African American - Latino World

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Langston Hughes of Cuba

Nicolás Guillen of Cuba

Two black poets, from two different cultures, who speak two different languages, but inspired by the same passion, which influenced world-class poetry on the same issues. Nicolás Guillen of Cuba (above) and Langston Hughes of the USA (below). Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen were both born in 1902. Both are of African decent, and both came from families committed to social change. They made the struggle for social justice for blacks and the oppressed their guiding principle in life and the inspiration for their poetry.

Langston Huhes, born in Joplin MO, and a major contributor to the Harlem Renaissance.

In March of 1930 Nicolás Guillen interviewed Langston Hughes for an article in a Cuban publication where he was quoted as saying, I live among my people; I love them; the blows they get hurt me to the core, and I sing their sorrows, I express their sadness, I put their anxieties to flight.

In the 1920s, when Afro-Cuban sounds and instruments were changing the world of Cuban music, Afro-Cuban culture began to spread to the realms of art and literature. Initially, Afro-Cuban poetry, or “negrista” poetry, was mainly published by white Cubans. It wasn’t until the 1930s when Guillén would appeal to the literary society by giving an accurate personal account of the struggles, dreams, and mannerisms in the Afro-Cuban community

Guillén is probably the best-known representative of the "poesía negra" (black poetry). His most famous works include Motivos de son, Sóngoro Cosongo, West Indies, Ltd., Cantos para soldados, and La paloma de vuelo popular: Elegías.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

My Panama Hats

I was never into hats, and for years I went through life hardly ever wearing one; even during cold winters in New York. When I returned from Ecuador wearing one of my souvenirs, the panama hat, I was pleasantly surprised by all the compliments I was getting, and those compliments never stopped coming. Soon, I started wearing my panama hat proudly. I bought hat ribbons of different colors to match my outfits. It was in a hat store in Oakland, CA where I learned that panama hats costs a minimum of $150.00. I bought mine in Ecuador for $22.00----handmade! Wow, little did I know that the panama hat is Ecuador's biggest export.

Gloria, a native of Quito, Ecuador, showed me about town and encouraged me to buy Ecuador's biggest export----the panama hat.

It was Gloria, a native of Quito, Ecuador whom I met through a FaceBook friend who accompanied me about town and to a popular tourist spot called La Mitad del Mundo on the equator. It was at La Mitad del Mundo where I went shopping for souvenirs when Gloria encouraged me to buy my first panama hat.

I'm on the equator wearing my newly purchased panama hat ($22.00, $150.00+ in the U.S.)

So, what's the big deal about the panama hat? Why do they call it a panama hat when it originally comes from Ecuador? The answer to this question goes all the back to the 16th Century when the Spanish came to Ecuador and saw the indigenous population wearing straw hats that covered their ears and their necks. These hats looked like the headdresses worn by nuns and widows back in Europe. Soon, the Spaniards themselves started wearing hats of the same material.

The toquilla straw is handwoven into panama hats.

Courtesy of

Panador Hats

In 1835, after Ecuador gained her independence from Spain, an entrepreneur established a hat production business using his own straw plantations and hired skilled weavers. He soon started exporting those hats to Panama since Panama was becoming an important commercial center. Later on he opened shops in Panama, which attracted the attention of buyers from around the world, who soon associated this Ecuadorian product with the country of Panama. Thus, the panama hat.

I've been getting a lot of compliments, especially from the women

with this Black Panama Hat from Panador

During my most recent trips to Colombia and Ecuador (for the second time), I bought several more hats of different styles to give to friends and add to my own collection.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Public Speaking before Spanish Audiences

I've won many public speaking awards, but never in the Spanish language before a Spanish-speaking audience. Most of my Spanish communication has been one-on-one where I feel most comfortable.

Especially to someone who cannot speak English. Bilingual people make me so nervous that I tend to forget simple words in Spanish.

Once I was being interviewed for a job by two people who happened to be Spanish speakers. They saw on my résumé that I studied Spanish in Cuba and Perú, and that I've provided services to Spanish-speaking people in the past. Well, not surprisingly, one of the interviewers asked me a question in Spanish. I started stumbling over my words until I broke down and gave them my fluently rehearsed response in Spanish: I speak better Spanish with those who cannot speak any English. Bilingual people like you make me nervous. They looked at each other and laughed but were quite impressed

University of Havana, Cuba

My limited experience in speaking before larger Spanish-speaking audiences began in Cuba when I was attending an orientation at the University of Havana's Spanish School for Foreigners. There was a large delegation of tutors listening to each of us give one to two-minute presentation on who we were and why we were in Cuba. Obviously, I did pretty good because I made everyone laugh with my punch line.

Never apologize or make excuses for anything you may or may not have done in public speaking. Ninety-eight percent of the time, the audience won't know the difference.

