A Short History of Afro-Latin American Studies, 1890–2020 - Study Notes Reading 1

A SHORT HISTORY OF AFRO-LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES, 1890–2020

Introduction to Afro-Latin American Studies

• The term "Afro-Latin America" first emerged in academic literature in the late 1960s.

• The term gained prominence in the 1970s, alongside the rise of Black political and cultural movements in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and other areas.

• In the 1980s and 1990s, increased attention from Latin American and international scholars focused on issues surrounding Black history, culture, and race.

• The 21st century has witnessed exponential growth in this field, now recognized as Afro-Latin American Studies.

  • This growth reflects the need for:

  • Analytical, theoretical, and empirical understanding of race.

  • Insights into the lived experiences of Black individuals, as well as White, Indigenous, and multiracial identities.

  • Development of policy tools aimed at achieving racial equity and citizenship in Latin America.

• The chapter provides a historical overview from 1900 to the present, featuring key developments and core debates that shaped Afro-Latin American Studies.

• The narrative operates within two focal aspects:

  • Transnational discussions among scholars, activists, and policymakers.

  • National efforts led by Afrodescendant activists for full integration into societal structures.

Precursors of Afro-Latin American Studies (1890–1930)

• Historical Context of Enslaved Africans:

  • 10.7 million enslaved Africans reached the New World between 1500 and 1870, with 6.8 million arriving in Spanish America and Brazil.

  • By the 1820s, six countries featured majority Afrodescendant populations (e.g., Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela), while four others had significant Afrodescendant minorities (30–50%).

• Scholarly Attention to Slavery:

  • Early scholarly studies on slavery were conducted by José Antonio Saco (Cuba) and Agostinho Marques Perdigão Malheiro (Brazil).

  • First-person testimonials emerged from figures like Juan Francisco Manzano (Cuba, 1840) and Mahommah Baquaqua (1854).

  • The abolishment of slavery in Cuba (1886) and Brazil (1888) transitioned the focus towards the large Afrodescendant populations.

• Influence of Scientific Racism:

  • The intellectual currents of the time were informed by figures such as Arthur de Gobineau and Georges Vacher de Lapouge, fostering scientific racism in academic endeavors.

  • Scholars like Raimundo Nina Rodrigues (Brazil) and Fernando Ortiz (Cuba) defined their investigations around the concept of “the Black problem.”

  • Rodrigues claimed: "the Black race will always be one of the factors of our inferiority" in Brazil.

  • Ortiz described an “Afro-Cuban underworld,” arguing that systemic criminality was culturally distinct among racial groups.

  • Ortiz promoted the notion of upward mobility for Afro-Cubans, challenging the notion of genetic inferiority.

• Additional Precursors:

  • Manuel Raimundo Querino emphasized the contributions of Afrodescendants to Brazil's national identity.

  • Evaristo de Moraes analyzed racial relations in Brazil and the U.S., shaping labor laws.

  • Arturo Alfonso Schomburg fostered literacy and an understanding of Afro-Latin American figures in North America through his writings and collections.

Rehabilitating African Culture (1920–1960)

• Ortiz and Rodrigues acknowledged the complexities of African-based cultural forms in the 1920s.

• Ortiz founded the Sociedad de Folklore Cubano (1924) and later the Sociedad de Estudios Afrocubanos (1936) focused on African-based cultural studies.

• The 1930s and 1940s saw significant efforts to rehabilitate African culture influenced by Melville Herskovits’ anthropological work on cultural survivals.

• Cultural Resistance and National Identity:

  • Latin America faced pressures against European cultural superiority post-World War I and the Great Depression.

  • Afro-Latin writers advocated for recognition of their roles in national independence and demanded equal civic status.

  • Brazilian intellectuals conceptualized racial fraternity as essential for national unity and inclusion.

• Figures like Gilberto Freyre, Arthur Ramos, and Edison Carneiro published significant works exploring race and culture in Brazil.

  • Freyre’s "Casa-grande e senzala" (1933) portrayed social dynamics of plantation slavery as a pathway to democratization.

  • Frank Tannenbaum extended this narrative to all of Latin America, positing easier paths to freedom and citizenship for Africans.

Racial Democracy (1940–1970)

• This period witnessed critical examinations of racial democracy, particularly examining the claims made by Freyre and Tannenbaum.

  • Afro-Latin writers challenged assertions of societal harmony amidst evident racial inequalities.

  • The Congresso do Negro Brasileiro (1950) aimed at actionable measures for improving the societal standing of Afrodescendants.

  • Increased academic inquiry by sociologists and historians during this period indicated ongoing racial discrimination.

Formation of the Field (1970–1990)

• Post-World War II socio-economic conditions catalyzed Black political movements demanding racial equality.

• Black organizations emerged across Latin America focusing on rewriting national histories.

• Academic institutions began establishing programs to support research on Black populations, spurred by efforts from UNESCO and others.

• The 1977 emergence of the term "Afro-Latin America" in activist circles marked a defining moment in the discipline.

Consolidation of Afro-Latin American Studies (1990–2020)

• The visibility of Black movements led to increased academic interest and the establishment of specialized research programs and journals focusing on Afro-Latin American themes.

• New academic environments facilitated dialogue and collaboration among scholars across Latin America and the U.S.

• Three significant trends emerged:

  • Extension of scholarship beyond traditional centers (Brazil, Cuba).

  • Access to new data on racial inequality informing contemporary policies.

  • Increased emphasis on Black agency and voices in academic discourse.

Conclusion and Future Directions

• The evolution of Afro-Latin American Studies highlights its potential to contribute meaningfully to global discussions on race and social justice.

• Contemporary scholars continue to privilege Black narratives, examining their historical and ongoing struggles within Latin American contexts.