blactivegan

the highlight of my all too short trip to acapulco began to take shape in a conversation with a waitress. of course i was attracted to acapulco’s weather, bountiful (and peculiar) flora and of course! i had to see and swim with a few sea turtles. but my first initiative to connect with people and learn/share culture. this trip was no different especially since this mexico trip was a stop in the african diaspora. “es ustedes antropologicos?”, the waitress asks as i finished my tofu taco from 100% natural. with such a beautiful smile draping off of high cheek bones…and a honey brown complexion i couldn’t help but think of my grandmother - a harlemite raised by her bahamian father during the late 30’s…could there be a connection? it appears that mi abuelita’s twin sis was curious as to why nite*vision and i were so interested in “black” mexican history, particularly since we did not “look” the part of academicians. it so happened that favy was born in “la chica costa” region of mexico and strongly identifies as afromestiza and was very proud to speak about the various sades of brown in her family and other cultural aesthetics - just as every afromestiza was when we spoke to them. both, mine and favy ’s, inquiries (researcher and my grandma) were explored by the “african by legacy, mexican by birth” installation at the caribbean cultural center and later by the mexican fine arts musuem in chicago (one of the largest mexican diasporic centers outside of cali). the untold history of yanga, vera cruz and the overlooked descendants of african and indigenous warriors in mexico is beginning to be revealed with initiatives from cultural groups like foroafromexico, researchers like bobby vaughn and others , and the afromexican cultural museum (formally known as el museo de las culturas afromestizas in cuajinicuilapa - a former palenque and one of the many southern towns densely populated with afromestizas. the mission is bring this unknown part (sometimes called the ‘third root‘) of mexican history/present into the plain view. as we made more inquiry about la chica costa we came to find out that many diasporic africans come to mexico “on the low” to find out about the african roots in mexico. in fact in my attempt to quench some of the thirst started by the caribbean cultural center i came across an article written by a sister from texas who had made her was to cuaji, but there was very obscure info on the museum, address, contact info, webpage, etc. the mission was set and it was beautifully accomplished. in general acapulco is lovely, the weather, people, the natural scenery, the eco-touristy stuff, but the culture is with out a doubt worthy of study and participation. for more pictures of my trip check out my slide show. other sources of info on african mexican history (message board, afromex, etc.) **update** view the interview video clip with museum curator, carlos torres:

Address: Manuel Zarate S/N Col. Centro Cuajinicuilapa, Gro. Mexico

Telephone: (741) 414 12 31 Cor.elect.