My second experience of public speaking before a Spanish audience took place when I was working as a vocational specialist at Arriba Juntos, a Latino-run job service agency. I voluntarily took the assignment of teaching a résumé-writing workshop, in Spanish, to Spanish-speaking immigrants feeling this will help improve my Spanish----it did. It was great to receive a letter from the program's director commending me on my performance. But years went by before I was asked to give another presentation, which is at my current place of employment where we also have a large Spanish-speaking clientele.

This assignment was basically on a short notice. On any public speaking assignment, I like to be thoroughly prepared. However, I was able to organize a good, informative workshop. The mistake that I made, and I should have known better being that I'm in Toastmasters, is that I told this monolingual Spanish-speaking audience that my Spanish was whack, and that I will be learning Spanish for the rest of my life (which is true; it takes years to master a language). I asked them to be patient with me while I share some important information about their job search.

In Toastmasters, we learn not to apologize or make excuse for anything we do or don't do in public speaking. Ninety-eight percent of the time the audience will not know the different because the are more interested in your message. In the end, we all had fun, and I even made them laugh a few times.

They all thanked me for my time, and the next day I got an e-mail stating how much they enjoyed my presentation.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

When I Was Cuban

For years, people have suggested and suspected that I just might be Cuban. Just because I rattled off some Spanish to some Spanish-speaking clients at a social service agency in Richmond CA, where I was working at the time, word spread rapidly among staff that I'm Cuban. Why? At a bus stop in a Spanish-speaking community in Oakland, CA, I casually struck up a Spanish-speaking conversation with a woman who was also waiting for a bus. Her immediate response to me was, ¡Ayyyyy, Cubano (ohhhh, you're Cuban)! Now, how did she figure? When I was on vacation in Southern Perú, I thought because I was in a heavily populated black area that I just might fit right in. No. As soon as my back was turned, I overheard someone ask about me, de dónde es, Cuba . (where is he from, Cuba)?. Now, what does Cuba have to do with me? Well, I actually had the opportunity to visit Cuba to find out.

While growing up in New York, I was influenced by my Puerto Rican neighbors to learn Spanish and love salsa music.

I must admit, I did feel at home. There was something about the energy of the Cuban people that made me feel like a long, lost member of the community who finally came home. Words cannot express how uplifted I felt to just walk about town hearing son-montuno music, charanga music, timba music and danzon music blaring from homes and businesses. One day, a group of us were strolling through Central Havana when we heard this loud salsa song coming out of a restaurant. I couldn't take it anymore. I literally reached out and grabbed a woman, and we danced right there in public. Of more than 150 cities and towns in 16 countries that I've visited in my life, Havana is the only place from which I returned feeling homesick; I mean very homesick!

I was born in St. Louis, MO, and lived in a closely knit African-American community called “The Ville.”

Does this make me Cuban? Well, total strangers in Havana assumed I was one until I opened my mouth (LOL)! They couldn't tell by my Spanish where I was from. What was clearly evident to them the moment I spoke----I am NOT Cuban! I can't even fake a Cuban accent. At a popular Havana night spot, I was so flattered when a lovely woman asked my date if she could cut in to dance with me. I took her into my arms and busted one of my favorite salsa moves. She was NOT impressed. She blurted out in astonishment, ¡tu bailas como extranjero/you dance like a foreigner!), and motioned for me to go sit down--go back my woman. I guess she thought I was Cuban too :::::::chuckle:::::::.

Even Cuban people thought I was Cuban until I opened my mouth!

The Cubans have a name for people like me. It's called “Yuma,” a slang word for an American, and rightfully so. I was born in St. Louis, MO and lived in what I remember was a closely knit African-American community called “The Ville” before moving to New York City. It was in New York, where I developed a love for classical music and jazz. But I developed and even greater love for salsa and became a salsero por vida (a salsa music lover for life).. The Spanish that I learned was influenced by my Puerto Rican neighbors, or should I say my New-Yorican neighbors (Puerto Rican born and/or raised in New York). Even a friend from the Island of Puerto Rico, told me that my Spanish has a New-Yorican accent. When I was in Perú and Ecuador, comments were made about my Spanish sounding Caribbean.

So, I have to ask----when was I ever Cuban? Could it have been in another life? I tend to think that just might be the case.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Humorous Encounter with Afro-Ecuadorians

A funny thing happened while riding the bus from Quito, Ecuador's capital to Valle de Chota, a black community of 2000 people in the Andes Mountains. As I made my way towards the back to use the restroom, I struck up a conversation with one of the many black passengers who was wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap. Being a native New Yorker myself, I had to ask if he knew what he was wearing. I asked because it has been my experience from traveling to different countries that people will wear hats and t-shirts with English writing with no clue to its meaning.

These young brothas of Chota Valley gave me
the scoop on their peaceful little hood.

