AFRO CUBA: The African Diaspora in CUBA Part 1
Summary
TLDRThis video series explores the African diaspora in Cuba, covering its history, religion, cuisine, and culture. Part one provides an overview, while part two delves into Afro-Cuban practices post-revolution. The script discusses the significant Afro-Cuban population, their contributions to Cuban independence, and the challenges they faced, including racial discrimination and the struggle for recognition. It also highlights the 1912 massacre and the Afro-Cubanismo movement, emphasizing the ongoing fight against racism and the celebration of Afro-Cuban heritage.
Takeaways
- 📜 The African diaspora in Cuba is significant, with around 30-60% of the population being Black or mixed-race, though accurate statistics are difficult to obtain.
- 🌍 The majority of Afro-Cubans live in the eastern half of the island, with multiple ethnic groups represented, including descendants from Jamaica and Haiti.
- 🙏 Religion in Cuba is influenced by African traditions, with Catholicism closely tied to Santería, a widely practiced Afro-Cuban religion.
- ⛏️ Enslaved Africans were brought to Cuba as early as 1513, initially to work in copper mines and later in sugar and tobacco production, which became major industries.
- ⚔️ Slave uprisings were common in Cuba, with notable revolts such as the Aponte conspiracy of 1812, which was led by José Antonio Aponte, a free man of Yoruba origin.
- 🗿 Cuba has monuments commemorating slave resistance, including the Monumental Cimarron and a statue of Carlotta Lukumi, a leader in the 1843 rebellion.
- 🏛️ Afro-Cubans played a key role in Cuba's War of Independence, with figures like Antonio Maceo, a mixed-race military commander, being instrumental in the fight against Spain.
- 🚫 The Cuban government attempted racial whitening in the early 1890s by encouraging European immigration, but the process largely failed.
- 💀 In 1912, thousands of Afro-Cubans were massacred during the suppression of the Independent Party of Color, a movement advocating for civil rights for the Black community.
- 🎨 Afro-Cubanism emerged in the 1920s, celebrating Afro-Cuban culture and challenging racial oppression, with key figures like Nicolás Guillén and Fernando Ortiz leading the movement.
Q & A
What is the African diaspora in Cuba?
-The African diaspora in Cuba refers to the community of people of African descent who have been dispersed throughout Cuba, influencing the island's culture, religion, and history.
Why are accurate statistics on the Afro-Cuban population difficult to obtain?
-Accurate statistics are difficult to obtain due to the lack of research into the racial profile of the country and the fact that not all Cubans of African descent self-identify as Afro-Cuban.
What is the estimated percentage of the Afro-Cuban population in Cuba?
-The estimated percentage of the Afro-Cuban population in Cuba is between 30% to 60% of the total population of around 11.5 million.
Why was the ratio of black or mixed-race individuals increased in Cuba?
-The ratio was increased due to the mass exodus of white Cubans from the island around the time of the Cuban Revolution.
Where do the majority of Afro-Cubans live in Cuba?
-The majority of Afro-Cubans inhabit the eastern half of the island.
What is the official language of Cuba, and how does it relate to the Afro-Cuban population?
-The official language is Spanish, but different ethnic groups among the Afro-Cuban population have their own dialects.
What is the relationship between Catholicism and African-influenced religion in Cuba?
-Catholicism in Cuba has close historical ties to African-influenced religion, such as Santería, which is one of the most widely practiced religions on the island.
When did the first shipment of enslaved Africans arrive in Cuba?
-The first shipment of enslaved Africans arrived in Cuba in 1513.
What was the significance of Havana in relation to enslaved Africans?
-Havana became a key port for ships carrying resources from other Latin American countries on their way to Spain, where enslaved Africans loaded and unloaded ships and worked in various capacities.
What was the Aponte conspiracy of 1812, and what was its outcome?
-The Aponte conspiracy of 1812 was a large-scale rebellion led by José Antonio Aponte, a free man of Yoruba origin, seeking to end slavery in Cuba. It was violently repressed by the Cuban government, and Aponte was executed.
How did the Cuban government attempt to counteract the heavy black participation in the Cuban independence movement?
-The Cuban government implemented a process of 'blanqueamiento' or racial whitening, where hundreds of thousands of Spanish immigrants relocated to the island to gradually whiten the racial profile of the island through intermarriage.
What was the 1912 massacre of Pogrom?
-The 1912 massacre, also known as the Pogrom, was a violent event where the Cuban government, with the help of the US Marines, orchestrated the murder of between three and six thousand Afro-Cubans in response to an uprising by the Independent Party of Color.
What was the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution on Afro-Cubans?
-The 1959 Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, turned Cuba into a socialist state where all forms of discrimination and institutional racism became illegal, initially benefiting Afro-Cubans and the disenfranchised.
How has the Cuban government's stance on racism affected discussions on discrimination?
-The government's insistence that racism has been eliminated in Cuba has made it difficult for activists and intellectuals to raise legitimate concerns over discrimination against Afro-Cubans.
What challenges did Afro-Cubans face during the 'Special Period' in Cuba?
