Being black in Spain is different from being black in the UK, France or The Netherlands. In an interesting article five black people from Spain share their experience about living in Spain (short translation). You can read the full article (in French) on the blog Noirs d'Amérique Latine
Among the interviewed is television reporter LucÃa Asué Mbomio. In the video for the website Live unchained she talks about her her documentary and about being black in Spain.
Short translation
Marcia Santacruz is chocolate coloured. Black like her father and her mother. Black as her grandparents. But apparently, in Spain, clothing, education and money determine the level of melanin. They nuance skin tone. The Afro-Colombian, who came to Madrid to complete a Masters in Public Administration, said: "In the Spanish mind Black is synonymous to domestic work, poverty and lawlessness. In their subconsciousness, they can’t believe that there can be a Black latina who speaks about Sartre.
Spain is not an openly racist country. There is no xenophobic party with parliamentary representation. The country does not represent a clear rejection of Black people, except for marginal extreme right groups. But there is subtle everyday racism, manifested in the way home. It is installed in the eye. You find it in the classic statement: "I am not racist, but ..." Or it’s the shop salesman who rushes to serve a black person, just so that person can leave the shop quickly. It’s racism in a country where blacks have gone from singular exotic elements, to being put all in the same bag, which is perceived with some concern: immigrants.
Update: A trailer of the documentary 'Can We Take Off the Blindfold? ' by Virginia Bright
Here, there is neither Barack Obama or Oprah Winfrey. There are not many symbols of success. The Black presence is recent, an explosion which occurred in the late nineties.
Spain has about 683,000 African descent. 1.5% of the population, just over 10% of foreigners according to the High Council of Black Communities (Alto Consejo de las Comunidades Negras). This exponential growth is most striking: in 1998 they were no more than 77,000. And just last year, about 7,500 descendants of Africans were born in the Spanish territory.
According to the association that advocates the visibility of the black community, these figures are approximate. First, they counted the foreigners residing in Spain from countries with Black people, and mixed the result with the percentage of African descendants from these countries. These figures have a margin of error. Unfortunately we have no ethnic census, the racial difference does not appear on the national identity card. But the quantification of a minority can be seen through another lens, especially if the initiative comes from the minority itself.
There are data that say: "We are a growing community. We are here. Take us into consideration."
For there was a time when the Spaniards (white) rubbed their eyes in seeing them. Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo, writer and minister of the self-declared government of Equatorial Guinea in exile, based in Madrid, arrived in Spain when his country was still a Spanish colony. A province on the African continent, one hundred percent black. In a recent article entitled Una nueva realidad: los afroespañoles (A new reality: afro-Spanish), the Equatorial Guinean wrote several anecdotes of his early years in the white territory.
For example: "Older women who, at Christmas 1965, ran, terrified and scared to see me in a city within the Levantine region, laying hands on her head and cried a black, black, My God, a negro! "[...] My classmates had scratched his head and hands with their fingers and were surprised they were not stained black.
Guineans in the former colony were the first to arrive. Today, there are a little over 23,000 people. This is the third African country with the biggest contingent of Blacks, after Senegal (47,000) and Nigeria (35,000). But migration has been very different. They came to study in the metropolis. Today, they perhaps represent the most integrated Black community of African descent, with a second and a third generation.
LucÃa Asue Mbomio reporter for Españoles por el mundo (TVE1) is one of them. She speaks with an accent of the district when she wants. She says it is her vulgar side. Born to a white mother and a father of Equatorial Guinea, she grew up in Alcorcón, a municipality south of Madrid. She's 28, and her room in a shared appartment, is filled with pride of her race. From "I Have a Dream" Martin Luther King, to the "Yes we can," Obama.
You can read the full article (in French) on the blog Noirs d'Amérique Latine
Update
Afroféminas
Antoinette Torres Soler and Lucia Asue Mbomio Rubio are two black women who created the digital magazine Afroféminas. A space for women of African descent. "I saw there was a problem in the media on how black women were portrayed," says its founder, Cuban born Torres Soler, who arrived in Spain in 2007. She fights against the collective image that always boils down to portray women of African descent as "foreign, vulnerable and poor." Read
Racismos cotidianos: “Para ser negra, eres muy guapa”
In the video Antoinette Torres Soler talks about her motivation
Documentary
The new documentary Gurumbé, Forgotten Music speaks of a very unfamiliar subject, the black African population who lived in Andalusia in the centuries XV to XIX. The documentary highlights the role of slavery, the accumulation of wealth by many merchant families in Seville and Cádiz, and the influence of Afro-Andalusians in Andalusian history and culture.
