Did you know that black Mexicans were only recognised for the first time in 2015 when the Mexican government conducted its national survey? Most of the freed slaves then intermarried with the indigenous community, raising children known as “mulattos,” “pardos,” or “zambos. While a lot of modern people are inclined to believe that the Afro Mexican population declined over the years, statistics indicate that the population ranges between two per cent and eight per cent of the Mexican population. The 2015 recognition of black Mexicans in the national survey, a preliminary of the 2020 census, which is set to fully recognise them, is a move in the right direction to give the Afro-Mexicans the voice they have been fighting for over the years. While that’s happening, some Afro Mexicans have turned to music and dance to express and stay true to their roots.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 10, 2018 09:33 UTC