An Open Response

My post last week on former state Representative Ralph Arza and his use of the n-word triggered the most comments of any post on this humble blog. One of the most recent comments was left yesterday by that ever-present Anonymous person (he/she really gets around, eh?)

In the comment, our fair Anonymous from an undisclosed fair location really gives it to white Cubans, and covers everything from Nelson Mandela to the "social clash" between blacks and whites. The comment is posted in its entirety below.

I am opening this up for responses from our esteemed readers. After all, it's never a bad time to educate.

Maybe I'd have to be in Florida, inhaling the cocaine laden air to not find so many posts here, as absolutely sick.

Cuban vs. Black

Obviously there aren't too many black cubans posting, because the tone seems heavy on the white cubans inbred mentality of racism that conveniently excises anything black/african from their culture, until they want to shout about Cuban music. Azucar Negra indeed.

Mandela

Oh how horrible Mandela was to give any praise to Castro who offered support against the system of racism and Apartheid that had been destroying his people for centuries. Of course WHITE cubans can't find respect for anyone that fights against a racist system - White cuban are only against economic systems that deprive them of slave plantations, automatic racial privilege, mafia gambling, and in general the luxury life while watching poverty in the fields enjoyment that they feel is inherent in for the descendants of slave owners and pirates. Sorry, I meant to say inherent for the descendants of Spain's best exports.

Social Clash

Obviously it is important for many Cubans to believe that all African-Americans are poor, uneducated, criminals, lazy and uncultured, because that makes them feel they have a group of people to consider lower than them. Reminds the Cubans of the home they fled when because they lost their plantations and unquestioned right to racism and class bigotry. It is even easier to not understand the history of slavery, racism, class issues in the the US, when they deliberately ignored them in their own Cuban country.

That a lot of African-Americans are good people, cultured, educated,kind, generous, hard-working, etc. is something unacceptable to Cubans who grew up with the image of the "lazy" black slave who just happened to do most of the work in the country.

Also lost on such people is the fact that African-Americans didn't flee the US, but stayed and fought for rights, justice, etc. that made American even begin to live up to what American ethics claimed to be from the beginning. It is easy to be smug and flee to another country with struggles fought by OTHER people for a better national ethic, instead of staying in your own country and making a change.

Of course this Cubans cannot understand racism very well, because in general Latin Americans is centuries backwards on such issues. Blacks in those countries trying very hard to be seen as "latino" not black, because they know that black is unnacceptable unless you sing like Celia Cruz or can serve as a low-paid slave.

For those white cubans (and non-skin color denying blacks and "mulatos", and those who have a whole lot of relatives who are obvious blacks/mulatos even if they themselves came out white)who are not racist, I don't know how you can exist in a community for whom racism is more natural than breathing.