In the video Gurumbé, London born flamenco dancer Yinka Graves performs the Andalusian flamenco dance La caña. See the interview 'Meet La Morena: Yinka Esi Graves' at Las Morenas De España.
Travel
Expat
Also see Black travel expert Nelson George of BlackAtlas talking to Black British Judi Oshowole, who has lived in Barcelona for 18 years. See more information about her and the community BIBS (Barcelona International Black Sisters) here.
Links
- High Council of Black Communities (Alto Consejo de las Comunidades Negras)
- High Council of Black Communities on Myspace
- Black Stories From Spain
- Las Morenas de España - A site for women of color with an interest in Spain to share stories, advice and create community
Postings
- Black travel experiences in Europe
- Report black Belgian in Spain
- Africa Vive - Biggest African cultural event in Spain
Articles
- La huella cultural de los negros esclavos en España
- How Did Early-Modern Slaves in Spain Disappear? The Antecedents
Not about black people, but of islamic people in Spain:
ReplyDeleteNo money = moro de mierda
billionaire = señor Jeque
This can be used with russians, south americans, africans, chineses...
DrNostoc
Well, the moors are the people of northwest of Africa. They are so black as the egiptians. The real racism in Spain (I think as in other countries)is caused first, by the ignorance/fear of the other people, and second, by the fear that the foreigner can take your job/money/women.
ReplyDeleteDrNostoc
"Europe has a history of attaching skin color, hair color and eye color to temperament and character. Non-whites weren't the only ones maligned by scientific racism."
ReplyDelete-Blk Viking
People with red hair are another population that have been historically maligned by Europeans. That same negative stereotype about red haired people isn't nearly as strong in the USA. I'm only half way joking when I say that the much loved "I Love Lucy" television show is the reason why people in the USA don't have negative attitudes as strong as Europeans against red haired people. I don't recall that the red hair that Lucy (actress Lucille Ball) had was ever an important part of that tv series.
@Anonymous racism happens everywhere but Spain's has a racism that runs deeper than most countries I have encountered in Europe the reason why they didn't look at you is because they probably thought you was a latina, and Spanish hate latinas unless it's 2 in the morning and they want sex, also another reason is because there are alot of dark skinned beautiful women in Spain, so to them you were the norm.
ReplyDeleteA few questions for those living in Spain or have visited Spain:
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered if there are native Spaniards who have the stereotypical look of the brown-skinned Latino immigrants that Spaniards label "Sudacos", or "morenos." Are they mistaken for Latinos and how are they treated by white Spaniards? I've seen TV & You Tube performances of the late, great Flamenco performer, Lola Flores, and her daughter, Lolita, and they are as brown as the average Mexican. But where are the rest? In Spanish movies, television, magazines, newspapers, and travel guides I only see Spaniards with white or off-white complexions.
I'm asking this, primarily, because I can see a new human rights movement birthing in Spain IF native tan and brown-skinned Spaniards align themselves with and unify with their immigrant counterparts from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, (the largest Latino groups in the country), and begin to expose and battle Spanish color/racial discrimination.
There is no battle Spanish color/racial discrimination among Spaniards. That thing of divide and conquer is an old tactic that won't work in Spain, and be very careful with that attitute in Spain because you for sure would be in trouble and expulsed from the country. Spanish ethnic groups as such don't exist in reality and nobody can't tell where a real Spaniard comes from in Spain. People who may be a bit tanned often have blode children with blue eyes, it is in their genetics.
DeleteI have no problem re-locating to a black country and I'm black
ReplyDeleteBut you probably couldn't wait till you got that Spanish lady. The things Black men put up with to be with European women is astounding. Expect no sympathy here.
ReplyDeleteThis anonymous person is one dumb bastard that does not know who the hell the moors in Spain really were. Start from scratch you ignorant fool read the real history of the moors in Spain and who (BLACK AFRICANS) THEY REALLY ARE.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! My husband and I who a Rt e black! We went Out to a restaurant downtown Spain I think capitol Of Spain where eurYthmics are held service was lousy! We were not used to being ignored! It seem we were the black people in Spain we let the country the next day!#
ReplyDeleteAfricans have no business in Spain. The africans should stay in their own COUNTRY!! The Spaniards have no obligations and to the africans!!
