In Mexico, More Than a Million Afro-Mexicans Are Struggling to Save Their Identity Janila Castaneda - Konbini
go to original November 22, 2016

Underrepresented Afro-Mexican communities are working to change the Constitution to earn their basic rights like healthcare and education. CCTV America's Franc Contreras reports. (CCTV America)

In the south of Mexico, specifically a place called Costa Chica in Oaxaca, there is a Mexican community of African descent that struggles on a daily basis to receive acknowledgement and save their identity. Arriving to Mexico as slaves from Africa in the 16th century, this part of the population has suffered rejection and discrimination among the Mexican population.

The rejection has been so severe, that to this day the Mexican government hasn’t officially recognized them as a minority, and and as such, they don’y enjoy the same rights and privileges as the rest of the Mexicans. Just as the BBC reports, it was until 2015 that this part of the population was taken into account in the national census.

Year after year, the Afro-Mexican community celebrates different events at the Afro Festival held in Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero to save and protect their identity.

Afro Festival held in Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero (Transit/Picturetank)

Like this initiative, we find more and more people willing to change this reality of discrimination. Such is the case of Samantha Leyva, an Afro-Mexican that was crowned Miss Guerrero this year. Through this acknowledgement, she has used her voice in favor of the black community in Mexico.

Miss Guerrero, Samantha Leyva (samanthaaleyva/Instagram)

Read the rest at Konbini

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