Being Black In Colombia | It's Not What You Think! | Expat Interview Ep. 5

[@HowToExpat]

We show you the real Medellin from an Expat perspective! 💡 Sneak Peek Services 💡 www.how-to-expat.com/medellin-sneak-peek-services/

[@kuroazrem5376]

As a colombian, I say racism is real, but mainly directed at indigenous people. Black people are often treated as "poor" and "savage", but if you're foreigner, and american especially, that is cancelled out since we treat foreigners better than our own.

[@555125kevin]

You mean black people are treated poorly, but everyone else with lighter complexion isn't treated poorly.

[@groseron]

I agree, based on what I've seen in person and the Colombian news, the indigenous of Colombia are pretty much at the bottom of the hierarchy (which is sad because the majority of us descended to some degree from them [and of course many of us also have some African and Spanish lineage] but many like to highlight the Spanish lineage and ignore the rest) . Also, I believe what Kuro meant to say is afrocolombians are treated and looked down on as "poor" people, in other words, the opposite of wealthy with no real purchasing power and destitute; based on my observation I believe that to be fairly accurate as well. On the other hand, if you are American (black or white), many colombians will perceive you as rich, and that has the potential to be dangerous. My own family, when I go visit them in Colombia from the U.S., they swear that I'm rich, lol I think racism in Colombia definitely exists. But! It's a Colombian version of racism, which, for an American (or any outsider) it may be hard to distinguish. Also, the American idea of racism doesn't really translate to Colombian racism...it's just a different culture over there, a different view, a different way of thinking (e.g. - a black American may think they're a victim of racism in Colombia when they're actually not, and vice versa, when they actually are being racially profiled or victimized they may not even pick up on it). Moreso, I've noticed that classism is more of an issue over there than racism.

[@Olubumni]

The Colombians were very friendly to my whole family while we were in Cartagena. We blend in well with the Blacks there. Can’t wait to go back.

[@mrxx506]

Because they realized that you and your family were not from Colombia! But if your were originaly from Colombia, I don't really think that they will be friendly to you and your whole family!!

[@Olubumni]

@@mrxx506 That's interesting.

[@Ben-Israelreports]

Yes, I really loved Colombia!

[@ChineduOpara]

That's because you were a tourist.

[@MrKerucker77]

I had a great time in Cartagena a couple years ago. The black columbians would walk up and hold their arms up to mine and say "black man black man same color" love the people!

[@joselassalle4958]

Columbians are people from Columbia, South Carolina.

[@ChineduOpara]

Because you were a TOURIST!

[@elkinsuaza6394]

Black people in Colombia, are Colombians as much as a white person. They're Colombians for 500 years. Here we don't remind them that they are afro-colombians. They are just simply Colombians like the rest. It's the education that matters, if you're a black educated person, everybody respects you, if you're a black respectful person everybody respects you.

[@macman9689]

So, you trying to say educated black Columbians face no racism and have the same opportunities their white counterparts experience ...totally equally?

[@stevenjustice8258]

My "black GF" refers to herself as afro colombia sometimes...I think it stupid...she is just colombian. Is his GF afro-swiss? Or just Swiss. Enough with identity politics.

[@chrismartinez1370]

@@stevenjustice8258 Yeah, but that's her feeling proud of her racial/cultural roots.

[@chrismartinez1370]

​@@macman9689 That's a very good question. I feel here in Colombia we don't see many black business owners or higher-up executives because of the disparity of black people vs white living in cities. What I mean is this: if you're a black person living in the city. You have access to the same opportunities and education as a white one. The problem is that there are fewer black people living in cities and more living in poorer areas far from cities with no access to good education nor internet (Such as Choco or some small towns far away from the cities).

[@sunshinepatsoph4219]

COL O MBIA WITH O. GOT IT.

[@andrealue7209]

I’m a mix child of a Colombian woman and a black man I grew up in cali with my white grandmother from 2yr-10yr and no one ever made me feel in anyway that I was even black and I had a lot of friends,we had great times and parents where great actually they treated me fantastic,until I came back to USA to live and it was when I discovered racisms Kinda sad I must say.

[@SFBay69]

@The Narrow Gate Ministries Nah

[@macman9689]

They shoulda had a talk with you to brace you about reality of non-whites in US. Sad but thats real

[@roncoleman9415]

You are not dark.

[@roncoleman9415]

COLOMBIA IS WORST THAN U.S. THOSE GUYS ARE RETIRED AND NOT DOING ANYTHING.

[@amadbundu1566]

@@JessOrozco😂 damn I’m sorry to hear that

[@aoruene]

Being black in Colombia with your plenty $ = No racism , been all over the country and have been treated so well.

[@testingsomething5280]

Or just being well educated

[@sherrisolomon8673]

text, better not lose that money though.

[@dmcarden]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3ank2WIhKtkgdE

[@jorgebm2086]

in Colombia and in latin America, classism is a worse issue than racism

[@ditocerto]

@@jorgebm2086 poor excuse to recognize racism and the real problem. Brazil has tried that same excuse for yrs.

[@Hampteronit]

As a Colombian I can say there isn't much racism, the only prejudice that you see is more social economical. One of the biggest differences between the European anglo colonizers and Spanish conquistadores was the the anglos wanted to separate themselves from other races (us vs. them) and the conquistadores wanted the people they were conquering to assimilate (them become us).

[@mrprimate4503]

are you white? if you are not afro colombian you can't speak speak on the experiences on black colombians....

[@wadek798]

Thank god I never had the experience of black Colombians not speaking to me. They have all spoken to me and acknowledged me. Not sure why that person would say that, but that was his experience. They actually celebrate their blackness in Colombia thru festivals and the like. I wish that he would have interviewed more people than just these two to get a broader perspective. Great video none the less

[@rashandamckenna]

I had that experience

[@IAMYUNGGAF]

Is it different than ecuador? Here the people arent very warm

[@Olubumni]

They sound like Dominicans.

