Ni Una Menos: Protesting in Argentina

A few weeks ago my roommates and I had the opportunity to participate in a protest at the National Congress about the violence committed against women in Argentina. Many of the protesters held signs with the faces of women and girls that had been killed at the hands of men who haven't paid for their crimes.I couldn't help but be reminded of the faces of Black individuals, such as Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, and Eric Garner, back at home who have also been senselessly murdered at the hands of those who refuse to acknowledge our worth. As stated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere". To the women of Argentina, I see you, your cries have not fallen upon deaf ears. We are both in this struggle together.

Also, a cool moment that I was able to capture during the protest were some teenage girls spray painting the Black power fist on a bus stop. Sadly, it was covered up a few minutes later by someone else's posters but the moment still lives on in memory and on social media.

Aventuras en Bici

In the US, going into the office on a Saturday is usually seen as a dreaded injustice against those who find themselves dragging themselves out of bed on a day meant for relaxation and fun after a long week of work. But for me, going to my internship at Amigos de la Tierra on a Saturday meant a day of exploring the city.

Every few weeks Amigos de la Tierra, an environmental organization in Buenos Aires, has a Bici, or a bicycle, tour around the city involving nature, food, and fellowship. On Saturday it was just my supervisor, Natalia, and I riding our bikes por las calles. Going to school in DC, I’m very used to seeing cyclists and their near death encounters with drivers who seem to think they have the same amount of protection as a car; so I must admit, I was a little nervous to bike through a big city but thankfully Buenos Aires is full of bike lanes large enough that I felt safe cycling alongside traffic.

The first stop we made was in Plaza Italiano which is a beautiful park that becomes full of people on nice days like Saturday was. I felt weightless and free as we zipped past kids playing in the park and families sprawled out on the grass. I was having so much fun that I attempted to document our ride on snapchat which proved to be extremely hazardous as I unknowingly dropped my phone while crossing a busy intersection. Thankfully, a kind stranger came running behind me with my phone in their hand. Needless to say, I stuck to simply enjoying the experience as opposed to documenting it simultaneously (at least while in motion).

Our last stop before heading back to the office was at a market for small farmers and artisans where one of Amigos de la Tierra’s partners has an organic food shop. While there, we helped them weigh and package some of their products, and I even got to taste a few. After spending about an hour working and socializing at the market we headed back to to the Amigos de la Tierra office to end the day’s adventure.

Despite my fears and doubts about cycling through the city, I had a great time and may even try it when I return to DC for school.

I Found the Black People!

During my first weekend in Buenos Aires, my roommates and I decided to venture out to La Casa Rosada, or the Pink House which is the equivalent to the White House in the US. After walking around a bit, and quickly discovering there was little else to do without a reserved tour, we looked around to do some more exploring and low and behold there was a huge outdoor artisan market (also know as la feria de san telmo) right across the street. The sun was shining, music was playing, and the street was abuzz with activity as we walked through the feria that seemed to go on for miles. 

After stopping to watch the tango dancers at an outdoor restaurant and purchase a quick snack of choripan, a mouthwatering combination of spicy sausage and soft baked bread, I continued through the feria solo, Having lost track of my roommates somewhere along the way, stopping every 30 seconds to look and seriously contemplate buying something that had caught my eye.

Then, all of a sudden I began to hear soul music. And it wasn't just any soul music, it was live soul music. I could feel the beat of the drums and vibrations from the guitar. As I drew closer to the source of the heavenly melodies, I realized that it was coming from none other than Movimiento Afrocultural!! I had no idea that it was located right in the middle of feria de san telmo or that they have an outdoor jam session every Sunday afternoon (if you're a little lost please refer to my earlier post). After enjoying the music for a little while, I decided to socialize with some fellow Black people and ended up striking up a conversation with a kind older man from Uruguay who then introduced me to the director of the organization. 

Now let me remind you that I had only been in Argentina for a few days so I wasn't quite used to the Argentine accent or fast paced Spanish and didn't quite understand everything that they were saying but just being able to interact with Black people for the first time since leaving my home in Georgia had me ecstatic. I was even more so surprised by the song selection. Instead of the Afro-Latino vibe that I expected, they were playing old school hits from the states. I was even pulled on stage to sing a few Stevie Wonder songs that I embarrassingly didn't know all the words to.  

After practically running offstage and back to my seat, I enjoyed a little more of the music and blackness ending my day affirmed and fulfilled. I definitely intend to return to Movimiento Afrocultural for other events as well as to hopefully make some Afro-Argentine friends while I'm here. 

Until next time,

Ciao!

Traveling While Black in Argentina

Greetings!

My name is Alexis and I am currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the summer (or winter depending on where you are) for a fellowship with Cultural Vistas (which if you're a student or professional who likes travelling for free, you should definitely check out!). Like anyone travelling to another country for the first time, I did as much research on Argentina as possible. Pinterest became my best friend and travel blogs my specialty.

As a Black woman attending a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), the illustrious Howard University, I attempted to center some of my research on Black spaces/historical sites. To be honest, what I found was less than encouraging. Granted, I didn't expect much with the little bit of Argentinian history I knew, which included former president Carlos Menem saying in 1996 "no hay negros en Argentina" (there are no Blacks in Argentina) which is completely untrue.

Like many countries in Latin America, Argentina has a complex and, at many times, problematic relationship with race. There is substantial evidence that the government actively engaged in the racial cleansing of African peoples in the country during the early 1900's . But despite that, there are still traces of Mama Africa's influence in Argentine culture, including its people.

Back to the research...

So basically in my research I found a few organizations such as Movimiento Afrocultural and Africa Vive that are centered around affirming blackness in Argentina. I also found that very few Black Americans (or Black people in general) had documented their experiences in Argentina. And that brings us to the birth of this blog. With La Morena en Argentina, I hope to document my experiences as a young Black woman navigating my way through a country with a rich culture and complex history. Hopefully I can help a few wanderlusters on the way.

Ciao!