Colourism in Latin Communities

As such the lighter margin of the population often tends to gin societal benefits whereas those with darker complexions being neglected in key societal sectors (Gates 7). Owing to these problems, more people often tend to adopt measures which are likely to make them fit the accepted portion of the overall population. For instance, most media outlets in the contemporary world have adopted modern technological tools such as Photoshop to lighten individuals who are dark to make more acceptable to the public. Colorism has over the years caused significant issues towards limiting the overall growth of people bearing a dark Skin. Colorism in Latin America continues to devour the livelihood of colored people making it difficult for them to venture in the various sectors in the society.

In some countries such as Brazil and Colombia, institutions have been able to introduce affirmative programs based on the racial preferences. Such initiatives have increasingly become common owing to the increased afro-Latin as well as indigenous movements. Owing to the multicultural nature of most Latin American countries, ethnic and racial-based economic and social inequalities are increasingly becoming common. By the year 1944, a Chilean anthropologist, Alejandro Lipschutz, was able to come up with the concept of “pigmentocracy” where a majority of social hierarchies were based on colour or ethnic background of individuals. Although this problem continued to be prevalent for a considerable period, the government has however been able to identify viable ways of ending it. This case is no different in Cuba.

In Havana, changes continue to be experienced owing to the various changes being experienced in different parts of the world. Although a considerable margin of the Cuban population has experienced significant changes in the various sectors of the country’s economy, the Afro-Cuban community continues to lag behind. The benefits resulting from such changes have long-existed to be more of dreams as opposed to realities. In the last one decade, a huge number of individuals living in Cuba have been eliminated. After the cold war in the 1990s, the then Cuban Leader, Fidel Castro, was able to come up with economic reforms aimed at improving the country’s development status. Such reforms continue to be pursued to date by his brother Raul.

At the time, Cuba had recently lost a key economic benefactor (Soviet Union) which forced it to undergo the “special period” which represents a state of deep recession. It is during this time that the country was forced to deal with severe challenges such as frequent blackouts. Similarly, the country would consistently experience repeated faulty means of transportation and increased scarcity of food. The black community, on the other hand, has been forced to come to terms with the reality which involves lack of adequate socialistic interventions resulting from utopia. This came about mostly because these communities were forced to reside the quarters that were the least comfortable on the island (Balcazar 45). The socialist divide based on racial grounds have over time hindered the black community in the country to effectively meet their respective economic goals.

For instance, the strategic positioning of white Cubans has enabled them to effectively to benefit from foreign remittance from the United States (Miami area). The locations of where the white section of Cubans is situated allows them to actively venture into potential businesses operations that are likely to earn them some economic income. Initially, slaves underwent harsh treatments such as instances where they were repeatedly raped, chained, and even being sold. This is one of the major cause of racial disparity between black and white communities in the country. Over the years, afro-Brazilian people have been forced to deal with the problem of educational disparities. As such, people from the black community were subjected to lack off formal education as opposed to their white counterparts.

As such, individuals that were somewhat darker than the others were forced to experience conditions that were somewhat challenging for their sole survival. African slaves made up a majority of the various slaves entering Brazil. The main reason behind this fact was because of the cheap cost involved in buying them. The importation of more African slaves propagated to the start of what is regarded as one of the serious hindrances to the country’s social, economic and political development. Today, people bearing dark complexion continue to experience difficulties as compared to their lighter counterparts. This particularly difficult as this limits the black community in the county to engage in various societal activities hence leaving them disadvantaged actively. Keys. Race, Culture, and Disability: Rehabilitation Science and Practice.