Race, Racial Politics, and Identity

ROWELL: What does the term "Afromestizo" mean to you?

ARMANDO: A black race came here during war time. They established themselves here, and everyone knows us as black. At the same time, the white race established themselves here. And the races combined; there are few dark people of black race. It has been thirty years since it was purely black there.

ROWELL: Are there problems between Afromestizos and other Mexicans?

ARMANDO: Right now we have a problem over land. It could be because of color. They don't support us the same as the other side who are more white in color. We've complained to the Governor that he does not attend to us the same because they are white.

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JONES: Are other Mexicans racist against Afromestizos?

MIGUEL: Well, no. The truth is no. During Carnival, some of the people from other villages visit us here. They even bring their music and they dance. They dance with the people from here. Sometimes some of them stay two or three days.

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JONES: And do people around here have problems with other Mexicans because their color is different that of other Mexicans?

BENITA: Well, how do I say this? They try to make us inferior because of our skin color. For example, if you go to the Guadalupe Mesa, the majority of the people there are white. And the majority of us are black or have dark skin. So these people always look at us as inferior. They say that here in Coyolillo there are pure black people, pure ugly people. I mean, they treat us like that, like that type of person, like we're inferior because of color more than anything—for the way we look. But we're proud. The whites don't know that. They think we're inferior. They think we are different also because of hair. And when we go to Xalapa, the people there say, "you all are from Coyolillo, aren't you?" They don't even say Coyolillo; they actually say Coyol. We know people are from Coyol because of their hair—because of how we are, our color and all. They also said we're different in the way we talk.

JONES: Is there a difference? What is it?

BENITA: Well, they speak a little differently. It's the same Spanish, but it's spoken with a different tone of voice. Yeah, that's it. It makes us inferior, right?

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JONES: Do you know much about the United States? What is the difference between African Americans and Afromexicans?

PABLO: To me, African Americans have English culture mixed in, but at the same time they are a bit rebellious because there are black people who honestly pass the time in nothing but rebellion. They are much lazier when it comes to work; there are some who do like to work. They're more troublesome anyway. Some, not all. On the other hand, a Mexican is a bit more calm, a bit more bearable. It ends up being almost the same because of the skin, the color of the eyes, but not the hair. For me, African Americans, the few that I have met—are a bit more rebellious. Who knows why that is. Perhaps because they have only had a short time since slavery was stopped. Maybe that is why they have such rebellion, such hostility against North Americans. Since they had them as slaves, perhaps that is why they are like that. I don't know. African Americans have North American culture. On the other hand, Mexicans have Mexican culture. That is the difference. Because Afromexicans have customs from here—such as the Virgin of Guadeloupe, who is Mexican; Flag Day and all of that. The week of Carnival is not the same for African Americans. In the United States there is no Carnival. It's like a culture that is in the blood since long ago.

JONES: What are the similarities?

PABLO: Like I...