A forum held by the Latin American Student Union last week examined different elements of racism concerning Latin Americans and how students can understand their participation in the prejudice.

Griselda Rodriguez, a Binghamton University class of 2003 alumna, hosted ‘Negro, Yo? Jam√É°s! Black, Me? Never!: Afro-Dominican Identities in the 21st Century’ Thursday, Nov. 15.

Rodriguez, a Ph.D. candidate at Syracuse University, returned to Binghamton to host this lecture for the second time and raise money for Afro-Peruvian victims of the earthquake that occurred in Peru in August.

Rodriguez began with a quote from reggaeton artist Tego Calder√É≥n’s song ‘Loiza,’ which is named after Tego’s hometown in Puerto Rico.

‘They want me to think that I am a part of a racial trilogy, where all of the world is equal’ was a segment of Calder√É≥n’s song which Rodriguez recited.

The racial trilogy refers to the idea that Latin American countries are generally assumed to be a composition of three races: Amerindian, African and European. According to Rodriguez, the image of the trilogy is used to promote ideals of racial equality ‘ ideals that Rodriguez said are not real.

Along with the racial trilogy, Rodriguez mentioned the idea of a racial democracy, which refers to the three main ‘races’ of Latin America and stipulates that these three ‘races’ are completely equal.

Rodriguez said that if this was true, Latin Americans would not judge one another based on ‘pelo bueno/pelo malo’ (good hair/bad hair) or participate in ‘blancamento’ (literally ‘whitening’ the population, which is often the motive behind race-mixing). She termed this as ‘internalized racism’ and ‘self-hatred.’

‘Is race real? The effects of race are real,’ Rodriguez said. ‘It is a mental construction.’

She elaborated on the role that African descendants themselves play in the racist structures of society. Denying heritage, for example, was one of these ways Rodriguez mentioned.

According to Rodriguez, in the Dominican Republic there is negrophobia, a fear of African heritage of the island. Instead of claiming and praising African heritage, Dominicans refer to themselves as mulatto, praising their mixed descent, but not their African roots.

‘Blancamento, social exclusion, social invisibility of black populations’ instead occur in the Dominican Republic. When Dominicans deny African heritage and refer to African descendants with racist terminology, such as ‘cocolo,’ then ‘we trick ourselves,’ Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez concluded by saying that in order to gain political influence in the future, Domincans would have to learn to set aside their differences and unite.

‘Dominicans, one of the fastest growing non-immigrant populations [in the United States will have] eventual political power, policy laws for health, education,’ Rodriguez said. ‘It’s important we have our heads straight.’

Members of LASU hope to continue to raise funds for the earthquake victims and will accept donations until the end of November.

‘We owe it to them and we owe it to our roots as people to assist. We have to address all causes equally regardless of race,’ LASU President Hanna Reyes said, ‘but the issue with Peru is imperative right now and deserves our attention and consideration.’