Afrolatinos: The untaught story

The first enslaved Africans that arrived to Puerto Cabello, Venezuela was in approximately 1526.  These slaves were brought to work the copper mines and sugar plantations.  The largest Afro-Venezuelan population is located in Barlovento. The crew will investigate what the history of slave resistance was in Venezuela and find out who the cimarrones were? What was the rebellion of 1532 led by El Negro Miguel? 

What were the roles of Afro-Venezuelans in the fight for independence? We will learn more about Simon Bolivar’s important role in this fight, as well as, his agreement with the Haitian government to free slaves.  The team will visit the statue of Pedro Camejo “El Negro Primero,” the first statue honoring a black person in Venezuela.

The team is excited about visiting the Afro communities in Venezuela and learning how they have kept their traditions and culture alive.  What is the African influence in the music and religion of Venezuela? 

The crew will look at the mixing of catholic, indigenous and African beliefs, and study more about the trinity that is practiced there, with el Negro Felipe, the Indian chief Guaicaipuro, and the figure of Maria Lionza. Is Santeria practiced in Venezuela?  Who are the Curanderos?  Who was “The black saint?” The team will learn more about the festival that is celebrated (26 December to 2 January) for the black saint, San Benito, which has ties to slavery and cimarronaje (slave who revolted).  This celebration is honored with a variation of drums depending on the region. What are the ties to Africa?

The producers will investigate what the social issues are that affect Afro-Venezuelans.  Particularly after finding out that for many years Afro-Venezuelans were not even in the census. The team will confirm that only in 2003, were millions of Afro-Venezuelans issued national ID cards allowing them citizenship rights. 

The crew would like to meet with activists such as, Jesús "Chucho" García, president of the Afroamérica Foundation in Caracas, Venezuela who isn’t afraid to address the issues of racism in his country.  When asked is there is racism his response was,  “In Venezuela, via the educational system, people were educated so as not to see this cancer known as racism, which has always existed in Venezuela, ever since the impact of the misnamed “discovery” of America, passing through the period of slavery during the colonial period, until the construction of the republic” (A 2004 interview in Venezuela Analysis, titled: Racism and Racial Divides in Venezuela, January 21st 2004, by Gregory Wilpert).  Chucho’s work is about changing school curriculums to teach a more complete history of Venezuela, where blacks are included in the census, and stronger laws against racism be implemented.  This is exciting.

Venezuela has made groundbreaking moves in the fight toward the inclusion, and recognition of Afros throughout Latin America and Africa.  They have organized meetings such as the Declaracion del ii Encuentro Nacional Afrovenezolano that was held in July 2008, where many Afro organizations met to discuss the issues of discrimination and racism.  Discussing the need for stronger government policy and stronger connections with international organizations of the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa.

Another meeting was held in March 2008 called the International Meeting of Afrodescendent Women and The Afrovenezuelan Family.  The purpose of this meeting was towards family development and human rights for the Afro-Venezuelan community as well as providing aid for Afrodescendants throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. This meeting dealt specifically with racism in society, classism, and sexism. They are moving in the right direction. 

The team saw first hand the work that Venezuela is doing in Haiti that is providing communities with housing and a large market in Port au Prince. 

The producers look forward to visiting Venezuela and seeing firsthand the work being done to serve the Afro community.