International Day of Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean and Diaspora Women: Reflections on Inequality and Discrimination in Afro-Descendant Communities

The International Day of Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora Women, celebrated on July 25th, recognizes and makes visible the struggles, achievements, and contributions of Afro-descendant women in Latin America, the Caribbean and the diaspora.This day highlights the importance of confronting the discrimination and inequality these women face, while celebrating their resilience and strength.

As part of this day, AfroResistance and Encuentro Espacio de Mujeres (Women's Meeting Space) organized an intergenerational dialogue titled "Urban Afro-descendant Women: Between Inequality and Discrimination" on July 26th in Panama City. This event featured four Black women from Panamanian communities facing adversity: Luz María Peralta from Nuevo Colón, Maryory Romero from Paraíso in the San Miguelito District, Kelsy Moreno from Chilibre, and Rosa Rodríguez from Viejo Veranillo in the Curundú district. These communities are characterized by high poverty levels, limited access to basic services, and ongoing racial discrimination.

The dialogue provided a space to share experiences and resistance strategies, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and collective action to overcome the barriers faced by Afro-descendant women in urban areas. Moderated by Chevy Solís, research coordinator for AfroResistance in Panama and co-founder of Espacio de Encuentro de Mujeres, the event aimed to intertwine and recognize the experiences of these four Afro-Panamanian women. Solís posed specific questions that addressed the realities impacting not only the panelists but also other Black women in the previously mentioned communities, including violence, lack of employment opportunities, insecurity, incarceration, inequalities, and discrimination, among other issues.

Insecurity as everyday life

Luz María Peralta shared her experience of insecurity, emphasizing the severity of the situation in Nuevo Colón and expressing her constant concern for her daughter's safety. This contrasts with one of AfroResistance's core values, which refers to the well-being of all Black families and communities in the Americas.

This principle deeply contrasts with the painful realities and stories of helplessness that not only Luz María but also many other Black women face daily. The insecurity that forces women to live confined to protect their children and the constant worry for the safety of their loved ones starkly contradicts the vision of a healthy, safe, and abundant future.

Rosa Rodríguez, with a trembling voice, painfully expressed that Black women feel "orphaned of security in Viejo Veranillo." These women, born or raised in their respective neighborhoods, have witnessed negative changes over time. "In my childhood, there wasn’t so much violence," Rosa commented, emphasizing how crime has increased and peace has disappeared in her district. Rosa also shared that one of her daughters does not remain silent when a discriminatory act occurs.

Kelsy, 17, offered a different perspective by describing Chilibre as a relatively safe place due to neighborly communication and protection, in contrast to the more dangerous realities of Curundú and San Miguelito, where children can no longer play freely due to fear of shootings and police inefficiency.

The three mothers on the panel emphasized the need to accompany their children to protect them from potential harm constantly. Reflecting on these experiences challenges us to recognize the urgency of our commitment. It reminds us that we cannot remain silent in the face of the injustice and inequality that undermine our birthright to well-being and security.

Everyday Discrimination

The panelists also spoke about unjust detentions, racial profiling in metro stations, the treatment they receive in commercial establishments, and the lack of respect towards Afro-descendant women. Kelsy, for her part, recounted that when she is stopped in the metro and asked for her ID, she questions this action and exercises her right by reminding them that she is a minor.

Economic inequality and insufficient policies

Another critical issue discussed was the lack of income among women in these communities, a situation that has worsened over time. Rosa and her neighbors in Viejo Veranillo, without formal employment, dedicate themselves to cooking and selling food as a means of subsistence. Others are street vendors selling mango salads and non-edible items.

Education as a tool for change

The discussion also addressed the typology of children who join gangs because their parents have died due to violence or are incarcerated. Another aspect mentioned was the ages of young pregnant women, highlighting the relationship between these issues and dysfunctional families.

In the audience was a teacher assigned to the evening section of the Institute of Arts and Trades (Institute of Arts and Trades). She mentioned that part of her student body are young people who dropout of school after losing their parents or facing other traumas. The lack of control and guidance for these minors is a constant challenge. Additionally, the teacher revealed that she has had students who were previously detained and who face disrespect.