ReplyDeleteThe Africans should all leave my country!! Go back to africa!!!!!
Hi Anonymous
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how experiences can differ - it has been the complete opposite for me. I am a 40-something (people say I look 30) black woman from England who visits Spain at least 3 times a year, sometimes staying for up to 2 months at a time. I would say I am average in the looks department, fairly well-educated and, I suppose, well-dressed even if I decide to do 'shabby chic'. I must say that I can't move for cat calls (never rude, I speak Spanish) or pleasant comments from Spanish males - old and young, rich and poor! I find it slightly flattering but at the same time embarrassing!! Things are somewhat calmer in the UK.
That aside, I love Spain and to date my experiences there have been brilliant. I plan to buy a villa there soon. I just need to decide where - there are so many lovely places to choose from!
what about vacationing in the canary islands of spain
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great information, the contents are quiet interesting.I will be waiting for your next post.
ReplyDeletelife sciences
In response to Jan 14 2011 comment: There is far to much whites in South Africa! There is far to much whites in USA. There is far to much whites in Australia! These three countries were invaded by white people - white people are out of control and want to dominate all countries. "Black blood...[to] build stronger armies" so you are saying white people are weak?
ReplyDeleteIn reply to the comment just above me, I have known a number of people who have moved to a "black country" as you say, to settle down. It happens more often than you think. The reasons why, as you insinuate, the reverse seems to happen more often is due to a sea of reasons that we all could discuss for ages - but could be summarized by Colonization and all the negative things that came with that and still linger.
ReplyDeleteI adore this blog and often pop in when I can since I am an African woman who lived in North America for 8 years and is now living in Europe (France for 2 years and now in Spain).
I have been here only a month and a week and already I observed a lot of ignorance and been on the receiving end of the look of "resentment" that many of you mentioned. It is interesting because I find the Spanish to be generally a lot warmer and friendlier than the French, and yet slightly more ignorant - and up front about it too (none of the French hiding behind closed doors here). I have had a Spanish friend ask me how to pronounce the word "nigg+r" in English...er why? I have had people touch my hair (that's everywhere!!!), take my hand and look at the colour of my palm in wonder, tell me that they know African because they watch what they see on television....I mean the list goes on! But many of these people were so warm and welcoming to me, despite their ignorance. I still got lots of time to discover Spain but all in all, my first impression is that it is not unbearable. Time will tell...
And I must say, in terms of "black beauty" in Spain...and the Spanish not perceiving it as something appealing...I beg to differ.
I am 100% black (as we know it today). I do not even relax my hair or wear it straight with weaves/extensions. I am not light skinned and there is nothing about my genre of beauty that would be considered "non-black."
And yet, I get attention everyday from the Spanish men of all ages when I walk to and back from work (conservatively dressed and no make-up mind you).
Although, I am fully aware of the general force-feeding of "white-beauty" in the media, I think we are all (black and non black alike) guilty of failing to realize just how well black beauty can be perceived on an individual day-to-day basis.
I think perceptions have started to change and will continue to change as more and more people reconfigure their inner "programming" and start to be okay with the fact that they find a black woman attractive- and without trying to justify it in some way.
While in Europe, recognize the ignorance without letting it consume you - focus on your purpose and maintain a positive attitude. Know who you are and your rich history.
I cannot tell you how proud I am to be an African woman and I love being able to say, "Soy Africana, Soy negra" - it is music to my ears and nobody can tell me different!
Thank you so much for this blog - I always love reading :)
I think the feelings some people are blaming here to the ignorance of the Spanish people are more related to their ignorance of Spanish culture, really. I have spent 11 years in the UK and it has been a bit hard to adapt back to Spain, and I am not a black person. Living in a politicly correct UK can certainly make you week toward verbal agressions, and Spanish people, as the rest of Ex-Roman Empire, LOVE VERBAL AGRESSION. You just need to understand Spanish language and watch some TV talk shows to see that. People around here like to "break balls", "tocar los cojones", "winding up" as brits would say. We have hot discussion with Catalans vs Andalusians, Basques vs Madridians... the list goes on and on, we like to argue. Yet, violent crime rates here are ridiculously lower in comparison to anglo-countries. I myself am an Andalusian, and i get funny comments every time some Madridian person sees that. I used to get very offended by that when I moved from London to Madrid, now it is just fun! If they break your balls (tocar los cojones) and you get offended they won... You need to stand up! They might call you negro, but we also called negro to tanned Spanish people... To be honest, yes, there are a lot of racist people in Spain, but they are also "racists" towards other Spanish. Some conservative people here are rude and full of hate, but they are a minority, just don't hang around with them... there are plenty of good people around that will accept anybody with moral standards. Why would you look/need the approbation of people that dont like you?