[@antifugazi]

ITS MAY 2020 AND AHMAUD ARBERY WAS SHOT 3 MONTHS AGO IN THE BACK FOR BEING BLACK AND JOGGING IN HIS OWN STATE, THIS VIDEO IS SO RELEVANT AND WILL ALWAYS BE RELEVANT

[@raulzuluaga]

The taxi situation is not because of his race. Taxi drivers usually refuse to take you to short trips into heavy traffic areas. Or they even refuse if they feel it is a complicated address. Now taking a cab in Bogotá!!! They just don't stop, for many reasons: They are ending their shift, they are already contacted by an app.

[@davidw5329]

I’m very impressed with the various topics you cover keep up the good work

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks a lot :D

[@darrinwright6397]

He seen as an American period. A black Colombian is a different story im sure lol

[@jamalpeoples3736]

@@SpanishwithEddy you are hilarious. Maybe you do, but the general public does not. Racism is very real here. Even more so for Black Colombians. I am treated much different when people find out that I am American. When I was trying to start a business people wouldn't even want to rent to me. Then they find out you're American and the whole scene changes.

[@brendan1675]

@@jamalpeoples3736 yep so not about your skin color just about the economics

[@jzk2020]

@@brendan1675 But when he had money and they thought he was local, he was treated differently, so its NOT about money.

[@Yryyyys]

@@jzk2020 yeah there definitely is a LOT of racism against Black people in Colombia. being perceived as a gringo mitigates it. but if you're AfroColombian it's a whole nother matter.

[@user-oe5kt6yk5p]

​@@jamalpeoples3736 But I am AfroColombian and I have not experienced this racism.

[@dwaynebell7705]

I am an African American with a Colombian fiancee from Bucaramanga. I love Colombians they are the nicest, kindest, most respectful people I have ever met and I have been to 53 different countries. Its all how YOU treat people. I speak pretty good Spanish and have IMMERSED myself in the culture, the history of the country and embraced the beauty of its differences. To me its pretty simple. Americans looking for racism and prejudice. Its stupid.Because Colombia has such a history of Africanism and native people I love it!!!

[@WorldvsTruth]

Well said. Pretty much whatever you're looking for, you will find it or it will find you. Of course you have to exercise some degree of intelligence and sense anywhere you go in this world. If you look for trouble, you will find it. If you look for the good in people you will find it. If you're any good, you'll draw that out from those you come into contact with. Dios te bendiga. =)

[@dmcarden]

Dwayne Bell but you are not a native columbian so you really can't speak for how racism is truly in their country

[@dmcarden]

@R F there are other videos where the local people state there is extreme prejudice. They treat foreigners differently..especially Americans

[@dsa513]

@@dmcarden The culture is not racist like the US or in Europe. First of all, there's no superiority complex in Colombia like other places. I'm not talking about individual racists, about the general culture. No Tucker Carlson, homeless racist crazy whites, college students who hate on other races, etc.

[@lovelymusicnow4404]

GOOD JOB not marrying american

[@nujersey187]

I would like to correct a few people in the comment section. not only does colombia have a huge afro influence, our African slave trade started 115 years before the first slaves got to the Virginia USA ports. colombia is 2nd to Brazil as far as the country with the biggest slave trade. including the Caribbean islands. so to be specific we don't just have an African influence, our African influence is way deeper than the one in the USA.

[@nujersey187]

s.j d indeed the dominican republic play a huge role in the Latin american slave trade. the only reason why colombia had more slaves is because Cartagena colombia became a huge slave hub for most of south America. but Santo Domingo definitely had one of the biggest slave concentrations in the Americas.

[@j.lizbardo]

Colombia abolished slavery before the US. Colombia also had a black president in 1886, which to be fair was not included on the expresidential portrait rooster until 2016. Black population in colombia is less than 10% while it's 13% in the US.

[@nujersey187]

Jose Pardo actually the 10.6 percent you're speaking of refers to people known as afro Colombians who are straight descended of lucumi and carabali slaves vs the 13 percent of Americans known as African Americans who are mix. if we're going to compare regular or mix blacks, colombia is estimated to have about 32 percent.

[@CapitanNaufrago]

@@j.lizbardo I recently did genetic testing as a white-looking Colombian and I'm about 20% black. Once we have more genetic testing of the population as a whole we'll probably discover large amounts of the population with black DNA, even in more European looking people. We truly are a very mixed and diverse nation :)

[@enriquedemarco5555]

I recently researched the imformacion in this comment and WOW. You're 100% accurate. Everything you said here checked out. Colombian black roots are way deeper than what people think. Thanks for the imformacion.

[@y2k4ed]

I am totally comfortable with Black people in Colombia. I see them as my friends, neighbors and pleasant people to be around.

[@sharmabright1506]

Therefore the title should be 'being African American in Colombia', being Black in any country is specific to the Black population of that country.

[@teofilozeba1770]

God bless you, we know there's many good peoples like you around the world

[@ronw6707]

Your white, no where near native to Colombia. If you take a ancestry DNA test it will prove you are white. White skin moved to Colombia over the decades. Fact not fiction, stop hating truth and pushing lies. Black and brown fit in easily as spoken in this video. White do not anywhere.. what's the percentage of pale skin in the world less then 20% lmao the other 80% plus colored

[@Carlielight]

I love Colombia! I want to visit this country🥰😍😍😍😍😍

[@lamontdavis8243]

I stumbled on to this video and am SMH. I would never ask two people to speak on the situation of an entire country. Especially if they are not highly fluent in the language and culture of that country. Their intentions are clearly good but the message and the messengers have an extremely limited depth of historical context and experience in Colombia. American racisim is a unique product of the USA that does not exist anywhere else on this planet. American expats in Colombia are Americans first and we carry a lot of racial historical baggage with us no matter where we go. It's the invisible lens through which we experience the world. That said, my experiences with racism here in Barranquilla have been 100% from non-black expats. One example from a local weekly expat meet up (run by local Colombians which is odd). There were "concerns" because a group of 6 black expats congregated together and it "made everyone else feel left out". This feeling was collectively communicated to one of the Colombian organizers and then shared with the black person who was "the leader" and "who should have known better". Funny thing is these were black people from around the world who did not know each other until that meeting yet it was immediately perceived by non-black Europeans and Americans as something that we should not do. The lens of priveledge allows some to think they dictate the rules of social engagement even in foreign country. Expats are a unique breed and we have about as much in common as we would have had in our home countries. I personally have not experienced American racism here because it does not exist. There is another "ism" that is much more prevalent: Classism.

