Ethnic Politics

Varying levels of racial inequality have existed for many years in Latin America and have often been pushed aside to make way for “greater,” more pressing issues. As Deborah Yashar describes in one of this week’s readings, “although Latin America boasts a rich and diverse citizenry – … questions about ethnic difference were long suppressed.” The extensive categorization of identities was described as a system that allowed citizens fluidity to identify as they chose. At first glance, this ability to pass as different races seems to be a positive way to appease differences, when in fact negligently overlooks the systemic oppression casta classes, or castes, created for any person of color in Latin America from colonialism to the present. I agree with Yashar in the sense that celebrating this newfound racial diversity does not resolve the fact that many Afro-Latinos remain disproportionately disadvantaged to their lighter counterparts. In fact, Afro-Latinos are often denied of their African heritage in Latin America. It is also noted in the readings that indigenous peoples weren’t even allowed to describe themselves as indigenous, having to resort to being called a peasant under populist regimes. In doing so, leaders such as General Juan Velasco Alvarado are effectively engaging in an indirect form of genocide by forcing the elimination of entire histories of indigenous peoples.

With this in mind, I find the data findings almost humorous in how obvious the chains of the events are. By calling a group of people’s identities into question and continuing to perpetuate colonial mentalities (i.e. assimilation, homogeneity, etc) as well as reduce/eliminate funding and access to “the state, social welfare, and land security,” it is to be expected that indigenous and colored communities alike would take action. It is disappointing to think it took as long as it has to allow minority populations a chance to sit at the table.