Afro-Argentineans

In one of my first posts on the Blogspot version of Beautiful Horizons I commented on the fact that the Afro-Argentinean which was about 25% of Buenos Aires' population in 1838 was down to 2% of the population in 1887. I asked "What happened to the Afro-Argentinean population?"

Apparently the rumors of its demise have been greatly exaggerated:

The results are only partially compiled, but they suggest that many of the black Argentines did not vanish; they just faded into the mixed-race populace and became lost to demography. According to some researchers, as many as 10 percent of Buenos Aires residents are partly descended from black Argentines but have no idea.

''People for years have accepted the idea that there are no black people in Argentina,'' said Miriam Gomes, a professor of literature at the University of Buenos Aires who is part black and considers herself Afro-Argentine. "Even the schoolbooks here accepted this as a fact. But where did that leave me?''

This is a fascinating article. I urge you to read it. If the study is borne out by the empirical data, then this could shatter the old cliche that "Argentineans are Italians who speak Spanish and think they’re British."

So, Leandro Desabato, not only did your comments shame your country and team, but you may have insulted 10% of your fellow porteños.

Comments

[boz]

I saw this one in the Washington Post the other day. It makes me question whether the same is true of Argentina's plains indigenous population. The indigneous populations you see today in BsAs are mostly Mapuche from Chile, Guiarni from Paraguay or Quechua or Ayamara from the Andes (and forgive my spelling). All of the indigenous plains tribes from the Eastern Pampa were allegedly killed off by the military and disease, but I've always wondered whether a section of them survived genetically.

Of course, my Argentine relatives, like every Argentine, would simply tell you that their family tree is completely from Europe... It's a hard cultural barrier to cross.

[Carlos]

Sure, there may be a very, very small segment of population of African origin in Buenos Aires but compared with Montevideo, for example, just across the river, is almost negligeable. This is quite surprising for two cities that close, especially since Uruguay was once a province of Argentina. I am Uruguayan, have been to Buenos Aires many times (my ex is Argentinian) and I've always been intrigued by the lack of population of African origin there. In Montevideo, you see black people routinely on the street, there is a vital Afro musical scene, etc. but in Buenos Aires, if you see a black person, you can bet that it's a Uruguayan inmigrant.

[The Heretik]

Linked to you here in The Heretik celebration: American Mongrel

Stop by and vote for your favorite (mixed race, mixed religion, color or all of the above) who makes America great! I really enjoy coming by here. Thanks.

[A.M. Mora y Leon]

I have always been struck by the fact that tango has strong African origins. I had always wondered where it came from, given that the country is whiter than the U.S. and Europe are, and given the tendency of Argentinos to look down on their Brazilian neighbors because of their 'African social indicators.' (I did not make that term up.) Turns out the Argentinos are racial cafes-au-lait same as the rest of the hemisphere!

[Jorge]

Another usual explanation here in Argentina: many afro-argentinean were sent to the war with Paraguay, at the end of the 19th century. Is a very common explanation, but i don´t know how exactly is, in historical sense.

The Leandro DeSabato scandal is another problem. Here in Argentina, racism is an importan problem. It´s very common to hear racist insults at football stadiums. But Desabato was set free because the brazilian police didn't obtain proofs about the accusations (the video image wasn't clear). Racism is an important problem in Argentina, but the facts are the facts.

[Jeff]

Informative posting. I´ve been in search of the mythical Afro-Argentine for a few years now and commented on it over at baires.elsur.org

[Edwin]

Hi,

I happen to take a big interest in the culture/history of the Afroargentines.

Through the years I have been able to obtain a small collection of Tango/Milonga/Candombe Piano Sheet Music with photos/drawings of "AfroArgentines".

There is an official argentine postal stamp with the picture of an Afroargentine soldier which I have and also a slave document of an Black Argentine Slave dating from the mid 1700's from buenos aires.

Also have an autographed picture of Oscar Aleman who was a great Afroargentine Jazz guitarist and accompanied the great African American "Josephine Baker" in Europe.

The Afroargentines presently exist!!!

There will be another documentary about the Afroargentines coming out in the next couple of years so be in the look out for it!