Topic > The Huge African Culture Represented in Mexico and Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet

This documentary provides insights into the rich African culture that is intertwined in Mexico and Peru. Over time, Africans became part of Spanish society and were identified as mestizos, creoles, and mulattos. The historian at the Mexican Historical Museum explained that there were several variations of darkness. He also said that Barack Obama and Beyonce would be considered mulatto. Mexico has a rich, unique history of integrating slaves into their society. Peru was opposed because individuals with African roots were discriminated against. For example, Susana Baca is a black Peruvian who was denied the opportunity to be involved in a dance company. This documentary raises awareness about African origins in Central and South America. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Before this documentary, I knew that people from Latin America have African ancestors. In the fall of 2015, I went to an exhibit called Latinas and Intimacies, which showcased women with strong connections to their African roots. Most Afro-Latinos viewed themselves in a negative perspective regarding discrimination and insecurity. However, despite negative perceptions, some women are embracing themselves by encouraging the future generation not to be ashamed of their skin color. This relates to the documentary because there were people who had influence in their community such as the Trindad priest, Israel the radio talk show host and the woman who was trying to cancel the racist podcast Negro Mama. They were challenging society in order to be recognized as citizens. In the show, Negro Mama painted black Peruvians as criminals, which created racial profiling. The documentary covered the historical, political and social aspect of how people learned to deal with the discrimination they faced. However, the artworks did not reflect any racial distinctions and everyone could coexist. Overall, the documentary was particularly fascinating because the lines between Latin American and African cultures completely merged. The documentary was very unique because it began with the introduction of Fandingo, who is a blend of African, Mexican, and indigenous. Another thing I noticed about the documentary was that there were a lot of close-ups of the people who interviewed the guide. There were also location shots of historic sites, cities and ports which highlighted the value of being part of "lost history". When the documentary talked about the free city founded by an escaped slave Yanaga, there was a close-up that was supposed to symbolize the importance. I really learned a lot from this documentary about how some Mexicans and Peruvians have unique identities and don't fit into one category. The one thing I noticed about the documentary was that the people interviewed didn't believe the importance of race. But instead they have created their own identities that they can call their own. Another reason I would recommend this documentary is because it shows Latin America as multidimensional with an intricate web of intimate family ties..