Book Description

Latin Americans of African ancestry have historically been an oppressed and neglected minority. Almost all descended from slaves, and numbering perhaps 125 million people, they have generally been denied access to power, influence or material progress. While Afro-Latin Americans have frequently challenged their oppression, with some success, and have seen many aspects of their culture absorbed into mainstream Latin American life, persistent myths of 'colour-blind racial democracy' and blanqueamiento ('whitening') mask the insidious and often brutal reality of the discrimination they face. Written by scholars from many countries, No Longer Invisible charts the Afro-Latin American experience from slavery to contemporary times, showing the contrasts as well as the similarities across the region. Intended both for specialists and for interested general readers, the book makes an important contribution to the study of racism and anti-racism in Latin America today. The distinct but extraordinarily diverse ethnic and cultural identities of Afro-Latin Americans have received little official recognition. But today a growing movement is voicing pride in the Afro-Latin American heritage, asserting common identities and working to defend and advance collective rights. This fascinating book provides a major human-rights-focused survey that aims to reflect and be part of that process of rediscovery and renewal. Each chapter considers a particular country or subregion. The authors discuss the historical background, the legacy of resistance to oppression, how members of the minorities see themselves, their culture, the contemporary experience of discrimination, contrasting ethnic identities assumed by women and men, collective aspirations, the struggle for equality, and future prospects. The book also includes a wide-ranging general introduction, a final chapter that poses fundamental questions about comparative race relations in the Americas and beyond, a regional population map and black-and-white photographs. Please note that the terminology in the fields of minority rights and indigenous peoples’ rights has changed over time. MRG strives to reflect these changes as well as respect the right to self-identification on the part of minorities and indigenous peoples. At the same time, after over 50 years’ work, we know that our archive is of considerable interest to activists and researchers. Therefore, we make available as much of our back catalogue as possible, while being aware that the language used may not reflect current thinking on these issues.