[@ofirrifo6018]

Lamont Davis the other "ism" in Colombia is Classism therefore only the lower class is going to be discriminated, not matter what color is your skin. Are you a black, white, Chinese, Arab, Colombian millionarie? Welcome to the club

[@abdullahalgasser8071]

Thank you Sam! It's really interesting video! I noticed that many African Americans are happy there in Colombia, and I could understand that. Some African Americans are not satisfied about the situation in the US, and they are looking for a place that they can find themselves in. I like the community of expats in Medellin, and I think it will grow more and more in the near future. I'm planning to be a part of it next year, and hopefully I could make it.

[@albertomolano]

@@JM-qv7fe All Muslims welcome to Colombia!

[@gfunkera1what]

I've noticed that many Africans throughout the entirety of Africa are not happy with their situation there and trying to get out...many people if African descent are unhappy with there situations all over Europe in England and France and Germany etc. Of course many are also unhappy with their situation in Asian countries too. I wish the whole world wasn't filled with people making African and peoples of African descent so miserable. I especially can't stand non-Africans that think that African peoples have played any role whatsoever in their unhappy situations all over the world. Those people are racist.

[@abdullahalgasser8071]

@@JM-qv7fe Yes All Muslims, Christians, Jewish etc.. except bad people from any religion, and yeah except the racists people also.

[@abdullahalgasser8071]

@@albertomolano Thank you brother!

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

@@JM-qv7fe There's not a big muslim population here but there's a fair share of arabs that have done very well in this country.

[@playamixx]

AMAZING INTERVIEW!!! I've been thinking about moving to Colombia and this Video helps a lot. Thank you!!!

[@kettenbrecher662]

All of you are so welcome to this country, cheers!

[@nunnabusiness4609]

Interesting. I wish you had a couple of black American women to provide their experiences as well. Thanks for sharing these interviews though. I was in Cali and Cartagena last year May and loved it. I completely fell in love. I'm looking to come back soon. Working on my TEFL certification now.

[@satony9969]

As a Black American man I appreciate the video and I appreciate you having brothers who could articulate well ! I’m excited to visit Medellin in September and again in November of this year, flights booked. Thanks !

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks, really appreciate your comment. Enjoy your stay in September!

[@freedomofthemind5259]

the guy in the white shirt looks like Jim Jones

[@gfunkera1what]

You should go visit a predominantly black country. Haiti , Congo or Somalia are all excellent places to go visit or even live permanently. I'm planning to live in Zimbabwe when I retire.

[@elcosteno701]

You will love the city and the people enjoy!

[@wiseonwords]

@ - Why the shouting? No need to shout, old boy!

[@DanFeldman-Edge]

The bearded black man with the Air Jordan polo is such a likable fellow. Would love to have a conversation with him.

[@HabeshaNayele]

Thank you both so much for covering this topic. It really means so much to us black viewers! 🤗 I am coming down in a couple of weeks and will reach out to you for your services. Keep making these great videos!

[@gfunkera1what]

Have you considered going to visit a predominantly black country after your Colombian trip? There are many wonderful places to visit that are virtually devoid of white people ruining everything. Pretty much all of the countries in Africa today are very safe and prosperous lovely places to go on holiday. These days they all have state of the art infrastructure and medical facilities. Rampant violence, rape, murder, slavery, political turmoil, poverty, starvation, civil wars and all of that are a thing of the past. Today the world looks to Africa and African Americans as leaders in a diverse range of fields. I predict we will see an actual Wakanda style utopian Africa complete with flying pyramid spaceships within our lifetime.

[@HabeshaNayele]

gfunkera1what Amen! Yes, ! I just came back from Ethiopia. It was a life changing experience. I will be returning to Africa in the summer. ❤️

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks, means a lot to us! That would be great, looking forward to that.

[@ScorpioOnTheGo]

Nayele when are you going? I’m moving there in October

[@jermarwilliamson8165]

To the guy in the video >>>>> Do you hear people calling Jamacians African Jamacians or Dominicans African Dominicans.... We don't like to be called Africans or African Amer... just call us Black Ameri... we have nothing to do with Africa, we don't even look African, Africans sold us off , West Africans can't even grow Afros or Long full beards because where really not the same group of people, African culture and AA culture are totally different. Calling us AA is like calling a chinese guy a east indian asian or a english guy from england Italian or better yet a Columbian a Brazilian.

[@ScorpioOnTheGo]

Great video, would love to be part of conversation when I move in October There’s a wave of African-Americans wanting to move there

[@y2k4ed]

I hate being judged for being Jewish. I would not like being judged by my color either. A thing that I like about Colombia is that there are plenty of every color. I only wish that others thought like me.

[@bigoso404]

Wow! Big respect to you for addressing this issue. I’ve only visited colombia (MDE & CTG) but the one thing I can say I noticed being a black American in Medellin was some funny looks when in fancy restaurants in el poblado. Nothing aggressive or hateful but it seemed to be more “how are they gonna afford to eat here”. The only blacks we would see in these establishments were working in the back of the house. I think you made an important distinction between treatment as a black foreigner as opposed to a black Colombian. Cartagena is so black that it was very different....I don’t think folks really notice you too much in Cartagena

[@gfunkera1what]

So you by virtue of having been born in the U.S. and having US dollars in your pocket, fly across the globe to a foreign country where go to a nice restaurant in the best neighborhood and are served a probably very good meal by a nice polite staff...nobody gives you a dirty look or gets up and changes tables further away from yours, you're not refused service or treated poorly by anyone ...but you think white people looked at you weird because no black Colombians have money to eat at a nice restaurant. I'm really sorry that happened to you. You'd think that in the year 2019 you'd be able to fly around the world eating in fancy restaurants in the best neighborhoods and at least be able to enjoy your meal without white people ruining it by looking at you like that. So sorry thoughts and prayers

[@bigoso404]

gfunkera1what no no......it wasn’t anything that deep.....it was a small thing I noticed......it didn’t seem like hate or anything......I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. It seemed more like genuine confusion. Now....colorism in Latin America is a real thing.....noticing all the dark skinned people working in the back of the house, parking cars, loading airplanes and occupying the lowest barrios.....but that’s a different subject

[@fredymorales9286]

This is a very stupid video, so wrong and many was

[@frau4bzna]

No it's not! It's a very informative video for a person who experiences racism in their home country. The last thing a person wants to do is travel for leisure and experience even more racism. Especially if it can be avoided.