ReplyDeletePeople wanting to stay with their own race sexually is not racism. If it is, then so what. Why should everyone have to prove that they are non-racists by entering into interracial relationships?
ReplyDeleteBesides, South Africa isn't racist. Apartheid wasn't even caused by racism, though it might have lead to racism. SA has a very traditional and conservative society, where groups prefer to stick with those who share their language and skin colour, especially white people. There is NOTHING wrong with that! South Africans do not need to deliberately seek out partners from other ethnic groups just to prove to the liberal white nuts in the USA and Europe that they are politically correct. Pressuring them or expecting them to do ths is tyranny. We can live together in harmony without mixing.
It is rather the unnatural pressuring of forcing people with different cultures to mix and merge into a cultureless, cosmopolitan and Anglophone mega-group, that causes people to kick back and come off as being racist.
That´s simply because africa is still the least developed place on earth. As sad as it is, it`s still the reality. If a country of the size of south africa had the same Level of developement as the united states or western Europe, tons of blacks would try to moove there, but nearly all countries in the world with a high developed economy where People live in the modern world are majority white. just inherently racist Japan, south Korea, Taiwan, hong kong and Singapur are the exceptions of that. But those countries Keep to themselves and only let a very small number of immigrants in. For example Japan has an annual intake of 15000 new japanese citizens per year with a Population of 126 million People! Most of those immigrants are People of japanese ancestry who migrated earlier to south american countries like brazil and are now coming back. They dont want any foreigners in their countries and are by far much more racist than europe or north america. Japanese citizenship is heavily guarded and a japanese parent who has a child with a non japanese can deprive this child of the japanese citizenship if he choses to not acknowledge the child!!! Thats pure racism!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I'll receive any replies as it seems the thread of comments has been dead for quite some time, but it's worth a shot. I am Dominican American (definitely 'look black', natural kinky hair, etc) and my husband is Cuban/German American ('looks white' or possibly hispanic, brown eyes/hair). We have two young daughters, one who has my coloring and the other is very light with honey blonde hair. I feel awkward detailing our physical profiles, but feel it is pertinent to my question(s).
ReplyDeleteMy family is contemplating moving to Sitges (near Barcelona). My husband is self-employed and I stay home with the children. That is to say that neither of us would be working in/with Spaniards. We would like to send our children to public schools in the interest of immersion, but would consider homeschooling. Are we likely to draw excessive negative attention? Collectively? If it's just me and the girls? Will my lighter daughter be treated vastly differently from my darker one? We expect that we will stand out, but are trying to gauge how much of the attention will be negative especially as it regards our kids. My children are very outgoing and will definitely notice the sting of being shunned/not included. (Wouldn't most?!)
I would appreciate any insight anyone can provide.
Thank you so much!
My mistake on the thread being dead! My computer was not loading further comments until I refreshed. Oops!
ReplyDeleteAgain, thoughts and insight will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
www.globogirls.com is a good one. It also has live chat so you can chat to other users online. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI am a 18 year old student from the U.S. I will be traveling to spain in a few months. I find Spanish girls to be very attractive, I am brown skin, I wonder what the chances of me pickin up a Spanish chick is.. ???????
