Racial Attitudes and Anti-Black Sentiment in Contemporary Cuba

Abstract

Racial ideology in Cuba rests on the notion that racial mixing, or mestizaje, has created harmonious race relations and an absence of racism or racial hierarchy. This, accompanied with a national silence on issues of race and racism prevent a collective evaluation of the implications of anti-black racism. This paper examines the role of racial ideology in shaping Cubans’ racial attitudes. Within this context, it also highlights the existence of anti-black sentiment among whites despite a dominant ideology that suggests otherwise. Through survey and interview data I find that amidst an anti-racist culture or national etiquette, crude expressions of racism continue to thrive without much rebuke because all Cubans possess anti-racist attitudes and do not need to curb or reflect on racist language or actions.