[@dsa513]

Yes, Colombians with money are usually the ones who have the racist undertones in some of their behaviors. Not White supremacists though. They never had one-drop rules in Colombia. No lynchings. You had free slave towns. African descendance is prized in Colombia. We know it's true worth!

[@javierguerrero9486]

In Colombia there's a strong national identity, people don't look at your race but rather where you're from (what region). So everyone is considered Colombian regardless of their race. I believe that's what's lacking in the US, we like to break up people by race/ethnicity and neglect the fact we are all Americans.

[@darkmattersproject2951]

Sam I am African American who visited Colombia for 2 months. I was just another person. Until I opened my mouth Hee hee ha ha. Take care

[@usa_kenyan]

Good job. Very interesting video. I would love to see more on this topic. Curious to know how blacks from Africa feel about living in Colombia. Apparently, there are some. What I find very intriguing is that the videos I've seen of coastal Colombians show many of them to be very dark, as in African black. In fact, if I did not know they were Colombian, I'd think they were from Nigeria, Kenya or Zimbabwe.I have always been very curious as to how I'll experience Colombia, when I finally visit. :)

[@doctorzaius8959]

Welcome to Colombia, I hope you enjoy the country (sorry about my english)

[@miguelramirez6352]

We as Colombian people consider ourselves to be of European, American (Native American) and African ancestry and the mix of the three of them. That is our ethnic background, which makes us proud of. Culturally we are a fusion of elements that combined perfectly define our Colombian identity. We consider ourselves as very heterogeneous and different among ourselves, but that's what Unites and enriches us. We Colombians embrace our diversity as richness and are very proud of it, and we want to share it with the rest of the world!

[@Yryyyys]

he's so right also about a lot of Black Colombians having a lot of internalized racism. the notion of "bettering the race" by having children with a lighter-skinned person is EXTREMELY present here in Colombia. a lot of colorism. if a Black Colombian person has lighter skin, or whiter features, or whiter hair texture, they'll get praised even by their own family members. also a lot of white Colombians feel totally free to be racist and ignorant, shamelessly. like they'll call their Black friend or family member "el negro" constantly (or even "niche"), or even strangers will call a grown-up Black person "negrito" on the street. the majority AfroColombian regions (Pacific coastal regions of Choco, Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Cauca and the Caribbean regions) and neighborhoods are abandoned by the government, extremely affected by armed violence, massacres, paramilitarism, poverty, lack of infrastructure, extractivism and environmental racism (destroying their natural resources and territories). also a lot of cultural appropriation, like for example reggaeton only became cool when white latinos started doing reggueton, when it was AfroLatino music it was considered despisable. and if you talk to a regular white Colombian they'll often have clichés about how Black Colombians are "happy", "colorful", "cheerful", "good dancers", etc, like they are supposed to tapdance for ur entertainment or something, and then of course they're also perceived as loud, uncivilized, violent, animals, and of course hypersexualized clichés on both men and women... so yeah... Colombia is just as racist as any other country that was built on slavery and colonization.

[@dpeasehead]

@Yryyyys: Channels like Univision and Telemundo don't show a latin America in which black people are treated or seen as full citizens. When they are visible at all, black people in those places seem to dealing with the same issues which are allegedly ONLY present in race obsessed Europe and North America. And 50 years behind.

[@gabrielgant8545]

The experience of Black Americans in Colombia is nothing like the experience of Black Colombians in Colombia. Same in Brazil.

[@imcurtispenner]

Wow, does this video have even more impact after the events in Minneapolis this week.

[@debj2206]

Precisely what I was thinking also.

[@nujersey187]

they look like two average guys in my city Cartagena. I'm way darker than both of this guys. they're actually lighter than most people I grew up with. in Cartagena and in Cali you're just two regular guys like most of the population.

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks for your comment. At the coast people are way darker compared to the Andes. Both are living in Medellin, where black people are not as common as at the coast. Which makes a big difference when it comes to racism.

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

@@HowToExpat nowadays common in the poorer comunas due to forced displacement. However, in the traditional cultural region, there have been little to no black people, that's historical. The reason being that in the colony, appart from the gold-rich towns, the rest of this region was very poor, so, there wasn't a significant slave population here during the colony, plus, the wide range of climates and unaccessible geography encouraged the arrival of colonizers from Spain that reminisced about their homelands or that didn't want to be harassed, that married the mixed population that existed here, since indigenous people here suffered a lot the diseases and weren't as big as a population as it was, for example, in what today is Bogotá, which is why the population has mostly leaned to their european DNA.

[@zurima2012]

Not true! racism and elitism is horrible in Colombia, also against native Indians , the majority of white Colombians are pretty horrible, racist extremely religious, meaning they ask Jesus for forgiveness after doing horrible acts...

[@scottwilliamson723]

@@zurima2012 You're sick and a racist lady!

[@zurima2012]

Scott Williamson No! You are! I know how racism works in Colombia and all South America !

[@j.lizbardo]

As a colombian, I notice I that some commenters on this video demand that colombia applies the doomed equality policies that have made race an issue in the most successful country in the world, the US and europe with the support of the united nations. They are demanding for colombia: 1. A census race based for the purpose of clasification with "diversity" in mind as opposed to the purpose of science and genetic research. 2. They demand affirmative action on the basis of "priviledge" as opposed to a merit based system. "I long for the day in which blacks will not be judged by the color of the skin, but by the content of the character" Martin L. King. Sadly, the "diversity and equality" policies and information gathering from the state in the US, europe and the UN are indeed being used for the wrong purposes. Need not to worry Colombia is quickly asimilating those same doomed policies.