ReplyDeleteThe moors are e1b1b y-dna so they are related to habesha, congolese bantu, zanj, fulani, of the gulf of guinea..which is angola, guinea bissau, Mozambique, equatorial guinea, sao tomeans, & the cape verde isle.....all black people....whu shafe the E-DNA, E1-fulani/mande, E2-zanj /bantu, & E3 habesha /maghrebi & they all are related to the blacks in north, central, south america,& the caribbean also not to mention other afroeuropeans, afroasians, & afroarab people such as the moors......european Dna in the iberian peninsula, & the british isles are r, I, q, y-dnas......so I guess the moors are black.....in truth..no one is black we are jush beautiful brown people...with all shades of brown from chocolate to sweet caramel....so all you pale people need to stop hating...just be a cave man....its ok....hey! Its ok......ps oh did I mention....that those same blacks you hating on are the chosen people of god.....ps enjoy while it last.....you world is coming to an end.....the messiah well fix every thing & we will see what will become of you p.s. this is the pg version.....your not the moors....you are the cavemen....viva! Afrolatino! Viva! Ladino negro! Viva! Israel! ....peace! & one love
ReplyDeleteThe moors are a mix of berber, and arab, and white....why white because....they sex a lot of white women...just ask a sicilian.....but am sorry... I hurt the little cave boy feelings...bo ho....look please do research before you call some one stupid.....every body knows the moors were socalled black people.....this white superiority...is a myth......you think black people are stupid.....you pale people was afraid to take a bath til us moors.....force you to.....thats right....my family are taureg moors from mali....now what?....let me explain something to you....the vandals (germanic white people)....came to north africa and conquered us...and mix their poisen seed amongst us ......by raping our beutiful Moorish sisters.....and thats how you got the pale skin berbers.....you devils never talk about that....the same way the Spaniards & portugese did to the natvess of latin america...the lands where the moors was sent to as slaves of the crown.....now in latin america...you got these mistizos (children of the whites and natives) saying that they are the origenals...while keeping the secret that they are descendents of the slave masters.....the same thing in north africa....these white berbers and arabs...now claiming to be us......just be a caveman ...u say you are Caucasian....and you are: your ancestors came from the Caucasian mountains in Georgia russia.....just be a cave man and stop being us ok.....you already took every thing from us ....dont take our history.....just be a caveman and we continue to be moors and every one is happy :-) dont hate your self cause your not me.....you just in fantasy land.....ok I admit you cave people were the greeco-romans...and the germanic tribes....just be that.....but you were not the north african.....you not even human....to be human you must be a hue man (colored man) but you are men but not hueman.....any way....I just had to say something...tired of you cave people trying to be every one in earth.....black people may claim to to be other black people...but they be black! You khazars wabt to be everyone....may the be Asian, african, native americans....but all those people are darskinned people...hell you even claim aliens, and people from some lost continent like Atlantis....hell ueven claim the israelites...and the heavenly host.....the israelites are black and so is the kingdom of god.....deal with it! You are edomites also known as the cave people....be that....be you.....ok? Peace!
ReplyDeleteThat last comment is for them devils....not the brothers....you right...the moors are black.....you know whats funny....if a moor was walking around spain in the 15th century....they would hit him on the head and send him tobe a slave in latin america and put him to work in the minds....just like they did the bantu in west africa & other parts of africa and asia...dont make my people white....because you like our music and culture....because in the 15century we was just spanish speaking niggers to u...now we are white...lol! What you think we are domincans.....are better yet irish......shalom!
ReplyDelete@Anon
ReplyDeleteOh,please---the Moors were BLACK,period. I'm tired of people always seeking to downplay the blackness of any black people of historical importance, because to me it just reinforces/plays into that white supremacist tendency to try and erase their importance BECAUSE they were black---basically saying, "Well, they weren't really black, they were this,they were that, but they weren't really,like,you know,actually BLACK." The Moors were black---I've never read anything that says they were ANYTHING else but black, and until I see anything that proves different,again,they were black,period.
@Afro-USA
ReplyDeleteThank you---that's the truth,straight-up!
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThere's a big damn difference between not wanting to be around someone of a different race, and actually enacting laws that actually physically FORCE separate people of different colors into completely different parts of society,which is exactly what South Africa did. Don't try to sell this stupid lie that it wasn't about racism, because that's EXACTLY what the hell it was about. The white South Africans enacted apartheid because they thought black people were less than human and beneath THEM, AND that's WHY they did it. If it wasn't racism, then why the hell were black people shoved to the bottom of society and robbed of virtually any right they had to have any control over their lives? You must a be a white South African talking all that BS.
Stop making excuses for what was basically an evil racist system, and hell, yeah S.A. is still racist as hell---it's only been barely 20 years since apartheid ended, but those attitudes are still there. And there ARE some places where people of all colors don't mind living around/being with/going with each other.
"South Africans do not need to deliberately seek out partners from other ethnic groups just to prove to the liberal white nuts in the USA and Europe that they are politically correct. Pressuring them or expecting them to do ths is tyranny. We can live together in harmony without mixing."
