Assessment for Blacks in Venezuela

Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

population of Blacks in Venezuela. Discrimination is of a distinctly social nature; there appears to be no policy of discrimination, only general social practice based on a stereotypical view of dark skinned people as being of lower intelligence and social class. Blacks, on average, are highly supportive of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has increased government efforts to decrease economic and political discrimination against Venezuelan Blacks. Most protests Blacks have participated in have been in support of the Chavez government.

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 not based on race, but rather based on socio-economic class. However, the history of Venezuela is replete with stories of formal and social discrimination against Blacks. 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 imported between the 16th century and 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 and white Venezuelans persists to this day (largely due to economics), there has been a great deal of cultural assimilation in both directions (ATRISK1 = 1). All Blacks in Venezuela speak Spanish and observe Catholicism, and 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 (POLSTAT = 2). The improvement is not inconsiderable, but the overwhelming majority of Blacks still live well below the level of the average mestizo Venezuelan (ECDIS03 = 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 the priority list. However, Blacks are still underrepresented and face considerable social discrimination (POLDIS03 = 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.

The primary grievances of Blacks are of an economic nature, especially a desire for greater economic opportunities. Linked to these economic grievances are political grievances related to greater participation in decision-making and increased representation at all levels of government.

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.

References

"The Black Americas: 1492 - 1992." Report on the Americas 25(4): 15-48 (February 1992).

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

Lexis-Nexis news reports. 2001-2003.

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

U. S. Department of State. 1971. Area Handbook for Venezuela (Washington, DC: US GPO).

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