Social exclusion and the negotiation of Afro-Mexican identity in the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, Mexico
By: Tristano Volpato
Series: Mazziniana International -- 1
Publisher: Casa editrice Mazziana
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Verona, Italy
Language: eng
Number of pages: 318
ISBN-13: 9788897243199
Subjects: Social conditions; Blacks; Race identity; Ethnic relations; Race discrimination
Description: Afro-Mexican communities of the Costa Chica of Oaxaca show a particular high rate of ethnic exclusion and lack of cultural recognition existing despite attempts at both bettering the economic conditions of the community members in the region and official recognition of their identity at the national level. Such African decent communities currently exist in a state of practical non-recognition on the part of both Mexican society and governmental institutions. The causes of this lack of recognition are twofold: first there is a lack of sufficient academic research dealing with the current reality of Afro-Mexican communities, and second, Mexican Government institutions have not formally or informally recognized the existence of Afro-Mexican communities within Mexico. As a consequence of this cultural and official invisibility, Afro-Mexican communities are frequently denied access to heathcare, education, work and larger integration within Mexican civil-society. These communities are also losing their socio-cultural identity as lack of access to the above social services creates a process of out migration to both Mexican and international destinations, which disrupts both communal life and cultural cohesion among afro-Mexicans. In order to study the problem of recognition for them, this book analyzes three core point of the topic: the historical ways and meanings of blacks to the Mexican region ; current African traditional elements of Costa Chica communities; some potential ways to institutionally recognize African communities and favor their integration into Mexican civil society. The work offers, thus, a sociological vision of local identity by highlighting the relevance African culture actually has for the definition of Mexican history, national identity, and collective memory. -- Back cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-271).