Images of Latin American mestizaje and the politics of comparison

The social construction of Afro-descendant rights in Colombia

“…However, the ideology of mestizaje has served to assimilate Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples denying their histories, cultures and contributions to their nations (de Friedman and Arocha 1995). Rather than removing racial categories, the ideology of mestizaje actually reconstructs categories re-establishing a basis for racism (Wade 2004). Both mestizaje and the myth of racial democracy were extremely influential in shaping racial discourse throughout the region, denying the existence of racism and creating barriers for Afro-descendant movements to make claims for racial justice (Safa 1998;Htun 2004;Reichmann 1999;Ng'weno 2012;Morrison 2012).…”

“…In Latin America, outside of the Brazilian context, the ideology of mestizaje was based on a binary between white European and indigenous peoples, promoting romantic celebration of an indigenous past, while excluding Afro-descendants (Paschel 2010;Wade 1997). This 'indigenous inclusion, black exclusion' (Hooker 2005) translated to a lack of policies and legislation recognising the existence and rights of Afro-descendants.…”

“…This ethnic rights discourse, however, provided limited space for inclusion of Afro-descendants, who had traditionally been imagined along racial rather than cultural/ethnic lines (Wade 1997). Only some of the States that adopted new constitutions included rights for their Afro-descendant populations, and these were much more limited in scope than those provided for indigenous peoples (Hooker 2005).…”

“…2 Some Afro-Colombian civil society organisations point out that presenting a case based on racial discrimination can have little audience, while emphasising cultural difference is more effective (Wade 2009;Paschel 2010).…”

Maya Exodus: Indigenous Struggle for Citizenship in Chiapas

“…Keeping the discrimination the Catholic Pedranos face in their daily lives relegated to their ethnicity, Moksnes overlooks the fact that racism against Indigenous peoples occurs in Mexico (Fortes de Leff, 2002;Moreno Figueroa, 2008a, 2008bOrtiz-Hernandez, Compean-Dardon, Verde-Flota, & FloresMartinez, 2011;Wade, 2004). Given that racism can be explained by prejudicial and discriminatory practices put into action through systematic, structural and individual ways, the lack of rights Pedrano Maya face are the result of the racist ideals that are deeply imbedded in municipal, state and federal politics.…”