People also deserve the right to mix together if they want to (which S.A. made a damn crime for 46 years straight--stop making it sound like you've being forced to do something you don't want to do---I know people in S.A. don't give a damn what liberals in the U.S. and Europe think---stop playing like white folks are put-upon victims---that's the classic white conservative racist defense there. Just GTFOOH with that BS,please
@Anon
ReplyDeleteThere are some developed countries in Africa and some aren't---you can sit there and say a whole continent of 57 countries is completely undeveloped, because that's not even true. Nigeria is one of the richest countries in Africa due to its oil,for example. You also have to look at the fact that Europe stole virtually every resource it could out of Africa to turn itself into an empire, in other words, there would have been NO British Empire without Africa's resources to build on,like oil and diamonds,for example, which Europe got totally rich off of. And,BTW, many black Americans have moved to certain African countries, so them doing that is not as weird strange or uncommon as you seem to think. Do your research,please.
I think you're misguided and your arguement is silly.I'm black american, not mixed with anything and yes my background (ancestors are white (alot of that) native American (alot) actually it's more of that than black..but I am a black woman in American and I have long hair, it's curly but it's super long..what a man crave is not my problem hence I am able to get any guy that I so please..hence I been with a latin man, black guy and my current boyfriend who happen to be white..I love being black and I find people like and others who thinks it's in our heads..quite pathetic and sad. Not every black is envious, seriously..not every black..I think there's someone envious of another race in every race, just the other day a friend of mines whose white told that she was envious of black women skin, because we're able to get away with more, and we don't have to put on so much makeup to have a glow..so whose envious definitely not me and alot of people..regardless of race
ReplyDeleteAnonymous good reply but you are only partially right. Negro in the new world was actually Niger. The reason they called them that was because they bought them in the west African country of Niger. Thus the word niger or nigers. Later, however it was changed to Negro because niger took on negative connotations because of slavery and racism. Yes Moors were North African Muslims. Islam was not welcome in Europe and still is not.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am a British Black female of Jamaican Descent currently applying to study my second degree in Dentistry in Spain. I have two options, Madrid or Valencia. For financial reasons Valencia would be a much better option for me since I will be living in spain for 5 years. Does anybody have any advice on where I would be less discriminated against?
ReplyDeleteHi jayde p
ReplyDeleteJayde, search for comments on Valencia and Madrid in the post. Use search, CTRL-F.
I am in Spain from the UK recovering after losing my mother to Cancer. The desease definitely puts things into perspective..it's not racist, sexist, ageist and it's impartial to the subtle differences in shades of skin colour. You could say that now I am almost immune to the ocasional narrow minded, ignorant, nationalistic, sexist, racist spaniard that I have had the misfortune to meet every so often. I am not sure how to define my reception in Spain. I moved to Spain from London to work as an English Teacher, I'd previously spent short spells in Spain and thought it would be a positive experience. I've now been here for just over 6 months and my opinion is very mixed. When I first arrived the incessant staring on the metro was a little alarming. I could allow for curiosity, but outright blatantly staring without even slightly disguising the action was in my opinion rude. It appears to have subsided now, I don't know why. I live by a policy of not prejudging people, I'm open and friendly with everyone, until they prove me wrong. I've met some amazing people here and if anything things go pear shaped when I presume that I am going to be negatively received. Fellow blacks are over cautious in making contact but generally the south americans are amazing..and are very good at teaching Spanish, they seem to believe that if they are expressive enough you will eventually understand. I don't perm or straighten my hair and I am not particularly light skinned, just a regular black african from the UK and I have spanish friends from all walks of life. I don't speak Spanish fluently yet but the language is coming along in leaps and bounds.
ReplyDeleteI have become aware of the adoration of all things blond and blue eyed, but am of the view that to each his own and there is room for everyone. It has from time to time been a little lonely as the Spanish like Africans have a lot of respect for family and hence the regular trip to London once a month. Madrid is not all that it is cracked up to be, it has it's posh and trendy areas, but also some awful slum areas too. I did try out a dating site in Spain for a month, but just attracted the very young or the very old. I do find that too many men happily want to have their cake and eat it when married, but it's just a matter of learning to keep them at arm's length. On the whole how I am received or perceived has a lot to do with my self esteem and confidence on any particular day.