For example, when I was in Cuba, I saw a woman walking along the beach wearing a New York Knicks jersey. Out of excitement, I shouted to her ¡Ay ¡es mi equipo (Hey, that's my team)! She looked at me as if she were asking, what are you talking about? Well, it turned out that she didn't know what she was wearing. Similarly, a lot of African-Americans wear African garments with no clue as to the specific tribal or cultural meaning behind the color and design-patterns of such garments.

This young man knew what he was wearing, and he pronounced “New York” well. As our conversation continued, everyone in the rear section of the bus noticed my funny accent. My Spanish is obviously not Ecuadorian, least of all, “Afro” Ecuadorian. They really paid close attention when a non-black woman who guessed that I am an American asked me a question in English. When I responded in English, all the blacks roared with laughter. It was like they never heard a black guy speak English before.

Juncal, the largest town in Valle de Chota (Chota Valley).

Immediately, my mind went back to the U.S.where Americans, even Latinos (who really should know better), are not used to blacks speaking Spanish. I myself have seen Latino (and African-American) people chuckle or go into shock when they hear me make statements or ask questions in clearly understood Spanish. Others look at me in utter astonishment as though I'm supposed to be limited to English and Ebonics. I'm wondering if the Afro-Ecuadorians on that bus feel that blacks should limited to Spanish only, or perhaps the Afro-Ecuadorian dialect. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Do All Latinos Look Alike?

Any one or all of these folks could be Latino.
One day while riding the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from San Francisco, where I work, to Oakland, where I live; I was engaged in conversation with two other black guys. One was Cuban and the other Colombian. Since the Colombian brother spoke limited English, we carried on our conversation in Spanish. These two guys didn't notice, but I got a real thrill out of observing whites, blacks, Asians, and Latinos (who really should know better) reacting in surprise because three “brothas” were conversing Spanish.

How can you possibly look at people and know for sure which language they can and cannot speak?

History tells us that more slaves ships went to Latin America than the U.S., thus there are more Spanish-speaking black folks than English-speaking black folks. Furthermore, I've had the pleasure of meeting Latinos of Asian, Middle Eastern, German, and Indigenous ancestry. So, why do so many people feel they can simply look at someone and determine which language one speaks? WELL, I'M LISTENING!!!

Please the comment section below and educate me.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

My Valued Souvenir from Perú

Proudly wearing the jersey of a Historically Black Peruvian Soccer Team

As I strolled through one of Lima, Perú's most dangerous districts, La Victoria, where a stadium is located housing Perú's famous Alianza Lima soccer team, no one gave me a second look, let alone tried to harm me. Peruvians told me that no one messed with me because they though I was “familia” (Afro-Peruvian).

The Alejandro Villanueva Stadium where Alianza Lima play their home games.

Instead, people came over to me jubilantly shaking my hand; others drove by giving me the thumbs up and honking their horns shouting ALIANZA LIMA-A-A-A-A-A-! These folks, are hard-core fans of Alianza Lima. It was the jersey that I was wearing that attracted so much positive attention for I too, like Barack Obama, by the way, am a fan of Alianza Lima.

Alianza Lima, winner of 22 national titles.

Before my first trip to Perú, many warned me about venturing into La Victoria, particularly alone. They told me that I was crazy and that this district is no joke. When I arrived in Perú, the family with whom I was staying also warned me about La Victoria. But I had to go.

To help ensure my safety, I flagged down three different taxis. When I told them that I wanted to see La Victoria, they looked at me trying to keep from laughing, then drove off shaking their heads. I finally hired a taxi to show me around. The only time I got out of the taxi was to take pictures of Alianza Lima's stadium, named after the black superstar Alejandro Villanueva, considered the first great soccer player in Perú's history.

El Nene (the Kid) Teófilo Cubillas, Peru's all-time leading scorer and two-time world cup soccer star.

Several days later, I got a little bolder and took a combi (van serving as a bus) into La Victoria's main square and started walking around. Someone greeted me with the word's, ¿Qué pasó, familia? (what's up, bruh?) I just smiled, waved, and kept stepping. He most likely thought I was Afro-Peruvian, I didn't want my gringo accent to reveal otherwise.

The stadium which Alianza Lima play their home games is named

after superstar Alejandro Villanueva, pictured above.

The reason I'm so fascinated with La Victoria and its team Alianza Lima, or Alianza Lima Grone (Grone is Negro spelled backwards) is that this historically black team has won over 20 national titles. This is the team that produced black superstars such as Alejandro Villanueva of the 1930s and Teófilo Cubillas who was part of the Peruvian national team that won the 1975 American Cup, and reached the quarter finals at the 1970 and 1978 World Cup competitions.

After several trips to Perú, I made friends with a black family from La Victoria, and rented a room on their property for several nights. In this community hardly anyone speaks any English so all of my communication was in Spanish. However one evening, I happened to pass by a Peruvian National Police officer; as our eyes met, I guess he can tell by the way was was walking (swag movements) that I am black American, he blurted out in English, "how ya doin, man?” LOL.