[@eastcoastbrotha]

Regardless of policy the whites control everything so u can't be judged on merit bcos of attitudes like yours.

[@macman9689]

Go to fox network with that BS😁

[@sonya774]

Thank you so much for addressing this. Columbia sounds like an awesome place to visit.

[@pharmjigga]

"Columbia" is there University lol

[@alejandromedina9948]

Taxi driver a lot times won't take you in Bogota, but that is nothing to do with your skin tone ...it is just the nature of taxi drivers.

[@concha1011]

In u.s everybody talks about race 24/7 like if you are talking about dog's breed. It's crazy! All day you listen things like: That white guy, that black guy, that asian kid. It's fucking ridiculous... I grew up in Colombia and have classmates of different races: We were all friends and colombians. Paisas, rolos, costeños, boyacos, etc... Such an advanced country and you see so much segregation 😶.

[@dpeasehead]

@Me R: The degree of advancement and wealth has nothing to do with the degree of justice, morality, opportunity, or the nature of a social order in any nation.

[@Jamminn555]

Excellent interviews and info, Sam. Thanks so much for this.

[@jermarwilliamson8165]

To the guy in the video >>>>> Do you hear people calling Jamacians African Jamacians or Dominicans African Dominicans.... We don't like to be called Africans or African Amer... just call us Black Ameri... we have nothing to do with Africa, we don't even look African, Africans sold us off , West Africans can't even grow Afros or Long full beards because where really not the same group of people, African culture and AA culture are totally different. Calling us AA is like calling a chinese guy a east indian asian or a english guy from england Italian or better yet a Columbian a Brazilian.

[@catbernstein8628]

Once again, Sam, it’s a pleasure to watch your videos. You have a knack for choosing topics that one wouldn’t necessarily think of, and in doing so, open the viewers’ eyes to an unexpected view on life in Colombia.

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks a lot for the comment :D

[@charleshankerson1467]

Sweet Georgia cafe is a great place to eat and talk especially for black men!!! I love it

[@bensassy8137]

At the end of the day, the moral of this video, is that race relations are more advanced in Colombia

[@sherrisolomon8673]

Ben Sassay, I sure can't tell if someone looking like me is avoiding me like the plague because they hate being Black.

[@ditocerto]

you forgot to explain how race relations are more advanced in Colombia and comparing to which countries.

[@francisconovoa3554]

Not really, black Americans don’t feel the racism in Colombia because they are treated as foreigners, but Colombian blacks definitely feel racism

[@ditocerto]

@@francisconovoa3554 of course. Only a fool would disagree with you.

[@25oxendine]

You have to understand that a lot of the racism in America is being extremely exaggerated by the media and politicians because it is a useful tool. Many Black Americans buy into it, but if we are honest then we have to admit that most of the danger that Black Americans face is 95% internal from other Blacks. I've lived in the South for over 50 years, and I haven't been called the N-word or harassed by police in 30 years. What's more, I come from a place where the Black population is only about 3% of the total population, but I have been all over the South in my work profession

[@lesgrant7861]

I was in Colombia for a month. I experienced no racism, The friends I met there I asked about racism and most didn't even know what I was talking about 😂. I realized then that the psychology of racism was in the USA.

[@bogardsparks2801]

I don't know about anyone else but I prefer the term Black American. When people start referring to whites as European Americans, I'll reconsider the term African American.

[@samo1611]

id like to hear black women experiences also. Thanks for sharing

[@voz2voz]

I love Colombia and its warmth, and I've never had a problem going there. Forget over-priced and fake Miami. Cartagena, Cali or San Andreas is unbelievable. Like the commercial say..."the hardest part is you don't want to leave"

[@Andrelmorales5665]

Literal

[@Yryyyys]

Colombia is an extremely racist country against its Black populations and against its Indigenous populations, in many ways. But yes, being perceived as a European or North American foreigner definitely removes the stigma cause you're perceived as gringo first and foremost. But yeah AfroColombians are heavily discriminated and oppressed and the structural racism is extreme.

[@Yryyyys]

but the relationship with the police is definitely more relaxed that is very true. but other aspects of anti-Black racism are worse here in Colombia than anywhere else i've been.

[@MADNEWYORKER914]

I was watching the documentary "Cocaine Cowboy" pt. 2 years ago, and the black guy who was from Oakland and who was interviewed was saying that Colombians don't like blacks, especially the cartels. But when I watch these videos about Colombia they seem so friendly when it comes to black people. I would like to visit Colombia!!! And I was told that Venezuela had a lot of racism, but I noticed the same friendly demeanor when it comes to these videos.

[@lorenas.5782]

just believe the documentary. colombians love money 💰. American dollars are very appreciated there don't matter where it come from. The issues arise when you don't have money and get confused with the locals.

[@davidjose89]

It's pretty simple. We Colombians hate cartels, so even if a black guy is into drug staff, he won't be treated nicely. Not because of their skin color he/she will be discriminated against.

[@Jennily90]

we got our freedom at the same time! black and white, Indians, mulatos we all got our independence at the same time In Colombia. we never had what happened in the US. we all got the same rights at the same time, we shared the same bathrooms, same bus, same school. thats why we don't really expenrience black racism in Colombia at least not like in the states.