This is a reply to a very old comment. "Black people" of Asia include the "pitch black" Andaman Islanders of India, in Thailand there are the Mani, in the Philippines there are several but the Aeti are the most prominent. They are descendants of the first peoples to leave Africa over 75,000 years ago. People also forget indigenous Australians and Oceanic people look African but are genetically Asian as are all I mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to finally find an article covering blacks living in Spain. I am currently working on my master's in Spanish and I spent the first year of my program studying in Alcalá de Henares which is in the outskirts of Madrid. Also, in 2013 I spent the summer studying in Oviedo. In both cases, my classmates and I were full of excitement upon getting off of the bus to meet our host families when we arrived. While I witnessed the other students receive warm hugs, kisses, and their cheeks squeezed by their families, mine looked at me angrily and with complete disappointment and the reason why could not have been more clear. Imagine having to live with a family for an extended period of time who received you in that manner. My family in Oviedo ended up working out fine. My host mom was 42 and her mother was 88 and they both ended up treating me well despite our first encounter. However, my host mom in Alcalá who I would put at around 78 (she refused to tell me her age) treated me okay but it was all so obviously fake (she needed the money). She kept her bedroom door open at all times and the bathroom and my bedroom were both extremely close to hers. She would never leave the house EVER and the one time I came home from school about three hours early (a class had been cancelled) and she wasn't there, the look on her face when she came in the door and saw that I was there (without being monitored I know she was thinking) was priceless. Her mouth stayed open until I said hi and asked her how she was doing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the younger Spaniards are so amazing and were always so curious about life in the states. Even the ones who were surprised by me being black and from the states were so down to earth and always invited me to hang out with them. Nonetheless, despite the bad experiences that I've had in Spain, that would never stop me from going back and living another year if not longer there. It is such a beautiful country and the U.S. could learn so much by certain aspects of their way of life. Oh and one last thing, the older men and their comments when I'd pass by them was one thing I'll never forget. "Pero es que tu eres bonita," and "chocolate," are just a few things that they'd say to me. It was both annoying when it was said with utter perversion but also so hilarious when their eyes would follow me with their mouths wide opened looking surprised. The ones that began with pero or pero es que...were my favorites. Moreover, with tourism being the number one industry in Spain and more and more blacks beginning to study, work, and live there, more awareness needs to be raised about blacks regardless of where they come from. During my yearlong stay there, my host mom and I would watch the news together every day and believe me all of the breaking stories in the states make their way to Spanish televisions. Because the race riots have been such a huge matter this past year here in the U.S, I would see so much of it while watching the news with my host mom and would always feel so embarrassed. If Spaniards see blacks being seen in such a negative light in the states where so many of us live, how in the world should we expect them to perceive us when we go there? Not to mention, 99.9% of the time that the blacks from Africa are seen on Spanish TV it pretty much always involves illegal immigration, them fighting, or drowning in their attempts to come to Spain and other European countries. For these reasons, I absolutely love the idea of a black organization in Spain!
Wait! Okay so one more one last thing, Berta Vazquez should definitely be on this list. She starred in the Spanish film "Palmeras en la Nieve" (currently on Netflix) and I believe she is of Kenyan and European descent but has lived in Spain since she was three. For me she's like a Zoe Saldaña but total Spanish style. Pues nada, viva España!
~Aarin~
hello. i am a 20 year old african spanish student and i am planning my year abroad to spain for studies. i am aware of the racism in spain but i would like to know how i can still make lots of friends who would not look down on me and how i can have fun. which places would you recommend to me to explore, meet and make genuine friends?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure which history this previous person is speaking of, but Moors were black people. The Moors were very clean, intelligent black people. The Moors were advanced and modern day mathematics/ arithmetic is from them.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure which history this previous person is speaking of, but Moors were black people. The Moors were very clean, intelligent black people. The Moors were advanced and modern day mathematics/ arithmetic is from them.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say most of Spaniards are racist themselves. For them, Black people are a recent thing as they were under a dictatorship for 40 years and until the late 90s immigration wasn't a thing. Spanish people are tolerant and friendly, but they are ignorant when it comes to racism, they just need more time.
ReplyDeleteIf you travel with that worry of acceptance in your head, you'll show it and will find exactly what you were looking for.
ReplyDeleteJust got back from 1 1/2 weeks in Barcelona this pass March 2017 and had an extremely fun experience (as a Black American). Met a few Black American residents whiLe eating out in Born and had more than a few chances to chat them up about their experiences as expats. They love it in Spain, and not just in Catalonia, but all over. They felt celebrated as Black Americans and attribute this to the positive imagery available on line and in the global media of successful Black athletes, entertainers and most of all, the rise of Barak Obama.
