Assessment for Blacks in Venezuela

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Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

Blacks in Venezuela, or AfroVenezuelans, lack the characteristics which would place the group at risk for rebellion, such as past protest, group cohesion and repression. However, they are somewhat territorial concentrated, but this is decreasing as AfroVenezuelans move to the cities in search of work. Although no protests were recorded for 2004-2006 against the Venezuelan government on the part of AfroVenezuelans, they remain at risk for protest due to significant political discrimination, largely based on social exclusion. Discrimination is of a distinctly social nature in which society labels them as being of lower intelligence and social class; there appears to be no formal policy of discrimination. However, Blacks are highly supportive of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, elected in 1998, who has increased government efforts to decrease economic and political discrimination against Venezuelan Blacks.

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Analytic Summary

The Venezuelan government has not provided census information on its ethnic divisions since the 1920s. Thus estimates of the Black population in Venezuela are rough estimates only, usually including those only of relatively pure African descent – though the label "black" is one which goes beyond pure African descent to include lower classes and those with darker-than-average skin (RACE = 2). Thus the Afro-Venezuelan population is likely larger than current estimates, but how much larger cannot be determined.

Venezuelan society espouses its color-blind character and racial tolerance, but discrimination is well documented. Venezuelans see discrimination as class-based, rather than race-based. However, the history of Venezuela is replete with stories of formal and social discrimination against Blacks, who occupy the lower-skilled jobs and are often paid less than their counterparts. In 1929, the government of Juan Vicente Gomez established the goal of "whitening" the population of Venezuela through immigration controls and policies to encourage white immigrants. The immigration decree was dropped in 1966.

Most Blacks live in the region of Barlovento on the Caribbean coast (between Caracas and Barcelona) where they were originally brought in between the 16th century and the first half of the 19th century for agricultural labor (GROUPCON = 2). The majority did not come directly from Africa, but from other Spanish colonies in the Caribbean.

While the separation of Blacks from mestizo, those of mixed European, African and indigenous descent, and white Venezuelans persists to this day (largely due to economics), there has been a great deal of cultural assimilation in both directions (LANG = 0; BELIEF = 0; CUSTOM = 1). All Blacks in Venezuela speak Spanish and practice Catholicism. Furthermore, many holidays of African origin are celebrated nationally (though under the guise of holidays commemorating Catholic saints).

The government of Venezuela has made inroads in improving the economic situation of Blacks in relation to the majority of Venezuelans. Since the 1950s, Blacks have come to occupy offices appointed by the president, civil service jobs and academic posts. The improvement is not inconsiderable, but the overwhelming majority of Blacks still live well below the level of the average mestizo Venezuelan and face societal discrimination (ECDIS06 = 3). Current Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who regards himself as of indigenous and Black descent, has also placed improving the situation of Blacks and other marginalized peoples high on his list of priorities. However, Blacks are still underrepresented politically and face considerable social discrimination (POLDIS06 = 3).

Black Venezuelans are represented by several organizations, including the Afro-Venezuelan Network, founded by activist Jesus Chucho Garcia, Fundacion de Proteccion del Joven y del Afrovenezolano, the Fundacion de Amigos del Instituto Universitario Barlevento and the Union de Mujeres Negras de Venezuela (GOJPA06 = 2).

The primary grievances of Blacks are of an economic nature, especially a desire for greater economic opportunities (ECGR06 = 2). Linked to these economic grievances are political grievances such as greater participation in decision-making and increased representation at all levels of government. Recently they have lobbied for a census that would count ethnicity so as to help bring more services to the group (POLGR06 = 2).

Blacks have been involved in protests in recent years, but all instances found were protests in support of the government of Hugo Chavez.

Blacks have received little transnational support. However, a high-profile delegation from the TransAfrica Forum (including U.S. actor Danny Glover) in 2004 did raise the profile of racism in Venezuela.

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References

Hellinger, Daniel C. 1991. Venezuela: Tarnished Democracy. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Lexis-Nexis. Various news reports. 2001-2006.

Minority Rights Group. 1995. "Afro-Latin Americans Today: No Longer Invisible." United Kingdom: Minority Rights Publications.

Rout, Leslie B. Jr. 1976. The African Experience in Spanish America: 1502 to the Present Day. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Sanchez, Margarita and Michael J Franklin. 1996. Forum on Poverty Alleviation for Minority Communities: Communities of African Ancestry in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela. Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank.

U. S. Department of State. 1971. Area Handbook for Venezuela. Washington, D.C.: US GPO.

Wright, Winthrop R. 1990. Cafe con Leche: Race, Class, and National Image in Venezuela. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.

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