[vipbunter]

Who is Black? A Puerto Rican Woman Claims Her Place In The African Diaspora.

by Rosa Clemente, founder of the R.E.A.C.Hip Hop Coalition

An interesting thing happened to me the other day. I was told I am not Black. The kicker for me was when my friend said that the island of Puerto Rico was not a part of the African Diaspora. I wanted to go back to the old skool playground days and yell: “You said what about my momma?!” But after speaking to several friends, I found out that many Black Americans and Latinos agree with him. The miseducation of the Negro is still in effect!

I am so tired of having to prove to others that I am Black, that my people are from the Motherland, that Puerto Rico, along with Cuba, Panama and the Dominican Republic are part of the African Diaspora. Do we forget that the slave ships dispersed our people all over the world, hence the word Diaspora?

The Atlantic slave trade brought Africans to Puerto Rico in the early 1500s. Some of the first slave rebellions took place on the island of Puerto Rico. Until 1846, Africanos on the island had to carry a libreta to move around the island, like the passbook system in apartheid South Africa. In Puerto Rico, you will find large communities of descendants of the Yoruba, Bambara, Wolof and Mandingo people. Puerto Rican culture is inherently African culture.

There are hundreds of books that will inform you, but I do not need to read book after book to legitimize this thesis or to tell me what I am. All I need to do is go to Puerto Rico and look all around me. Damn, all I really have to do is look in the mirror every day.

I am often asked what I am usually by Blacks who are lighter than me, and by Latinos as dark or darker than me. To answer the ,000 question, I am a Black Boricua, Black Rican, PuertoriqueÒa! Almost always I am questioned about why I choose to call myself Black over Latina, Spanish or Hispanic. Let me break it down.

I am not Spanish. Spanish is just another language I speak. I am not a Hispanic. My ancestors are not descendants of Spain, but descendants of Africa. I define my existence by race and land. (Borinken is the indigenous name of the island of Puerto Rico.)

Being Latino is not a cultural identity but rather a political one. Being Puerto Rican is not a racial identity, but rather a cultural and national one. Being Black is my racial identity. Why do I have to consistently explain this to those who are so-called conscious? Is it because they have a problem with their own identity? Why is it so bad to assert who I am, for me to big-up my Africanness?

My Blackness is one of the greatest powers I have. We live in a society that devalues Blackness all the time. I will not be devalued as a human being, as a child of the Supreme Creator.

Although many of us in activist circles are enlightened, many of us have baggage that we must deal with. So many times I am asked why many Boricuas refuse to affirm their Blackness. I attribute this denial to the ever-rampant anti-Black sentiment in America and throughout the world, but I will not use this as an excuse. Often Puerto Ricans who assert our Blackness are not only outcast by Latinos who identify more with their Spanish Conqueror than their African ancestors, but we are also shunned by Black Americans who do not see us as Black.

Nelly Fuller, a great Black sociologist, said this: “Until one understands the system of White supremacy, anything and everything else will confuse you.” Divide and conquer still applies.

Listen people: Being Black is not just skin color, nor is it synonymous with Black Americans. To assert who I am is the most liberating and revolutionary thing I can ever do. Being a Black Puerto Rican encompasses me racially, ethically and most importantly, gives me a homeland to refer to.

So I have come to this conclusion: I am whatever I say I am! (Thank you, Rakim.)

Rosa Clemente is a journalist with WBAI Radio in NYC and founder of the R.E.A.C.Hip Hop Coalition, a Hip Hop Media Activist Organization and can be reached at clementerosa@gmail.com Afro-Latinos are becoming more conscious of the false pretense of a "color blind" society which are fed to them in Latin America. Do you guys believe now that more are waking up, this will threaten the dymanics of nationality?

[Savviioor]

Who is Black? A Puerto Rican Woman Claims Her Place In The African Diaspora.



Afro-Latinos are becoming more conscious of the false pretense of a "color blind" society which are fed to them in Latin America. Do you guys believe now that more are waking up, this will threaten the dymanics of nationality?

National unity will always dominate vs. racial unity in Latin America. You Americans can keep segregating yourselves via something so trivial as race, but it's not going to happen in Latin America (on a majority level).

[Eromaveabeara]

National unity will always dominate vs. racial unity in Latin America. You Americans can keep segregating yourselves via something so trivial as race, but it's not going to happen in Latin America (on a majority level).

Absolutely. So call AA should realize they are more influenced by the the Anglosaxon culture than by Africa. Americans should mind theirs own business and leave Latin America alone.

[Cyncceply]

Absolutely. So call AA should realize they are more influenced by the the Anglosaxon culture than by Africa. Americans should mind theirs own business and leave Latin America alone.

Well, I don't believe in Latin American unity either as you know.
But that would make more sense than racial unity, that just doesn't work in a country with a variety of different races.

It's true. I would even say that white-Hispanic Caribbeans are more influenced by African culture than Aframs. Aframs are the most assimilated group out of the afro-american diaspora, imo. That's what makes it so ironic about them trying so hard to distance themselves from white-americans.

[BV6lwvXf]

National unity will always dominate vs. racial unity in Latin America. You Americans can keep segregating yourselves via something so trivial as race, but it's not going to happen in Latin America (on a majority level).

According to whom? If such was the case, blond hair, blue eyed Hispanics would not be the only folk you see in the media in Latin America.

[Czrzftmz]

According to whom? If such was the case, blond hair, blue eyed Hispanics would not be the only folk you see in the media in Latin America.

They aren't. Telemundo or whatever the fuck you get on cable in your slum doesn't represent Latin America. The last telenovela I watched was from Peru, and the mayor and the police chief on the show were both black. The main star was a pretty indigenous looking mestizo.