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

1. The independence was a criollo conspiration to get rid of the overseas Peninsular surveilance, to do whatever they wanted. It was the culmination of the centuries-old conflcit between the encomenderos (who where all spanish emigrées, many of the first ones being former conquerors) and the royal administration, who had to get on the former's tails to prevent their abuses. 2.The independence was a huge setback in minorities rights, meaning, rights of native americans and africans. The reason being, this made the Leyes de Indias no longer effective in Spanish America, in this particular case, in what today is Colombia. These laws contemplated fairness of treatment for native americans and african slaves. The former, many whom had helped the spanish conquer the territory by hoping a change by throwing down the currently dominant pre-columbian dominating political enitties, were able in many cases to retain their lands, their inheritances (encomiendas led by native americans were basically caciques being recognized by the spanish administration), the local nobility was often recognized and many of the first prominent members of the new society here were mestizos because of that, which is why the elites in most of these countries today have some non-european blood. Some even got to europe, for example, some of Moctezuma's descendants today, are Counts or Dukes in Spain. In our country, a royalist hero with a clear native background is Agustín Agualongo, who was the only mestizo elevated to General in that war. Meanwhile, Manuel Piar and José Padilla were sold out by Bolívar and the other criollos they had fought alongside in the war in fears of a popular rebellion, the former because his mother was half-black, the later because he was a pardo (was tri-racial, I guess we can imagine him like the average costeño today). The latter, slaves, had better treatment compared, for example, to anglo colonies. Slaves in the 13th colonies usually fled to the Spanish-controlled Florida due to this and because emancipation was edicted for them. They established the first free black settlement in the US there, which was Fuerte Mosé. The previous discriminating social institutions that existed previosuly were reinstated shortly after, the previous example with Piar and Padilla are the best evidence of this. The natives got it worse because they lost their territories and were pushed back, remember that today's settlements weren't there 150 years ago, we lived a 2nd, republican, colonization process, plus, the caucho fever, which saw many natives exploited and killed. 3. Emancipation in Colombia happened after a gradual process in 1851, meaning, the independence didn't meant the emancipation of the slaves here, and that didn't even change the situation much because slaves could purchase their freedom and that of their families, and the slave population had been diminishing for decades, which is why they did it anyways, it was cheaper not to have these slaves, it didn't came from any altruism or sudden recognition of the ancestors of afro-colombians as equals in the eyes of the society. 4. The biggest improvement since the Leyes de Indias in these matters has been the 1991 constitution in which these communities were recognized and asigned fixed representation in the representative chambers and, in the native case, the resguardos. Think about it, the biggest improvement for racial minorities in the colombian territory was a constitution that came some 180 years after the "independence" from Spain, in 180 years they had worsened the situation these minorities lived, from the situation they had lived under the laws that were the compilation of 2 issues of laws that were expedited in 1512 and 1542, meaning, they had been enforced some 270 years before the secession. Laws, by the way, that had been primarily issued towards the treatment of native americans, since in that moment the transatlantic slave trade wasn't as big, who, ironically, got it the worse from the criollos.

[@macman9689]

Oh dont say you dont experience it. Just go to the coastal areas and see the infrastructure there. However you are on point its nowhere near as bad as US. Fact there.

[@spyingonyallteacup2744]

If there no racism at all I’d come Im sick of the ignorance

[@vangoughpicasso]

Excellent video great information

[@anthonymendoza1327]

You didn't mention that there are cities are are almost 100% black like Quibdo (warning, wild place). Most of the coasts are largely black also both Caribe and Pacific.

[@angelicaflorez6660]

Ah I've been to Quibdo and people were nice, the problem was the poverty and extremely corrupt politicians there. Colombia's Gov is the 1st responsible on racism as they don't invest in education, healthcare and infrastructure, they are like this all over the country, but let's say the corruption is higher in afrocolombian majority cities

[@onholdbro6133]

Have there been any instances where Afro clientele from Sweet Georgia Cafe visited a Social space where Afro Colombians frequent? If so, how was that experience?

[@juliomartinez-nl7ky]

Great topic and content. Live and boots on the ground information. Have you thought about doing a similar video on Puerto Rican’s living in Medellin/ Colombia ?

[@expatatlarge5286]

WEPAAAA..^)

[@StevenMRose]

Big ups to Sweet Georgia Cafe. Their Mac n Cheese is awesome and a great place to watch a fight when it's showing.

[@kemaloz5447]

Very informative video. Thanks for doing this!

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks for the comment :D

[@VIPSTYLEUSA]

both of yall can pass as Colombians until we hear the accent lmao

[@passionatepoet3188]

I'm descent of three warrior tribes Rozwi ,Ndebele ,Swati I fear no place and I fear no one except my own father.

[@KyRoTV91]

💪🏾

[@danthegypsy5871]

is ur dad scary?

[@drecavaco]

I’ve been here almost a month and so far everything has been fine. I can blend in until I start having a conversation. I can only speak for myself. I definitely get treated differently when people find I’m from the U.S. I’m in Barranquilla and I haven’t met another African-American person yet.

[@ExpatMoneyMoves]

Great Video Sam & Tacha! My experience here in Medellín has been similar to Jake's & Carltons. I am not surprised about Carloton's experience in Bogota, I have felt a different treatment more so there.

[@HowToExpat]

Thanks a lot :D

[@sarahg2553]

In general, people in Bogotá are kind of rude if you compare them to the rest of the country. And it’s a common general behavior, as in they will treat you the same no matter your race haha.

[@elhector83]

@@sarahg2553 In any country in the world, people in big cities tend to be more aggressive or distrustful.

[@xebechemorpheus8814]

Afro-Colombians are a significant portion (almost one quarter) of Colombia's overall population, yet they are one of the poorest ethnic groups of the country.

[@AchiritaKan]

Most Colombians are poor period. Most Mestizos are poor. If you’re only in Colombian cities then yes, you’ll experience racism. Heck it’s pure ignorance . You even experience racism if you’re from a small town and move to the city.

[@davidjose89]

Stats says just 10% of the Colombian population are Afro-Colombians. 1/4 it means about 25% so it's not accurate. But It should be around 14-15%% and being a Colombian guy living all my life here, I would say around 6 million of Colombia's total population are black only. So more realistic is less than 25%. Official stats say around 37% are white, but I doubt it, I would say Around 30% are white, so it's about 15 million people, the rest 59% is Mestizo with lighter or darker skin color variations. About 29.5 million people are Mestizo and 1% are indigenous, about 0.5 million people.

[@juju10683]

I'm black I love Colombia. People probably treat me much better than Black Colombians though. People seem to be more curious or ambivalent about it. To them black means something different too though because there are degrees of blackness in Colombia. In the US if you are any % black you're black.

[@macman9689]

@ troll, you copy/paste the same post all over😂

[@macman9689]

Outstanding! Love to see different perspectives independent of each other. Love how you reach out to diverse cross section of expats. Been to Medellin, Cartegena and Bogota. Very different towns with their good points. If only i can convince my wife to go to the other towns less mention😒

[@vinny_chace]

Thank u for this. I’m planning to visit in 40days and I was wondering about this. America has racism oozing out of every corner and I’m excited to be in a town of predominantly black/brown people.

