Afrolatinos: The untaught story

An incredible energy electrifies the air in Honduras.  Masca, the first town visited, is dreamlike--mystical, magical, a true paradise. This beautiful quaint village, albeit poor, is home to the Garifuna people.

Garifuna is a language and culture in Central America, the largest community of which resides in Honduras. Their story is very unique since they do not share the slave experience, as is found in most Latin American countries. The history of the Garifuna people is that they were expelled from the island of Saint Vincent, after an uprising against the English, they were shipwrecked. In 1797, the exiled Black Caribs landed in the island of Roatan, Honduras. The Garifuna people are descendents of African slaves who intermarried with native Carib and Arawak Indians, referred to as “Black Caribs," and the Garifuna are the result of this mixing of cultures.

What the crew found in Masca saddened them, as visually stunning as it was, the Garifuna culture is slowly being lost. Most of the schools are focusing on teaching solely in Spanish, and no longer in Garifuna. They are losing their language because the children of today feel that it is somewhat pointless to speak in Garifuna; most of them even feel embarrassed.  What is missing in this spectacular place is pride: pride in their language, pride in being black, and pride in their history.

What is also missing is a sense of unity and responsibility in the community. This was confirmed when the team spoke to people in the community about how filthy the beaches are, and the majority of folks appeared ambivalent raising their shoulders and turning their heads as if to say, “its not MY PROBLEM!” They are not taking pride in their beaches, beaches that are breathtaking but are littered. More people need to begin to care, to come together and protect their land, before it is taken from them.

The crew visited other Garifuna villages such as Baja Mar, Travesia and Roatan. The Garifuna people they met were financially poor but rich in love.  These communities are struggling to hold on to their culture and continue to teach in Garifuna. Differences were noticed between Travesia and Baja Mar, which are very close in distance. In Travesia, they speak Garifuna but they are changing their ways, slowly losing their traditions and culture, and speaking more Spanish.  In Baja Mar, they are still very much Garifuna and very proud of this fact.  This area of Honduras is still untouched, yet they they have not lost their language, culture and traditions.

Land rights are a major issue in Honduras. The Garifuna people are losing their lands to tourism and private organizations. Major corporations like Pepsi, have come to their community donating paint so that their logo can be marketed on local businesses, but rarely return to help in the communities.  Communities must learn how to be self-reliant instead of looking to outsiders for rescue and support.  

The children of Masca can learn from the kids we met in San Basilio de Palenque (Colombia), who take great pride in preserving who they are and where they come from. They are children with a sense of unity, self-preservation, cultural preservation, as well as guardians of their history. Unity is lacking! A sense of responsibility is necessary for unity in the Latin community. Many have lost faith in their own power and ability to bring about real sustainable change.

A visit to a Latin American country would not be complete without celebrating their music and dance. Community children in Masca performed Punta for the crew, a dance where a couple, usually one male and female, tries to outdo another using fast movements. These kids were full of energy, this music lifts your spirits and makes you want to dance and shake your hips right along with them. The team hopes they continue dancing and holding onto the essence of who they are.

Visiting Honduras they uncovered a desperate need for cultural preservation. What the producers of Afrolatinos want to stress to future generations is the importance of preserving their legacy, their language, their history; we want them to be proud of who they are and where they come from. It is incredibly important to preserve the cultures that exist. If culture is not preserved, they will become extinct.  What outsiders often do not understand is that when they visit these communities, they should come and attempt to become a part of the community that already exists instead of imposing their own.

The Garifuna community is a distinct culture with its own language, delicious foods, amazing music, and is filled with wonderful people.