-During the 'Special Period', an extended economic crisis from 1991 to 2005 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Afro-Cubans were particularly affected, leading to a wave of Afro-Cuban rappers and urban artists using music as political activism.
Outlines
🌍 Overview of the African Diaspora in Cuba
This paragraph provides an introduction to the African diaspora in Cuba, highlighting the difficulty in obtaining accurate statistics due to insufficient research and the lack of self-identification as Afro-Cuban among people of African descent. It mentions the island's population size, the estimated percentage of black or mixed-race individuals, and the impact of the Cuban Revolution on the demographic composition. The paragraph also discusses the diversity within the Afro-Cuban population, the prevalence of Spanish as the official language alongside various ethnic dialects, and the significant influence of African religions on Cuban Catholicism. The historical context of enslaved Africans' arrival in Cuba and their crucial role in the production of sugar and tobacco is outlined, along with the mention of slave uprisings and the Aponte conspiracy of 1812.
🗝️ The Struggle and Triumph of Afro-Cubans
The second paragraph delves into the history of Afro-Cuban struggles and contributions to Cuban society. It discusses the 1912 massacre, a dark chapter in Cuban history where thousands of Afro-Cubans were killed in response to uprisings against racial and social exclusion. The Afro-Cubanismo movement of the 1920s is highlighted as a cultural and social response to oppression, with key figures like Fernando Ortiz and Nicolás Guillén leading the way in celebrating Afro-Cuban culture. The paragraph also covers the 1959 Cuban Revolution's impact on discrimination and racism, making them illegal and initially benefiting Afro-Cubans. However, it also points out the challenges in addressing ongoing discrimination due to the government's stance on the issue. The special period following the collapse of the Soviet Union is noted for disproportionately affecting Afro-Cubans and giving rise to a wave of Afro-Cuban rappers and urban artists who used music as a form of political activism.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡African Diaspora
💡Afro-Cuban
💡Cuban Revolution
💡Palenques
💡Cimarrón
💡Afro-Cuban Religion
💡Afro-Cubanismo
💡Racial Whitening (Blancamiento)
💡1912 Massacre
💡Special Period
Highlights
The African diaspora in Cuba is a vast topic, meriting two videos to cover its history and culture comprehensively.
Part one provides a broad overview of the African diaspora's history in Cuba, while part two delves into Afro-Cuban religion, cuisine, and culture.
Due to lack of research and self-identification issues, accurate statistics on the Afro-Cuban population are elusive.
Cuba's population is estimated to be between 30% to 60% black or mixed-race, influenced by the mass exodus of white Cubans post-revolution.
A majority of Afro-Cubans reside in the eastern half of the island, with a diverse ethnic composition including locals and settlers from various origins.
Spanish is the official language of Cuba, but different ethnic groups maintain their own dialects.
Catholicism in Cuba has strong ties to African-influenced religion, particularly Santería, widely practiced on the island.
Enslaved Africans were critical to the production of sugar and tobacco, with Cuba becoming the world's largest sugar producer by 1839.
The Aponte Conspiracy of 1812, led by José Antonio Aponte, was a significant rebellion against slavery in Cuba.
Afro-Cubans played a key role in the Cuban War of Independence, with figures like Antonio Maceo being pivotal to the cause.
The Cuban government attempted racial whitening in the 1890s by encouraging Spanish immigration to alter the racial profile of the island.
Transcripts
hey guys I'm fire and today we're going
to be talking about the African diaspora
in Cuba there is so much to say about
the African Diaspora in Cuba that I'm
bringing you not one but two videos
today in part one I'll give you a broad
overview of the history of the African
Diaspora in Cuba part two we'll take a
closer look at Afro Cuban religion
cuisine and culture so if you're
planning a trip to Cuba and you want to
know where to go for a dose of black
history then check out part two right
after this before we begin if you're
interested in doing an African mask for
touring Cuba then check out the link in
the description below alright let's get
started accurate statistics on the size
of the Afro Cuban population are
impossible to come by for two reasons
firstly due to the lack of research into
the racial profile of the country and
secondly not all Cubans of African
descent self-identify as afro cuban cuba
is the biggest island in the caribbean
the total population of the island is
around 11.5 million and an estimated
thirty to sixty percent of the
population is black or mixed-race this
ratio was increased by the mass exodus
of white Cubans from the island around
the time of the Cuban Revolution there
is a sizable black and African dn't
population in Havana but the majority of
Afro Cubans inhabit the eastern half of
the island there are multiple ethnic
groups among the Afro Cuban population
including the local me and other people
as well as settlers and their
descendants from Jamaica hazy and k-fed
the official language is Spanish
although different ethnic groups have
their own dialects when it comes to
religion many Cubans identify its Roman
Catholic however in Cuba Catholicism has
close historical ties to the African
influenced religion than thuria which is
one of the most widely practiced
religions on the island check out part 2
to find out more
[Music]
nine to eighteen twenty cubits in an
estimated 800,000 enslaved Africans the
first shipment of enslaved Africans
arrived in 1513 and they were forced to
work in Cuba's copper mines overtime
