A Young Latina's Introduction to the African Diaspora

It was during my first trip to El Carmen, Perú when I met thee-year-old Daniela. My heart automatically connected with her. Although, I'm generally a very logical person, I have no explanation as to why I developed such an immediate fondness.

After returning to the US, I would call Daniela's family from time to time. When Daniela got to be about five years of age, I told her over the phone that she is my “niece.” She immediately asked me if she could be my “daughter.” I was so touched by that request that I now refer to her as “mi hija (my daughter)” to members of her community, and Daniela refers to me as “su papi en Estados Unidos (her daddy in the United States).” 

Daniela at age 7 and me during my second trip to Perú

I always try to find creative ways to educate and enrich Daniela's life during my limited contact with her by phone and during my Peruvian vacations. I teach her a little English and basic computer skills. I have even drilled her on her math, and taught her to play Scrabble, Monopoly, and Chess.

When people contact me through my blog or on my Facebook and Couchsurfing accounts expressing a desire to connect with Peruvian members of the African Diaspora, I always connect with them Perú's famous black musical family, the Ballumbrosios; Daniela's next door neighbors. This is the family I stay with when I make my my visits to El Carmen, Perú. Each of the visitors that I refer to the Ballumbrosios are encouraged to meet Daniela and show her some love; even buy her favorite ice cream. These visitors, primarily are blacks from the United States, England, and Nigeria.

 

Daniela at age 8 with Danielle of Great Britain

I want Daniela, in particular, to connect with African-Americans and get a good feeling about my community here in the US. So many people around the world, including blacks, are fed a lot of negative stereotypes about black Americans. Blacks from foreign countries have told me that the reason why so many of them keep African-Americans at a distance when they come to this country is because they believe what they see and hear through the media and through personal messages.

Kumbi (R) of Nigeria with Daniela's next 
door neighbor Maribel Ballumbrosio (L)

Fortunately Afro-Peruvians, from my experience, have positive views African-Americans. Many, like Rinaldo Campos, the late founder of the world famous dance troupe Perú Negro (Perú's version of Alvin Ailey's Dance Theater of Harlem) was inspired by the African-American black pride movement of the 1960s. And there is Monica Carrillo, leader of Lundú—one of Peru's civil rights organizations who was inspired by the US's civil rights movement..

As Daniela grows into maturity, I want her to have the same positive views of the African Diaspora outside of Perú, and above all, the African-American community. I want her to remember the love that she received from cultured, African-American people who visited her, and if she ever hears any of the negative stereotypes, she will know better from personal experience.

Challenges of Blacks in Central America and the United States of America

 After watching the premiere showing of the film Garífuna in Peril, about black communitiesin Honduras as well as those in Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua losing their land, it is a strong reminder of what black communities face here in the US. My friend and fellow member of a 5000+-member black owned travel group, NomadnessTravel Tribe, is a community leader in San Francisco, California, whom I invited to express her views regarding the challenges of black communities in the USA and in Central America.

Guest Post

by

Veronica (Shepard) Tetteh-Quaye

Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to see a movie titled Garífuna in Peril, about black community in Honduras, as well as Beliz Guatemala, and Nicaragua, losing their land to tourism. It was a remarkable story of a teacher in Los Angeles and his journey to open a school in his home in Honduras. Even though I was born and raised in the Bayview Hunter’s Point, a historically black community in San Francisco, California, this story touched on so many experiences my community faced and faces each day. The story was funny, moving, historical and most of all powerful. The similarities of trying to retain a rich Garífuna culture and gentrification in the Bayview Hunters Point struck a powerful cord in me. A people (Garífuna & African American’s in the Bayview and elsewhere) whose desire to be treated with respect and dignity resonated on the film and in my heart as I watched each scene.  

I personally could relate to the main character, Ricardo whose desire is to teach his community the importance of knowing their history and language.  Not to lose their identity or the rich customs that he grew up with in Honduras. It literally “Takes A Village” to grow, heal and prosper and when we depart or assimilate to other ideologies our customs become convoluted and lost. Watching Ricardo’s brother Miguel being deceived to sell his land for $5000 as a huge resort plans their own expansion is the same as watching residents today in my community of Bayview Hunters Point seeing homes being built on a toxic old shipyard site while developer’s try to get the community to believe it’s for our best interest was disheartening. Listening to Ricardo’s son learn the importance of speaking the Garíuna’s language and staying connected reminded me of a summer program I just finished with youth in my own community as they were amazed how connected all the families were when I grew up in the same community over 50 years ago. I could see how traditions have been lost in my community and the trade-off of school busing, technology and displacement destroys a neighborhood that is not allowed access in the global workplace. Now this same community is plagued with the highest rates of violence, poverty, unemployment, and chronic illness than any other neighborhood in San Francisco. 

Even though this movie was based in a land 2,800 miles away from San Francisco, I felt this same story could have been made in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood with just different names and language. It is clear that black people universally must both solve their own problems and structure a local, national and universal plan of actions that put our priorities first and foremost. Self-empowerment is the only road to economic justice. Knowing “Our History” keep us connected as a people. Freedom is never Free, but we must learn to stop hating ourselves because of our heritage and mobilize ourselves to fight the inherited legacy of permanent poverty and powerlessness. We need to be showing this in classrooms everywhere and teach our African America, Latino, and other community members the richness of our heritage. I recommend everyone of African descent to see this movie.  

 If you are in the Oakland, California area you are invited to see a second showing of this film on Friday, September 17, 7:00 pm at East Side Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd (23^rd Avenue).

Presented by Cine+Mas San Francisco Latino Film Festival

www.sflatinofilmfestival.com

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/448766

(415) 754-9580

Where Are the Black People?

The African Diaspora consists of peoples of African origin living outside the continent of Africa, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality.

Why aren't more African-Americans showing up at events dealing with the African diaspora?

I just returned from the San Francisco Museum of the African Diaspora where I work as a volunteer, and I am always bewildered by a relatively small African-American crowd. It seems every time I attend any event that involves Afro-Latinos, Afro-Europeans, Afro-Asians, and continental African cultures, there is only a handful of African-Americans who attend. The room is filled with mostly whites, non-black Latinos, and even Asians who are not only interested in African diasporic cultures, but seem articulate and knowledgeable of them.

Most of the lecture series I attend are related to African-American and Afro-Latino cultures because they are close to my life experience, but I also take interest in the others for an all-round understanding of how my roots are being manifested throughout the world.

Museum of the African Diaspora

Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD)

685 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

As a paid member and volunteer, I was attracted to MOAD because of my thirst for knowledge, not only of the African continent, but those of African heritage living in Mexico, Israel, Perú, France, and other parts of the world.

http://www.moadsf.org/

The museum is a three-story building containing, among many things, exhibits, a family room, a gift shop, films, and a research center. Most of my focus at the museum, however, has been in the Maya Angelou Lecture Room to hear experts lecturing on the African influence on Latin America.

Long standing Bay Area musician and Afro-musicologist John Santos (left) presents on African Spiritual Practices and its impact on Latin music today.

Musicologist and author Ned Sublette (left), author of the book Cuba & Its Music: From the First Drum to the Mambo gave a presentation on African music and it's impact on all of Latin America.





We had a lecturer from New York presenting on Afro-Puerto Rican history and culture focusing on the predominately black Loiza, Puerto Rico

The African Diaspora

Museum of the African Diaspora
(MOAD)
San Francisco, CA