The Racial Struggle of Afro-Cubans Essays -- Race Ethnicity Discrimina

The Racial Struggle of Afro-Cubans Introduction Afro-Cubans struggled to no avail for racial equality between the years 1886-1912. The slaughter of protesting blacks in 1912 shows that the battle cries for equality of Antonio Maceo and Josà © Martà © during the war for independence had dissolved. What was left was a unequal Cuban society, divided racially and fearing a black revolution. Aline Helg speaks directly to this issue in her book Our Rightful Share: The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality, 1886-1912. The aforementioned period was one in which the nation’s formation was taking place, thus the unsuccessful attempt at equality has left difficult remnants of racial inequality buried deeply in the fabric of the nation. The Unique Cuban Situation According to Aline Helg In discussing the experience of blacks in Cuba between 1886-1912, Helg gives six "Cuban particularities" which made the experience what it was. She first mentions how Cuba’s racial construct strayed from the norm in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba had a two-tier racial system where the group of "others" did not differentiate between mulattoes and blacks. In the other Latin American and Caribbean societies, multi-tier racial systems existed where the stratifications were numerous. Helg suggests that the joining of all blacks and mulattoes into one group may have stemmed from the Conspiracy of La Escalera in 1844, in which both free blacks and slaves were accused of plotting an insurrection against the white Spanish domination. Helg is also quick to point out the differences between the two-tier racial system in the United States, and that of Cuba. In Cuba, the distinction is made by visible physical differences, whereas the United States racial line is... ...from el Oriente initiated everything with their rebellion. It is an important distinction to make I think, because it not only places the blame where the blame belongs, but it also highlights the idea that racial myths put Afro-Cubans in a no-win situation. The lack of further open protest after the massacre of 1912 showed the sense that more protest would only lead to more extensive repression. Similar to the punishment of slave resistance before abolition, the punishment inflicted upon the Afro-Cubans in 1912 showed the Afro-Cubans were still to be considered lesser and somehow less human (Helg 1995, p. 241). These inequalities have reached as far as today, with remnants of racial inequality easily visible in the disproportionate number of Afro-Cubans in high ranking positions in society. Afro-Cubans yearned and continue to yearn to attain their "rightful share".