“Art Exhibit”
Several months ago, I went to the California African American Museum to see, “The African Presence in Mexico: Yanga to the Present.” It was a showcase of the existence of African Americans influence had on Mexico. In the 1990’s, the Mexican government acknowledged Africa as Mexico’s “Third Root.” For nearly 500 years, the existence and contributions of African descendants in Mexico have been overlooked, although they have continued to contribute their cultural, musical, and culinary traditions to Mexican society through the present day. This exhibition provides an important opportunity to see and experience the African American influence in Mexico and the Americas. The exhibition was organized by the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.
Interracial marriages has helped intergate the color lines in Mexico almost since the arrival of the Spaniards. Mexico has had its Afro-Mexican heroes, including President Vicente Guerrero, who outlawed slavery in 1829. Guerrero ruled for just a short time until he was assassinated. Racism has led to denial on Mexico, where the census doesn’t have a category for counting African Americans and even Afro-Mexicans prefer to be called Cuban, according to the exhibitions companion book.
This exhibit wasn’t just extremely beautiful but informative.