I never said there wasn't discrimination. There is. But still that doesn't change the fact that nationality is more important than race to the vast majority.

[topbonusescod]

Well, I don't believe in Latin American unity either as you know.
But that would make more sense than racial unity, that just doesn't work in a country with a variety of different races.

It's true. I would even say that white-Hispanic Caribbeans are more influenced by African culture than Aframs. Aframs are the most assimilated group out of the afro-american diaspora, imo. That's what makes it so ironic about them trying so hard to distance themselves from white-americans.

I believe in a very loose Hispanic-American (maybe at most Ibero-American) unity in the sense of greater economic cooperation, but not some sort of holding hands across the Americas deal.

Well put. We are definitely more culturally African than they are. To put that one component ahead of other facets doesn't sit well with me. I think at least Dominicans (the group I'm obviously acquainted with) and from what I've heard Puerto Ricans talk about their tri-cultural (if not directly tri-racial) roots openly.

[ladleliDypenue]

They aren't. Telemundo or whatever the fuck you get on cable in your slum doesn't represent Latin America. The last telenovela I watched was from Peru, and the mayor and the police chief on the show were both black. The main star was a pretty indigenous looking mestizo.

I never said there wasn't discrimination. There is. But still that doesn't change the fact that nationality is more important than race to the vast majority.

EiCibaeno showed me a study that actually supports this, especially with Cubans.
This is where LatinAmerica and racialist AngloAmericans clash, they cannot comprehend that it is one culture, independent of race/color. The clearest divisions in LatinAmerican society are socioeconomic ones.

[Nupbeaupeteew]

^^^ Yes, I've met Puerto Ricans who looked straight up European with no admixture claiming that they are not white, but "Spanish, African, and Taino".
They may very-well be, I can't judge since I look straight up Europid too and have significant African ancestry, but there might be some who say so just because the triracial identity is what is "in" amongst Puerto Ricans (i.e. mestizaje).

[Adollobdeb]

It's true. I would even say that white-Hispanic Caribbeans are more influenced by African culture than Aframs. Aframs are the most assimilated group out of the afro-american diaspora, imo. That's what makes it so ironic about them trying so hard to distance themselves from white-americans.

There's no question about it. Like I said in the other thread, the palest, most lily white Cuban, Puerto Rican or Domincan has incorporated much more blakc influences in the creolization of their cultures than Aframs.
Rabid Afrocentric Afram extremist can walk around all day with an afro shouting and an Africa necklace, but they are virtual black Englishmen in comparison.

[zilsolley3]

EiCibaeno showed me a study that actually supports this, especially with Cubans.
This is where LatinAmerica and racialist AngloAmericans clash, they cannot comprehend that it is one culture, independent of race/color. The clearest divisions in LatinAmerican society are socioeconomic ones.

Even in Cuba, a country who could be said to have had racial problems, black Cubans are still extremely proud to be Cuban first.

[Freedjome]

It would be hilarious if it turned out this woman was actually white or near-white.

[whatisthebluepill]

It would be hilarious if it turned out this woman was actually white or near-white.

That's sometimes the case. A very light skinned black kid I used to know was the most Afrocentric, as if he had to prove something.

[klnbgqr]

Even in Cuba, a country who could be said to have had racial problems, black Cubans are still extremely proud to be Cuban first.

People that think like BlackEgo are racial socialist or communist. They put skin color and/or African ancestry first about everything which is a very superficial and artificial thing to do. Like I've said countless times before with this example:

To LatinAmericans, Pele is a Brazilian soccer player, El Duque is a Cuban baseball player, David Ortiz is a Dominican baseball player, they don't see 'just three black guys'. They see 3 different nationalities, and IF they were to describe their phenotype is when they would comment the racial aspect.

[HunterM]

I'd love to see her picture

[CowextetleSix]

They aren't. Telemundo or whatever the fuck you get on cable in your slum doesn't represent Latin America. The last telenovela I watched was from Peru, and the mayor and the police chief on the show were both black. The main star was a pretty indigenous looking mestizo.

I never said there wasn't discrimination. There is. But still that doesn't change the fact that nationality is more important than race to the vast majority.

You donkey, prove me wrong, everyone knows white skin blue eyed folks run Latin America. Who you think you fooling, thats why you racially screwed up folk want to be them. Just like Dominicans want to be African American!

Please don't make me post statements from Island Dominicans proving a hatred of blackness! If I lived in a slum, how would i be able to afford cable? Dumb halfbreed.

[Liskaspexia]

I'd love to see her picture

I think this is her.

[Promalada]

There's no question about it. Like I said in the other thread, the palest, most lily white Cuban, Puerto Rican or Domincan has incorporated much more blakc influences in the creolization of their cultures than Aframs.
Rabid Afrocentric Afram extremist can walk around all day with an afro shouting and an Africa necklace, but they are virtual black Englishmen in comparison.

Fag, you know nothing of AA culture, however when I go to crown heights which is nothing but an infest of roaches an rats, you see nothing but a bunch of folk who wish to be AA. Go back to the DR, stop living off the rights my people fought for, you leech.

[strmini]

I think this is her.

Mulatta

[Pharmadryg]

There's no question about it. Like I said in the other thread, the palest, most lily white Cuban, Puerto Rican or Domincan has incorporated much more blakc influences in the creolization of their cultures than Aframs.
Rabid Afrocentric Afram extremist can walk around all day with an afro shouting and an Africa necklace, but they are virtual black Englishmen in comparison.

We AfAm's have subtily retained alot of our West African heritage in our worship, food, music, and the way we speak. But we are basically Afro-Saxons like you said, and don't realize how culturally similar we are to Euro Americans(especially White Southerners), than to other Afro-descendeds in the New World. BlackEGO and the Bass would argue otherwise, but it's the truth.