Written by David Latona, Joan Faus, Eva Manes
Alcoy, Spain/Barcelona/Madrid, January 6 (Reuters) – Anti-racism activists in Spain are calling for a ban on the use of blackface, which is seen in many of the country’s traditional Epiphany festivals.
Rita Bossajo, the first black woman in Spain’s parliament, said the practice is part of the annual Jan. 5 parade on Epiphany Eve that depicts the three Biblical kings who brought gifts to Jesus, and the slaves. He said it would desecrate the memories of marginalized people and disenfranchise black children.
In the eastern town of Alcoy, which has a long tradition of parades, dozens of pageants accompanied the king to Friday’s event, their faces painted black and their lips painted exaggerated red. Some children ran along the edge of the crowd and high-fived each other.
A Department for Equality spokesperson was on holiday and unavailable for comment.
A 2021 study commissioned by the Ministry of Equality found that although almost half of people of African descent living in Spain were born in Spain, only 12% describe themselves as “Afro-Spanish” and that they face discrimination. It was found that 60% of people said that they did not feel Spanish because of this. they suffered.
Those who defend the use of blackface argue that it is not meant to cause harm, but merely continues a tradition.
Catalonia’s oldest parade is held in the northeastern town of Igualada, where most of the 800 or so participants wear blackface.
“We do not consider ourselves xenophobic or racist, and we do not accept the fact that there are people who dress up and put on makeup to play a role and bring joy to children. We don’t even consider ourselves speciesist,” said Eduardo Kreus, who heads the group. parade.
In Alcoy, the large crowd of peasants who accompany the king are often local white youths in blackface.
Local authorities in Alcoy declined to be interviewed.
madrid incident
A video released by authorities in Madrid’s Chamartín district on Thursday shows the white actor playing Baltazar wearing blackface and speaking to children in what is clearly an imitation of a West African accent, causing a stir online and in the media. sparked widespread protests.
Eduardo Rubino of the leftist Más Madrid party said, “It’s incredible that out of the 120,000 residents of Madrid of African descent, not a single person could be found to play the role of Baltazar.” It was expressed as follows. pathetic” and “pure racism.”
Madrid’s vice mayor told reporters that the video was a “regrettable mistake” made by the production company, and said the city would seek an explanation.
Antoinette Torres, founder of Afrofeminas, an online community that aims to increase visibility for black women, says there is a “lack of political will to stand up against racism” but protect minors and blackface. He said a nationwide law is needed to end such practices.
“If we normalize these trends, things that should not be tolerated are still happening in Spain in the 21st century,” she said, referring to last year’s incident. doll hanging A depiction of a black Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr. From the bridge.
She added that many Spaniards do not consider blackface racist because the education system does not teach the country’s ties to slavery and colonialism in its past.
Spain once had a protectorate that included parts of present-day Morocco, as well as colonies in present-day Equatorial Guinea and Western Sahara, and engaged in the slave trade until the 1800s.
(Reporting by David Latona, Eva Manes, Katherine McDonald and Joan Faus; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Aislin Lane and Frances Kelly)
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