1. The heroic virtue
The rapid pace of industry of the century, the Vatican is producing saints. In the last twenty years the Pope John Paul II beatified more of 900 virtuosos and canonized almost 300.
At the top of the waiting list, a favorite among the candidates for sainthood, set the black slave Pierre Toussaint. Ensures that the Pope will not delay in placing the halo, "the merit of their heroic virtue."
named Pierre Toussaint Louverture Toussaint Like his contemporary, who was also black, slave and Haiti. But this is a mirror image in the mirror, while Toussaint Louverture led the war for freedom of the slaves in Haiti, against the army of Napoleon Bonaparte, the good of Pierre Toussaint practiced self-denial of the easement. Licking until the end of his days his feet white owner, he practiced "heroic virtue" of submission: an example for all black people in the world, was born a slave and slave died in the odor of sanctity, happy to have done good with Dick and Jane. Besides the perpetual obedience, and the many sacrifices he made for the welfare of his mistress, other miracles attributed to him.
2. The Saint of the Broom
San Martin de Porres was the first dark-skinned Christian admitted to the whitest saints of the Catholic Church. He died in Lima, three and half centuries ago, with a stone for a pillow and a skull on the side. Had been donated to the convent of the Dominicans. As the son of black slave, never became a priest, but was highlighted in the cleanup. Embracing with love the broom, sweeping everything, then shaved the priests and tended the sick, and spent nights kneeling in prayer. Although
was specialized in the services sector, San MartÃn de Porres also could do miracles, and many made the bishop had to be banned. In his rare spare time, took advantage to whip back and tore blood while shouting to himself: "vile dog!". His whole life apologizing for impure blood. Holiness rewarded him in death.
3. Bad skin
early sixteenth century, in early years of European conquest, racism was imposed on the islands of the Caribbean. Alibi and safe conduct of the colonial adventure, racist contempt fully realized when he became the self-hatred of the despised. Many indigenous people revolted and many committed suicide, for refusing to slave labor, by hanging or drinking poison, but others were resigned to another form of suicide, suicide of the soul, and agreed to look at themselves through the eyes of love.
To become white women of Castile, some Indian women and black entire body smeared with an ointment made from the roots of a shrub called wow. Wow paste burned skin and cleaned, it was said, bad color. A sacrifice in vain after the screams of pain and sores and blisters, Indian and Black Indian and black remained.
Centuries later, today, the cosmetics industry offers better products. In the city of Freetown on the west coast of Africa, a journalist says: "Clearing the skin, women have a better chance to catch a rich husband." Freetown is the capital of Sierra Leone, according to official data, Pharmaceutical Board of Sierra Leone, the country legally imports 26 varieties of bleaching creams. Another 150 are smuggled.
4. Bad hair
The U.S. magazine Ebony, a luxurious impression and wide circulation, it is proposed to celebrate the triumphs of blacks in business, politics, the military, entertainment, fashion and sports. In the words of its founder, Ebony "wants to promote the symbols of success in the U.S. black community, with the motto: I can succeed."
The journal publishes few photos of men. Instead, there are many photographs of women: reading the April issue this year, I counted 182. Of these 182 black women, only twelve were African curls, and 170 wore straight hair. The defeat of curly hair - "bad hair" as many times I have heard, was the work of hairdressing or miracle potions. Hair straightening products occupied most of the advertising space on that edition. Had full-page ads creams or liquids offered by Optimum Care, Soft and Beautiful, Dark and Lovely, Alternatives, Frizz Free, TCB-Sense Health, Beauty New Age, Isoplus Motions CPR and Raveen. I was impressed to see that one of the remedies against African hair is called, precisely, African Pride (Pride Africa) and, as promised, "iron and smooth like no other."
5.
a heavy legacy "seems black" or "looks Indian" are common insults in Latin America, and 'look white' is a common tribute. The blood mixed with black or India 'slows the race', the white blood mixed with "improving the species." The so-called racial democracy is reduced, in fact, a social pyramid: the top is white, or white thought, and the base has a dark color.
From the Revolution onward, Cuba is the Latin American country that has racism. Even his enemies acknowledge, recognize and sometimes regret. Have been definitely behind the times when blacks could not swim in the private beaches ("because the water stain).
But black Cubans still abound in prisons and absent in soap operas, perhaps they like to play roles of slaves or servants. A survey published in December 98 by the Colombian magazine black America, reveals that racial prejudices in Cuban society survive, despite 40 years of change and progress, and prejudices survive especially among their victims: in Santa Clara, three out of ten young black men feel that blacks are less intelligent than whites, and in Havana, four out of ten blacks of all ages think they are intellectually inferior. "Blacks have always been little given to study," says a black man.
Three and a half centuries of slavery are a heavy legacy and stubborn.