[@igpxmaster]

I’m in Cartagena currently I love that there are many hard working black people here who understand that they are black I blend in nicely and I notice blacks mix people or white passing all get along here

[@ghamil231]

I’m currently spending 4 months in Cali (2 weeks in). Definitely experiencing taxi drivers not wanting to pick up the Black guy. I’m a dark complexion Black guy. The darker the complexion.. the great the discrimination.

[@camdenforrest]

Wow! I heard Cali has racist issues especially towards black Colombians

[@SkepticalMantisCHANNEL10]

How was the rest of your trip? Did u experience other types of discrimination??

[@hannahchhay9895]

Thank you for this video. People of the world dont really believe this to be a thing. When going anywhere you have to know all your abc's.. 123's etc..... But asking that question is a true thing.

[@spikeduque]

I grew up in Cali and the US. Black people generally are very poor in Colombia and do not have the same opportunity to advance themselves as African Americans in the States. Being born “poor” in the US does not come close to what it is like to be born poor in Colombia. Social classes in Colombia do not mix. Colombia has more “classism” than racism.

[@johanrodriguez7147]

Blacks are not usually poor in Colombia, it depends on where you are born. Maybe your impression is that because El Choco is poor, then all Afrocolombians are poor. That is not true. Go to Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla and you will see that you can be black and be a businessman or be a construction worker. You cannot compare a society like the American and Colombian because they evolved in different ways. Colombia for example never had segregation, America did. I am a light haired green eyed white Colombia and until I had contact with North American culture, I never thought of black people as less nor do I to this moment. Americans are very prejudiced even among your minorities. Colombia is a very diverse country, you are always in contact with different looking people, we cannot be at our throats because that is a stupid reason to be. Maybe in America, but not in Colombia, we've been mixing our melting pot hundreds of years before the U.S was even a country.

[@eastcoastbrotha]

no it's more racism for blacks in colombia.

[@spikeduque]

Johan Rodriguez Black people do not get rich in Colombia nor do many even have a chance to. The very small exception would be those who play play professional fútbol and even then they are paid nothing compared to American athletes. Black people who work construction are poor... also give me an example of a black Colombian business man who is a CEO of a large company? It just does not happen. Blacks in Colombia are as a group very poor people with little education and opportunity. Most black women work on the street or in wealthy families homes. In most cases the social class you are born into in Colombia is where you stay forever. Rich people do not marry poor people and Visa versa. There is a class system in Colombia that never changes.

[@MrDayna39]

@@spikeduque Very true, there is a lack of good opportunities for Afro Colombians, after visiting there three times I noticed even medium paying jobs like Taxi driving are rarely open to Afro people, I have never seen a Black Taxi driver is Colombia.

[@spikeduque]

got good x You are calling me very racist? I’m just speaking the truth. I spent half my life living in Colombia and Black Afro Colombians as a group have little opportunity to advance out of the class they are born into. By American standards they would be what we would consider “poor” compared to our middle or upper class. Even if they are lucky to not have been born into extreme third world poverty the vast majority of blacks in Colombia hold what we would consider minimum wage jobs. Working at restaurants, retail stores, super markets ect. Many work in rich peoples homes as maids and nannies or the men as gardeners or landscapers. They work construction and do a lot of manual labor. A lot work in the fields since agriculture is a huge business. Some may drive taxis. None of these jobs allow you to become rich. With current exchange rates a minimum wage job pays maybe around 300 dollar per month. There are not many black people that hold high ranking corporate positions, nor have I ever met a black doctor or lawyer in Colombia. The ones who make any considerable amount of money like I said before play professional soccer or become famous musicians. The rest tend to stay in the class they are born into and virtually none are born wealthy. Social classes don’t mix in Colombia. If you are born into a wealthy family you do not marry a poor person it just does not work that way there. Stating this is not racist it’s just facts.

[@waltergsarts]

There is few racism in Colombia, but there is Classism institutionalized sadly. These afro americans feel comfortable in Colombia because colombian people knows they have money.

[@lindaperry4113]

Loved this! Thank you....even loved your acknowledgement that you didnot include women interviewees. Nice job.

[@supertenor561]

I experienced 2 examples of rudeness and jealousy from 2 mestizo males. The audacity of my black self being able to afford to experience travel, didn't sit to well with them because in their mind, I'm black and therefore inherently beneath them and undeserving of opportunities. These men would be considered middle class to upper middle class by colombian standards and by nature of their job interact with more black Americans. Also, one example of women who attempted to skip me in line when I was clearly there before them. I just was very assertive & cut them off from being helped & re-established being prioritized.

[@brianjohnson4300]

Can you do another video about racism, and what is Colombia's perspective about dark-skin American and Colombian?

[@owens7331]

I didn't have problems at all with taxis in Cali. And I lived there for 9 years. I did though once in Medellin and Bogota. It might have been because I was with another black guy. Two against one. As far as blacks not acknowledging other blacks they don't know, I think that's with everybody. People don't tend to acknowledge people just because they have similar skin y. In Cartagena, I've even been stopped with "man of my same color" And it works lol. They get me with that every time. My only bad experience was when I had a student who kept making black jokes and the class would laugh. Something I wouldn't expect in the US in a city with lots of blacks. But he was the only one though. It wasn't the norm

[@CLG111]

The second dude made some very good points

[@Clarin-mm4oo]

If you want to see it and feel it (The good and bad) about our Afro descendente life in Colombia go to Buenaventura, Choco and San Andres. Different Afro cultures and stories. Different flavors 😊

[@dpeasehead]

@Clarin 2019: Great suggestion. California is not Florida or NYC or Montana...

[@dreamykathe]

I'm from Colombia. And I'm living in the U.S. I think if you want to understand more the Colombian thought you need to learn more about our Culture. And we are not racist. At least I'm talking about me. We never go by the streets calling the people " this Black or white Colombian" that's rude. On the coast of Colombia people are called by some nicknames and for you to understand them you would have to get into our blood to understand our thinking more. Colombians are very kind and gentle with foreigners and we have no points of comparison with the behavior of other cultures. Just as I know that not all Americans are the same, equally with Colombians.

