Afro-Descendant Activism in Argentina, A Conversation with Black Legal Scholars
A conversation with Black legal scholars/activists who represent the Afro-descendant population within Argentina.
OAFRO is a legal aid organization that provides free legal and professional services to the Afro-descendant populations in Argentina. Born from the injustices, racism and disrcimination that Afro-Argentines face, OFARO was developed by five black legal scholars and activists: Madoda Ntka, Esq., Patrcia Gomes, Moustafa Sene, Mailen Lamadrid and Ali Delgado. After over 100 years of neglect from the government, the Afro-Argentine population is ready to be represented politically, socially and demographically. OAFRO has been instrumental in advocating for the rights and social justice for the Afro-descendant population.
This conversation was hosted by the Loisaida Community Center and led by Dr. Judith Anderson. This article is a summary of the major topics that were discussed during this conversation.
History of Argentina
Argentina has one of the least visible black populations in Latin America, yet, compared to other ethnic groups, the Afro-Argentine population faces the most violence and discrimintion. Representatives from OAFRO shared not only their lived experience of being Black in Argentina, but the legal, social and political hardships that Afro-Argentines face.
One of the most damaging acts against Afro-Argentines has been the eradication of blackness from the census, “From 1887-2010 there was no way to identity being Afro-descendant on the census or on any Black official state records” - (SOURCE). Whitening has been such a powerful tool in constructing the socio-political ethos of Argentina that a preference for Euro-centrism is even stated in the constitution.
To learn more about this topic, please refer to Dr. Judith Anderson’s scholarly work.
Laws and Policies for Afro-Descendants
Buenos Aires has a large number of African migrants. During the 1990s, there was a great influx of migrants from Ghana, Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire, along with a growing number of about 5,000 Senegalese people. One of the most pressing issues for the African migrants in Argentina is police brutality and discrimintion, as many of the African migrants are street vendors, and often face harassment from the public.
Indeed, Afro-Argentines have faced a great amount of problems due to lack of laws that protect them, despite an anti-discrimination bill that was passed in 1988. One of the biggest victories was a powerful law that celebrates Afro-Argentine people .
Black Women in Argentina
Historically, Afro-Argentine women have held an important role in social and political justice. For example, on July 25th, 1992, Afro-descendant women from 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries (including Argentina) met in the Dominican Republic to make their struggle and resistance visible, and to define political advocacy through an intersectional perspective. July 25th is now established as the International Day of Afro-Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and Diaspora Women.
OAFRO Cases
OAFRO was established in 2020 by five lawyers. They do not receive any private or public assistance and are dedicated to serving the people. One of the founders, Madoda Ntka, commented, “We receive cases on a variety of issues, including immirgation, discrimation, harassment in the academic place, violence and brutality”
Being Black in Law School
Black law school students in Argentina are underrepresented in both the textbooks and in the classroom. This can often lead to racism and the feeling of being categorized as foreigners.
Ali Delago shared his experience of being a Black law school student in Argentina:
“First, you only learn and read about rich white people. Oftentime, you do not learn about racism nor see any Black people in the University. If you do not have the tools, you would know that other Black people exist, but if you don't have those tools, then you won’t know. The other thing is that most teachers are racist to black people, they only think that you are a foreigner and think that you are not from Argentina.”
Afro-Argentine’s VS. Surrounding Population- How do they compare?
Ali Delago compares how Afro-descendant people are treated in various South American countries.
“Compared to surrounding countries we are doing worse than others. Compared to Uruguay, we are worse. There, they have a quota for the Afro-descendant population. 8 percent of the state workers have to be Afro-descendant, however most have the worst jobs, but they are more advanced in their movement. Brazil has affirmative action to enter the university in Brazil through public policies. However Chile is worse than us.
Patrica and Ali created the first course on anti-racism made for and by Afro-Argentine people for a university. Patrica states:
“ It was the first course in anti-racism and was created by Afro-Argentine people. We created it with the help of people with Afro-descendant students and white students. We have another group where we share this kind of experience and we would like to create a protocol”
Conclusion
OAFRO provides the Afro-Argentine community not only with legal representation, but also with a platform for Afro-Argentines to have a voice. By continuing its work OAFRO is making a shift in how we understand Black identity in Argentina.
In order to learn more about OAFRO and Afro- Argentine communities, please visit the Black Teaching Artist Lab Resource Center.
History of Argentina
“Will the Real Negros Please Stand Up? Understanding the Politics of Black Identity in Buenos Aires, Argentina.” Transforming Anthropology 23(2): 69-78. 2015.
“Augusto Perelovski.” In Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro-Latin American Biography. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. y Franklin W. Knight, ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Online, 2016.
“Neoliberal Dilemmas: Diaspora, Displacement, and Development in Buenos Aires.” In Afro-Descendants, Identity, and the Struggle for Development in the Americas. Bernd Reiter and Kimberly Elson Simmons, eds. Pp. 269-289. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. 2012.
Laws and Policies for Afro-Descendants
“Blackness, Race, and Politics in Argentina.” Encyclopedia of Latin American Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. In press.
“The Impossible Black Argentine Political Subject.” In Comparative Racial Politics in Latin America. Kwame Dixon and Ollie A. Johnson, III, eds. Pp. 211-228. London: Routledge. 2018.
Black Women in Argentina
“The Performance of Race, Nation, and Gender in the Lives of Rita Montero and Josephine Baker.” In Afro-Argentines in the 20th Century. Lea Geler and Robert Cottrol, eds. University of New Mexico Press. In press.
Race and Identity
“Rita Montero: Linking Black Identity in Argentina and the United States.” International Journal of Africana Studies, Special Issue on Afro-Latinos in the United States: An Ongoing Dialogue 18(2): 59-82. 2017.
“A Million Little Ways: Racism and Everyday Performances of Blackness in Buenos Aires.” Theme Issue, ‘There are no Blacks in Argentina’: Policing the Racial Border,” African and Black Diaspora: An International Journal 7(2): 165- 176. 2014.
“Where to Find Black Identity in Buenos Aires.” In Black Subjects: Race and Research in Africa and the Atlantic World. Benjamin Talton and Quincy T. Mills, eds. Pp. 55-76. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2011.