The Persistence of Institutional Racism

Cuba: The Persistence of Institutional Racism
May 16, 2013
Esteban Morales

Who is responsible for the fact our national statistics do not offer the
information needed to conduct a thorough study of the racial issue in Cuba?

Who is responsible for the fact our national statistics do not offer the
information needed to conduct a thorough study of the racial issue in Cuba?

HAVANA TIMES — While it is true that racism, as a conscious,
institutional policy does not exist in Cuba, this does not mean we have
done away with institutional racism as such.

Who is responsible for the fact that the issue of color isn't mentioned
in Cuban schools, that race isn't a subject of study or research in any
University syllabus, or that these questions aren't sufficiently
addressed by the media? Without a doubt, the Ministry of Education,
Cuban television and the official press are responsible.

Who is responsible for the fact our national statistics do not offer the
information needed to conduct a thorough study of the racial issue in
Cuba, or for the fact our socio-economic statistics make no mention of
skin color? Without a doubt, the National Statistics Bureau (ONE) is
responsible.

So, has institutional racism truly disappeared? Apparently not, or, at
the very least, it has disappeared only relatively, for our State
institutions still do not offer us the results we would expect from them
were they actually designed to combat racism, showing many deficiencies
in terms of the mechanisms that could help us eradicate this phenomenon.

If these mechanisms were improved, we would be in a much better position
to combat racism and racial discrimination, which still exist in our
society. These phenomena aren't entirely inherited from the past; they
are also the result of flawed social systems that contribute to their
reproduction.

These flaws we continue to perpetuate stem, to a considerable extent,
from the flawed mechanisms of different State institutions.

We could say, thus, we have not totally eliminated so-called
institutional racism in Cuba, and that this form of racism often finds
refuge in the lack of political will shown by some State institutions
that, far from helping eradicate the phenomenon, contribute to its survival.

It will be impossible to win the battle against stereotypes, racism and
racial discrimination if our educational institutions, our media, our
scientific and statistics organizations do not join forces. Without
these four institutional pillars, we will not come out victorious of
this great struggle we have undertaken.

http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=93180