In this regard, the panelists agreed that education is the only tool that can bring significant change. They advocated for training in homes and creating alliances in schools to strengthen the social fabric and offer better opportunities to new generations.

Prisons have color

Throughout the discussion, it was mentioned that there is a significant difference between the crimes and penalties faced by Afro-Panamanian women compared to the rest of the country's population. While prisons are filled with young Black people and women, crimes such as money laundering and white-collar crimes often do not receive the same level of penalization. This disparity highlights structural and linguistic violence: crimes committed by non-racialized individuals receive different legal treatment and are described with terms that reflect a whitewashed perspective.

The role of the media

Siria Martínez, an activist from Voces de Mujeres Afrodescendientes in Panama (Voices of Afrodescendent Women in Panama), highlighted how the media dehumanizes Black women from urban areas with derogatory terms like "rakataka," "chacalita," and "chumerri." These labels not only perpetuate negative stereotypes but also contribute to the marginalization and unequal treatment of these women in Panamanian society.

Areas of residence and inequality and discrimination

It is worth noting that the areas where the panelists reside are close to neighborhoods and strategic economic points in Panama where inequality and discrimination are evident. Rosa lives in Viejo Veranillo, which borders the University of Panama, while Luz María lives in Nuevo Colón, located in the province of Colón, where the Colon Free Zone (the second largest free zone in the world) and the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal (with revenues of B/. 4,968 million in the 2023 fiscal year). 

Meanwhile, Maryory lives in the Paraíso area of the San Miguelito District, very close to the Gran Estación del Metro  (Metro Grand Station) that connects Line 1 and Line 2. Kelsy, for her part, lives in Chilibre, east of the Panama Canal, and its proximity to the Chagres River and the Madden Dam makes it a strategic, environmental, and custodian point of the most important water reserve in the Panama City district.

Call to Action

This dialogue underscored the urgency of addressing the multiple dimensions of oppression affecting Afro-descendant women in Panama. By recognizing and acting on the deep roots of inequality and discrimination, we can develop more inclusive and sustainable interventions that truly transform their lives. AfroResistance and Encuentro Espacio de Mujeres will continue working on implementing community initiatives and programs that empower these women to provide them with economic mobility and development and strengthen their communities.

We must redouble our efforts, practice personal and community care with greater fervor, and work tirelessly to transform these oppressive realities. Remembering the value of AfroResistance reaffirms our determination to dismantle systems that perpetuate insecurity and fear and to build communities where every person can live with dignity, security, and joy. Only through collective commitment and sustained action can we achieve the well-being (buen vivir) that all Black families and communities deserve.

We call on the current administration of President Jose Raul Mulino, especially the office of the First Lady, to pay attention to the testimonies of these four panelists, as Mrs. Maricel Cohen de Mulino has expressed her interest in creating social reintegration initiatives to benefit incarcerated women. These initiatives must analyze the genesis of this problem, raise awareness among Panamanian society about the need to avoid discriminatory actions, and promote effective public policies.

Conclusion

By listening to the experiences shared by the panelists and the interaction with the audience during this significant International Day of Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora Women, it becomes clear that Black women are the fundamental pillars in the struggle for liberation and social justice. Since ancestral times, we have demonstrated exceptional bravery and resilience in the face of oppressive systems that perpetuate inequality, discrimination, and marginalization.

The dialogue emphasized that the deep socioeconomic inequalities faced by Afro-Panamanian women result from a blend of factors, including deficiencies in current public policies that inadequately address these problems. These policies have failed to provide effective and comprehensive solutions to the challenges faced by communities such as Viejo Veranillo, Nuevo Colón, Chilibre, and Paraíso.

Since its founding in 2004, AfroResistance, formerly known as the Latin American and Caribbean Community Center, has been an organization led by Black women committed to transforming our personal and collective realities. This commitment underscores the urgent need for continuous reflection and action to develop inclusive and sustainable interventions that can truly change the current landscape.

By recognizing the deep roots of oppression and acting on them, we can aspire to build the well-being (buen vivir) of all Black families and communities in the Americas.

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