The good, the bad and the ugly...
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2009
1
19
Trip End
May 14, 2010
Sevilla, Andalusia, Spain
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Blackface
One thing I think is completely a**backwards is the fact that Spain uses black face to portray black or dark-skinned characters. Now “Dia de Los Reyes” or Day of the Kings is equivalent to Christmas Day in most of the Western World. The three kings bring presents to the children on January 6th (the epiphany) and the day before is the “cabalgata” or parade. One of the three kings happens to be black or dark-skinned and instead of having a black or dark-skinned individual embody the character, they use blackface.
Now to us as Americans that screams not only very politically incorrect but also offensive but not to the Spaniards. Race is a new idea in Spain, meaning that race is a new development. Historically race has not existed in Spain the way it has in the United States. In Spain’s history people have been identified by religion, socioeconomic status, bloodlines etc. but not really by race. Now, it is more common to be identified by a variety of characteristics. The politically correct term in Spanish for black or dark-skinned is “negro.” For example I have pictures of my family on my wall in my bedroom. My 8 year old sister refers to anyone black or dark-skinned as “negrito.” “Negrito” in many South American countries is a term of affection, often used to refer to one’s children, in Spain it is used to refer to anyone who is black or dark-skinned. I was taught to use the term “moreno” which literally means “dark skinned, dark hair” (basically anyone with some color to them, not necessarily black) and the opposite is “rubio” which literally means “light skinned, light hair.” (basically anyone of what would be considered Aryan descent).
Upon seeing the blackface embodied characters, once the shock set aside, I couldn’t help but feel offended. I had to take a step back and look at the contextual differences. I whole heartedly do not believe that the symbol of the blackface king is meant to be racist but it is 2010, how is that still seen as okay and there is no uproar of outrage for how offensive that is? Wouldn’t it be easier to have a black or dark-skinned person embody the character? Regardless of the intention it makes a mockery of black or dark-skinned people. Spain has developed as country on so many levels over the last 40 years but I just cannot understand this is seen as okay.
The _______ Store
So in Spain we have these crazy bizarre dollar stores and they are usually run by two main immigrant groups. These stores are referred to as “La tienda de los Chinos” (the Chinese store) or “La tienda de los Moros” (the Moor store). It is very common here to refer to groups as their ethnicity or even religion. Yet it is very politically incorrect and offensive to say something along the lines of “La tienda de los Judios” (the Jew store). So it is politically correct to call someone a Moor but not to call someone a Jew?Is it just me or is this a bit a** backwards?
A Slap in the face is an understatement…
So during my time here I have not dated anyone. I have been on dates but nothing really developed into anything substantial. However, there was one guy I was really good friends with for about 2 months. We started out intercambios (he practiced English, I practiced Spanish) and over time developed a friendship. We went out with friends and enjoyed each other’s company and even went on a few dates. One night we were having a conversation and he happened to ask me what my specific nationality was because “you don’t look American but you don’t look European either.” I told him my mother is of German descent and my father is of African-American descent.
I got the typical exasperated response I usually get when someone finds out I’m mixed but didn’t think anything of it. A few hours later we headed our separate ways and I never heard from him again. A few months later I ran into him…and his response to his absence, “we just cannot be friends anymore….” Why? “Your father is black…and that’s just not something I can accept”….WTF?! Talk about a slap in the face, I think my emotions at the time were a combination of disbelief and anger and it took every ounce of energy in my body to just walk away. I have experienced racism my entire life but never like that. I don’t think I have ever been as hurt or angered as I was in that moment.
Society is so judgmental based on things that should be insignificant for it being 2010. We live in a modern world yet society still holds on to pre-modern ideologies...These are a selected few of my experiences from my time here and if there is one thing I've realized...no matter where you go in this world there will always be...the good, the bad and the ugly.
