The document discusses several significant events related to afrodescendants and racial equality from 2013 to 2014, including the UN's declaration of the decade of afrodescendants and the tribute to Nelson Mandela. It highlights activism in Latin America, such as the celebration of national days for afro-Argentinians and Afro-Mexicans, and the establishment of a festival for Afrolatino cultures in New York. Additionally, it mentions key conferences and legal rulings regarding racial equality and the challenges faced by black communities in various countries.

2. UN Declaration on the Decade of
Afrodescendants
•
On December 30, 2013 (following up on the Year of the
Afrodescendant which took place in 2011) the United
Nations voted for and approved a resolution calling for
the Decade of Afrodescendants which would run from
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2024.
• The declaration called for action on the part of
governments to promote racial equality, noting that
despite some advances African descendants continue
to face racism, discrimination, xenophobia and
intolerance.

3. Nelson “Madiba” Mandela
(July 18, 1918-December 5, 2013)
• On December 5, 2013, the world mourned the
loss of iconic leader Nelson Mandela at the
age of 95. The influence that Madiba, former
South African political prisoner, the face of the
anti-apartheid movement, head of the African
National Congress (ANC) and former South
African president had on the world but
especially Africans and African descendants
was profound.

4. Robert Zurbano in N.Y. Times
• On March 23, 2013, Roberto Zurbano, then Director of
the Casa de Las Americas in Havana, Cuba published an
article in the New York Times entitled For Blacks in
Cuba the Revolution hasnt Begun. The article created a
stir both within Cuba as well as abroad. While some
Afro-Cubans rushed to Mr. Zurbano's defense others
criticized his decision to publish the piece in a U.S.
media outlet. Following the uproar, Mr. Zurbano was
removed from his position at the Casa. Given the
reactions Mr. Zurbano's article served its purpose,
bringing the ongoing conversation on race in Cuba to
the forefront.

5. Day of Braids– Panama May 20, 2013
• May 20, 2013 the Afrodescendant community
in Panama celebrated its 2nd year of the “ Day
of Braids”. The campaign which started as a
protest to a ban on natural hair in public
schools has gained the support of
Panamanians at home and abroad. Social
media was also used to encourage all
Panamanians regardless of identity to submit
pictures of themselves, friends or family in
braids.

6. National Day of Afro-Argentineans and
African Culture
• Following several years of activism on the part of
many AfroArgentinan organizations including
Agrupacion Xango and many others, on April 24,
2013 the Argentinean legislature approved
Law 28.652 Día Nacional de los/as
afroargentinos/as y de la cultura afro (National
Day of Afro-argentineans and African Culture) to
be celebrated on November 8. In a country which
has historically made the contributions of African
descendants all but non existent this is a
significant achievement.

7. Day of the AfroMexican Black
Community of Oaxaca
• Afro-Mexicans successfully push the Mexican state for
recognition and secured October 19 as the "Day of the
AfroMexican Black Community of Oaxaca”. This is a
huge achievement for the AfroMexican movement who
have been able to make significant advances in recent
years, pushing for official recognition of the human
rights and cultural roots of the AfroMexican
community. With Census counts varying the movement
has embarked on a consciousness raising effort, while
developing a plan for inclusion in the Mexican
Constitution.
• http://www.noticiasnet.mx/portal/oaxaca/176042celebran-su-dia-mas-74-mil-afromexicanos

8. US$27,000 Fine against “Negro Mama”
• Fine leveled against media group for Blackface
show "Negro Mama". Following up on a fine
originally imposed by the Peruvian government
after a successful but contentious campaign to
remove the blackface character "Negro Mama",
LUNDU-Peru scored a victory by having the
Frequencia Latina tv station fined $27,000 for
failing to comply with the original decision. Sadly
the popular backlash in support of the character
was full of hateful, violent, mysoginistic and racist
rhetoric.

9. Decision of the Tribunal Court of the
Dominican Republic TC 168/13
• In October 2013 the Tribunal Court of the Dominican
Republic issued a ruling and a plan retroactive to
1929, that imposed responsibility on the Dominican
state to effectively strip nearly 200,000 Haitian
immigrants, their children and Dominicans of Haitian
descent of their Dominican citizenship. International
condemnation swiftly followed the ruling, which
then gave rise to a nationalist opposition movement
from within the Dominican Republic which claimed
any criticism disrespected national sovereignty. At
present the Dominican and Haitian governments are
in discussions in an effort to resolve the issue. OUR
DECLARATION

10. 1st Afrolatino Festival of NY June 28, 2013
• New York saw its first festival dedicated to the
broad range of Afrolatino cultures. The
Festival, the brainchild of co-founders Tania
Molina, of Garifuna descent and Mai-Elka
Prado Gil, of Afro-Panamanian descent, took
place in Brooklyn and was attended by
hundreds including cultural and political
figures. Visitors and participants from as far
away as Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Boston and
Chicago attended. The Festival returns this
June 2014 so stay tuned.

11. 50th Anniversary of the March on
Washington
• In August 2013 the world celebrated the 50th
Anniversary of the March on Washington where
African-American civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Marin
Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream"
speech pushing for civil rights, an end to racial
discrimination and greater economic equality.
MLK has had a significant impact on Afrolatino
human rights advocacy as seen by the outpouring
of support. Click for commemoration speech by
Mr. Federico Pita of DIAFAR, Argentina

12. 3rd World Conference of African &
Afrodescendant Mayors and Leaders
• In September 2013, Cali and Cartagena, Colombia
hosted the The Third World Conference of African
and Afrodescendant Mayors and Leaders . Prior
conferences were held in Senegal (2011) and
Nigeria (2009). Key themes of this year included
the use of tourism for socioeconomic
development, the environment, the importance
of the peace process in Colombia and the need
for increased industrial, cultural, economic,
spiritual and political cooperation in the diaspora.

13. SEGIB Conference of Ibero-American
Heads of State and Government
• October 2013, the Secretary General of IberoAmerica (SEGIB) organized the Conference of
Ibero-American Heads of State and Government
in Panama City, Panama. This Summit aimed to
facilitate the exchange of ideas and regional
cooperation among Latin American leaders, to
foster public-private partnerships and to
encourage awareness of digital citizenship and
digital tools for development including among
Afrodescendant communities. The SEGIB is the
creator of "Ciudadania 2.0" ("Citizenship 2.0")
"AfroXXI”

14. Conference on Racial Equality, Brazil
• In October 2013, Brazil’s SEPPIR organized the
Third Conference on Racial Equality. Key topics
included the need to continue the push for racial
equality in employment, education and political
representation for the nearly 50.7% of Brazilians
who self-identify as Afrodescendants. Brazilian
President Dilma Rousseff announced the
establishment of a System for Monitoring the
Promotion of Policies for Racial Equality. The Plan
for the Prevention of Violence Against Black
Youth, Plan Brasil Quilombola and the Guide for
Implementation of Racial Equality for States,
Federal Districts and Municipalities were also
launched.

15. Other notable events:
•
2d Conference on HIV /AIDS (November 2013)
among AfroCentral Americans to present
findings to the General Assembly of ONECA
• 20+ HBCUs to Welcome More Than 150
Brazilian Students in Exchange Program This
Fall