[@Bavubuka]

You interviewed 2 people for this? Quite the sample size 😂

[@juanmanuelmoramontes3883]

Colombia is pretty good about accepting others, however not everybody behaves so, there ARE racists people here, but most are accepting, everyone's experience is different, some have had better luck than others.

[@Clarin-mm4oo]

In Buenaventura, Chico and San Andres you find reach culture. We colombianos feel enriched with that part of the culture, the blacks’ music, food flavor, dances, and warm heart. Just got to the Pacific region and Caribbean region and you will find many treasures. But people with education gets better life style. It’s all about your education levels, it gives you access to everything.

[@livanoguerrero3385]

I was born in a low middle class peasant family un Colombia. I migrated to the US after high school, went to college and had a good job. However, I suffered discriminatory remarks often. I had the chance to marry a nice girl from a wealthy educated anglosaxon family, but I hesitated because I was somewhat timid and fearered a life of discriminatoriy remarks from her friends and relatives. I have regreted my decisión because this girl was really nice and she had indicated she would be willing to come to live with me in Colombia...

[@user-oe5kt6yk5p]

That's sad. What else has happened?

[@redstreet8012]

The police in the United States are more militant and are always trying to catch you. In South America the police are nice/friendly and aren't trying to get you.

[@Vivi30908]

Thanks for addressing that issue. It's been many years ago, l just wish l can come into the vídeo where black women are interviewed.

[@dremunoz2600]

The guy explaining his experience at 11:03 I can vouch for when I was in Cartagena. I got into a cab driven by an Afro-Colombian and he asked where I was from, I said the US and he responded saying my Spanish was great. I explained that my parents are Colombian, after some cit chat he straight up asked me why are African Americans so ghetto? I got the impression that they looked down upon African Americans.

[@antoniotula262]

Maybe a stereotype from media, no personal contact..... Remember the skit about hardworking Jamaicans from "In Living Color" having multiple jobs?... Perception is reality for some people.

[@munchiexl9727]

It's like in miami when the afro americans hated on the haitians

[@dremunoz2600]

@@munchiexl9727 - honestly I don't get it but as a Latino we do the same stupid shit on each other.

[@munchiexl9727]

@@dremunoz2600 facts

[@ArcturusAlpha]

this videos is pretty relevant in the states right now.

[@masthedecart7650]

The guy that talk about the taxi experience in Bogotá, wasn't rejected because he is black. Taxis drivers in Bogotá like to do whatever they want and want to go only where is convenient for them, anyone in Bogotá has to argue a lot with them just to take you where you want. So this wasn't anything relating with his race. You can see much more racist people in Europe, much more often than I will ever see in Colombia.

[@maintenanceman101]

I have been to Colombia three times, never a problem, the last time was Xmas 2019, I would have gone this year, but the Covid happened, so maybe next year. The people I have encountered seem to be very friendly and forthcoming. The airport in Bogota is an experience , especially for a non-Spanish speaker .

[@sneakywolfylikeyou3283]

Colombia is close to the Caribbean

[@Food4thought1234]

You’re a white guy from Europe? Dude a thought you were Latin as in either Columbian or Mexican. You don’t look white at all.

[@a_figueroa8121]

Colombian*

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

1. Colombian 2. Hope that was sarcasm

[@kingc1198]

You do know Europeans migrated to latin America right

[@jahmallajaima]

@@a_figueroa8121 watch all da videos on Colombia and it never fails to see quite a few people write it wrong in the comments. Even when Colombia or Colombian is in da title.

[@a_figueroa8121]

@@jahmallajaima Yeah

[@johntziannis1134]

I wonder if they would be racist towards Greeks in Colombia? I know there's racism everywhere and Greeks are obviously foreign, but Latinos and Greeks have some similarities.

[@macman9689]

You'd blend in well

[@johntziannis1134]

@@macman9689 I guess i will find out when i go. Are you Colombian?

[@miguelramirez6352]

In Colombia we acknowledge Greece's heritage to humanity. Our language Spanish is greek and latin based. ( Lengua grecolatina). You will be welcomed!

[@johntziannis1134]

@@miguelramirez6352 Thank you. I love Latinos.

[@MSALL-co8bf]

Awesome reporting !

[@seanwilliams7637]

Great video!

[@jimthomas856]

I am muslim living in the usa for 36 years since I was 2, orig born in india. Most people think I am puerto rican. Many people talk to me in spanish when they first meet me. Would I have a problem in medellin? I want to move there next year

[@macman9689]

Not at all

[@oniking3708]

Let me put my two cents in. i went to Columbia recently, and i was in bogota chilling at a nice restaurant just the two of us. A large group of native sat at the table next, 5 mins later they looked at me and my friend and immediately left to look for another table. As a black African American, i couldn't tell what it was that made them leave, but honestly idc just don't lie about the treatment people get in Columbia

[@Xuseen]

How can I come into contact with African americans there? I am African living in the Netherlands. Somali to be exact. I am planning to travel to Colombia so it would be nice to meet other black expats

[@setobe2068]

Excellent

[@mrsmith188]

I have been in Medellin for 39 days. Where can I find a Black community? How can I get a visa?

[@travelingjohn69]

Does Henry Louis gates have an episode on Black in Latin about Colombia.

[@ScotchIrishHoundsman]

I wish the dude in the white shirt was my friend.

[@adriancantu293]

Good guy. I served with him in the Marine Corps. I have not seen him in years. Looking forward to catching up with him next time I visit Colombia.

[@kwannp6141]

I think you did a very good job with this video. Traveling to a different country to be with the same people defeats the purpose of going or living in a different country. It's about assimilating with the incumbent natives. So the question I wished you would have asked is are Colombian women of all shades open to dating black foreign, highly educated men? Not all black people play spades or bones... I respect you for making this video! 💯

[@user-oe5kt6yk5p]

The answer is yes. It all depends on the girl, if they like you or not and it has nothing to do with skin color.

[@d.7819]

Good video.

[@twomp1162]

I like this vlog, very informative....thanks