Afro-Latin-Anerican Political Leaders Research Paper

Afro-Latin-Anerican Political Leaders - Research Paper Example Political modernity entails the aspirations to a better future as well as ideals for political and legal equality. To this end, Afro Latin American leaders are well remembered for their fight for racial equality, lack of government attention to their problem, predominant poverty and hardship. Evidently, the Latin American slavery is believed to have lasted longer and exhibited much more intensity than the United States. To this end, the early 15th century was synonymous with the enslavement of the Blacks by the Spaniards and Portuguese. This occurred even before the Columbus expeditions. The 1880’s marked the end of slavery in Latin American following abolishment by Brazil and Cuba2. There exists much less attention accorded to Afro-Latin American after the end of the colonial era. This has largely been due to the failure of recognition or identity crisis. Furthermore, more attention has normally been focused on Afro-American leaders in the fight of equality as compared to the ir Afro-Latin American counterparts. It is of interest to note that there have been national political leaders of African descent in a majority of Latin American countries. This has been evident in the early part of the twentieth century as well as late nineteenth century. Moreover, such Afro-Latin American leadership has been evident despite of the existence of strong racial discrimination.. However, a number of Latin American countries have been preoccupied with historical motives of curbing the political power among the huge segment of poor and working class people. Evidently, literacy requirements for voting were maintained by a majority of the Latin American governments after independence ... Afro Latin American Participation in Political Leadership Over a period of 30 year, Afro-Latin Americans have attained considerable gains in political organization, social movement activism, and mobilization. To this end, Afro-Latin American political leader and civil rights groups have been at the forefront in agitating against discrimination, racial prejudice and other forms of inequality. This was a stark contrast to the early 1970’s in which there was very minimal political activity by black groups4. Evidently, many Afro-Latin Americans were being oppressed in authoritative regimes from 1960’s to 1980’s. Presently, the existence of political-social movements that brought together Afro-Latin Americans have been in existence in every sub region of America such as Southern Cone, Central America, Caribbean, Andean and every other Latin American country. These movements have garnered political success in agitating for better economic and educational opportunities, racial equality and denouncing racism. The Afro-Latin political leadership within the black movements has taken a step further in addressing their concerns through churches, community, associations, labor unions, political parties, civic organizations and other social movements5. Furthermore, they have been successful in lobbying governments for public policy, resources and specific legislation at the local, state, national and international levels. To this end, Afro-descendants have gained more visibility, respect and acknowledgement in Latin America. However, the Afro-Latin American political groups are not properly structured or organized. To this end, some of them exhibit disconnect and insufficient synergy among members and leaders; the wider black communities and the