Unfortunately, America has gotten us so shook about who we are and how we are perceived that it's created this sense of fear. We should and can travel the world freely the way they do without this stress and learn as we go based on the experience had, not this paralyzing preconceived projection of ourselves as disliked and a shunned people. Shake it off and buy your ticket. You'll figure it out when you get to where you're going.
Bigotry reveals heartbreak or ignorance, or envy. Take your pick.
ReplyDeleteMoor is short for Blackamoor, like in Othello. There's been recent talk of ""tawny moors"" but that might be some recent b.s.
ReplyDeleteIt's us, Black people, even the Moors that weren't Black in color were considered to be racially tinted with Black.
But Spain is mix with African just like Italians,France, England and united states etc
ReplyDeleteHey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!barcelona festival
ReplyDeletePeople from Madrid don't hate people from the South of Spain at all. That is not true.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete---------- Doorgestuurde bericht ----------
Van: ayub muhammad jomanday
Datum: zaterdag 1 december 2018
Onderwerp: Fwd:Social and global study for black unity
Aan: info@africacenter.org
---------- Doorgestuurde bericht ----------
Van: ayub muhammad jomanday
Datum: zaterdag 1 december 2018
Onderwerp: Fwd:Social and global study for black unity
Aan: afrocolombianetwork@gmail.com
---------- Doorgestuurde bericht ----------
Van: ayub muhammad jomanday
Datum: dinsdag 27 november 2018
Onderwerp: Fwz: Social and global study for black unity
Aan: kevi@blackpariswalks.com
---------- Doorgestuurde bericht ----------
Van: ayub muhammad jomanday
Datum: zondag 25 november 2018
Onderwerp: :Social and global study for black unity
Aan: INFO@viverbrasil.com
---------- Doorgestuurde bericht ----------
Van: ayub muhammad jomanday
Datum: donderdag 15 november 2018
Onderwerp: Social and global study for black unity
Aan: "info@usblackchambers.org"
Hi my name is Ayub muhammad jomanday
I am permanent living in europe and migrating soon back to africa for business and science.
The purpose for this email is about social and global study on black nations and countries creating a new world and the benefits of it not only for now but for the next genetations and who knows there might be a time in the future where you might have one mixed nation in the world when all races have come together as one that might be possible. But for order to change the world it always start with oneself.
Based on studys if black nations and countries whould unite globaly in leadership, religion, development, business, science technology and more..
* less racism
* new doors open full of opportunities.
* new world projects, new black regions with black societys, new roads connexion with black countries. With the best of black architects and black instruction corporations, and black investments
*bringing out computer operating systems and ground earth satellite technology because of religious reason
*speaking our own native languages in schools and society
* better opportunity to stop corruptions
* less occultism and criminality or rebelgroups
* better elections and governance
* fighting poverty with new solutions and tax systems
* getting rid of police racism and brutality in a multiculterial societys in north america and europe
*getting rid of false taxes
* better politics
* more achievements and leadership
* global unity occurding to tourism and immigrations with the africans, east africans, the brown north africans the african ilands cape verdeans, madagascar people, black americans, carribeans and the afro latinos ' dominicans, puertoricans afro brazilians.
*uniting the muslims, christians and jews seperately for a good and blessed black unity and for sure keeping a good tie with other believers across the world only for religious purposes and of course for global trade.
I will send this study to more then 200 radio stations and organizations in black countries, black nations . In africa, east africa, african ilands, north and south america and black communities in europe.
Friendly regards ,
Ayub muhammad jomanday
This is a great Blog, So clear and easy to read. Thanks for sharing
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And, how will a Black American, that uses a wheelchair to get around. Be treated by the locals? - Black or White? I'm not worried about being disrespected for my color as much as I am about my disability! I'm use to long stares, being avoided because of my "Wheels" and racist behavior... Especially coming from the states! Like water off a duck's back, to me! LOL. I'm also an intermediate spanish learner from southern California. Thank you for responding.
ReplyDeleteI would move to Africa in an heartbeat.. unfortunately Africans are way too ignorant about people with disabilities, and believe them to be a "Curse" - SO, that's a "No-go zone" for me. And that's really sad and unfortunate! Because it feels almost like a *Crime* for me not to be able to even visit Africa, let alone live there!
ReplyDelete