you fall in love with the culture? Why or why not? Compared to your experiences traveling to other countries, where does Spain fit?

Clearly, I'm not looking for one answer, I'd just like to pepper my talk with the variety of experiences that I know people have had. Everything helps. Thanks for sharing. And in the meantime, if you'd like to read about the Black experience in Spain, besides my experience, here are some websites and blogs that might be of interest.

Afro-Europe: Black Women in Spain Today
Being Black in Spain: A Current Student's Perspective

And below, check out the video from BlackAtlas.com about Madrid.

Hasta Pronto!

To Dance in Cuba

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

I stumbled on this documentary last night about legendary Cuban dancer and choreographer, Pedro Ruiz. The film is called "Coming Home : Pedro Ruiz" and details Ruiz's return to his native Cuba to choreograph a new dance. I just loved seeing the beautiful dancers, hearing Ruiz's story and, of course, getting a glimpse into Cuban culture which is at once both so African and Spanish. You know, totally Kinky Gazpacho.

Watch the full episode. See more THIRTEEN Specials.

Did anybody else watch the film? I'm sure it will replay again on PBS soon so check your local listings or view it online. So totally worth it. Now I really want to go to Cuba. Anybody been recently? Tell us about it.

I'm listening.

Peace!

Black Women in Barcelona

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Just a link today, but I had to share. So close to my heart. If I moved to Barcelona ( a secret dream of mine), I'd beg to join this group. Check it out.



Where's your dream location to live? Would you do it? What's stopping you?

Peace and Sweet Baby Feet!

Meltingpot Musings -- The Language of Belize

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Recently I had a passing conversation with a beautiful man from Belize named Armando. I'll probably never see him again, but something he said captured my imagination. He told me, speaking with a slight accent, that the languages of Belize were, English, Spanish, Creole and Mayan. I always thought Belize was only an English speaking country, the only English speaking country in Central America, in fact. Honestly, I don't know that much about Belize, but when I lived in New York City I met quite a few expats from the country and they all spoke English exclusively. They often joked that people expected them to speak Spanish and they always had to disappoint.

Armando changed that perception for me. When chatting in Spanish, his accent sounded native even though his fluency was a little dicey. But still.

Tell me Meltingpot readers, what do you know about the language of Belize? I'd like to know more. Especially about the creole. I've always wondered if a Spanish/African/English creole language existed and if so, where.

I'm listening.

Peace!

Black in Latin America -- Coming Soon to a PBS Station Near You!

Meltingpot Readers,

How psyched is my little Kinky Gazpacho heart to see this new PBS documentary, Black in Latin America. It's another Skip Gates production where the great Harvard professor takes audiences on a trip through Latin America, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic in order to highlight and explore the African influence in those countries. Just watching the preview, I learned so much. But don't take my word for it, check out the video trailer below and then tune in to your local PBS stations on April 19.

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Peace!

From Afro-Spanish to Afro-Mexican

Because I love a good Kinky Gazpacho story in any format, a friend sent me a link to this article about the plight of the Afro-Mexican population in Mexico. It's an interesting piece with some great photos.

Overall, the story points to the lack of awareness the whole world has of Mexicans of African descent and their subsequent impoverished existence in Mexico. Be honest, did you know there were Black Mexicans? If you are a regular reader of this blog, you do because I wrote about a photography exhibit that documented their lives a few years back. But even I admit, one doesn't hear a whole lot or see Black Mexicans in the media --at least in the US media. Anybody know different in Latin America. Is there any part of the world where Black Mexicans are getting love?

I'm listening.

Peace.