Havana became a key port for ships
carrying resources from other Latin
American countries on their way to Spain
enslaved Africans loaded and unloaded
the ships and also worked as carpenters
stonemasons domestic servants and street
vendors the slave labor force was
fundamental to the production of sugar
and tobacco in Cuba by 1839 Cuba was the
largest producer of sugar in the world
and the largest market for enslaved
Africans in the Caribbean from the very
beginning slave uprisings for comment
from as early as the 1500 enslaved
Africans escaped from plantations and
joined with the native Pino population
to form free settlements known as
palenque's across Latin America runaway
slaves were referred to as sea marinus
meaning wild or untamed the most famous
slave rebellion in Cuba was the Aponte
conspiracy of 1812 led by Jose Antonio
up on p.a Ponte was a free man of Yoruba
origin who worked as a carpenter in
Havana seeking to end slavery in Cuba a
Ponte led a large scale rebellion that
gained momentum across the island but
was violently repressed by the Cuban
government following his capture Aponte
was executed at the former three
Imperato plantation in Matanzas you'll
find the monument to the three member
Otto rebellion in the middle stands
Carlotta Lukumi an enslaved woman of
Yoruba origin who was one of the three
leaders of the resistance movement
she died in battle in 1843 fighting for
the freedom of her people another statue
that commemorates slave resistance in
Cuba is the monumental Cimarron by
contemporary afro-cuban artist Alberto
in the sky situated in the town of El
Cobre Cuba was the second to last
country in the Caribbean for polish
slavery slavery was abolished in Cuba in
1886 compared to neighboring Haiti which
was the first country to do so in 1804
afro-cubans played a pivotal role in the
Cuban war of independence
in 1895 led by Jose Marti the
second-in-command of the Cuban
independence army was revered mixed-race
military commander antonio maceo he was
renowned for his bravery and military
acumen and was instrumental in Cuba
winning independence from Spain heavy
black participation in the Cuban
independence movement posed a threat to
the white Cuban elites to counteract
this in the early 1890s the Cuban
government deliberately implemented a
process of blank ambiental or racial
whitening whereby hundreds of thousands
of Spanish immigrants relocated to the
island the idea was that over the
generations for afro-cubans would
intermarry with lighter-skinned partners
gradually whitening the racial profile
of the island however a large percentage
of these European migrants did not
settle permanently and the process was
in effect a failure one particularly
gruesome chapter in Cuban history was
the 1912 massacre for P I see the
Independent Party of cada was formed in
1908 by Alfred Cuban veterans of the war
of independence in response to the harsh
political and social exclusion
experienced by the black community at
the hands of the white supremacist
Revolutionary Government the P I see
advocated civil liberties for the black
community in Cuba including free
university education then President Jose
Miguel Gomez ordered the party to
disband leading to a discontentment so
great but in 1912 the P IC or ghen eyes
the uprising in the province of Oriente
and Beyond with the help of the US
Marines the Cuban government
orchestrated the murder of between three
and six thousand afro-cubans many of
whom were allegedly not even involved in
the uprising afro-cuban yzma was an
artistic and social movement that began
in the 1920s born out of the tents
racial climate in Cuba which continued
to see Afro Cubans oppressed
marginalized and murdered based on the
color of their skin
by contrast Africa Benny's most sought
to celebrate and give value to Afro
Cuban culture and contribution to Cuban
society to pioneers of the Afro Cuban is
more movement were Fernando Ortiz and
nicolás guillén nicolás guillén was an
afro-cuban poet
political activists he was also the
first ever recipient of Cuba's national
prize for literature
Fernando Ortiz was a white Cuban author
an ethnologist although in his earlier
years he described Afro Cuban culture as
savage he went on to the common advocate
of Afro Cuban culture and a renowned
scholar on the subject he collected a
vast collection of objects relating to
the African Diaspora in Cuba many of
which can be found in the Casa de Africa
in Old Havana things changed drastically
in Cuba following the 1959 Cuban
Revolution Fidel Castro seized power
turning Cuba into a socialist state
under the Castro government all forms of
discrimination and institutional racism
became illegal the post-revolutionary
economic reforms and social reforms
initially benefited Paul at
disenfranchised afro Cubans however
since the Cuban Revolution the
government's dogged insistence that
racism has been eliminated in Cuba has
made it difficult for activists and
intellectuals to raise legitimate
concerns over the issue of
discrimination against Africans the
Cuban education system as well as
official Cuban culture remains heavily
Eurocentric and a disproportionately low
number of Afro Cubans occupied top
positions in the highest professional
strata or in the Communist Party itself
this discrepancy became starkly apparent
during what is known as the special
period the extended economic crisis Cuba
faced following the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991 afro-cubans were
particularly affected by the crisis
which spanned from 1991 until 2005 this
moment in history gave rise to a wave of
Afro Cuban rappers and urban artists who
used music as a form of political
activism more on that in part two now
that we've looked at the history of the
African Diaspora Cuba let's take a look
at some of their rich and vibrant Afro
Cuban culture so stick with me and I'll
see you in part 2
[Music]
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