So I'm going to Argentina, Buenos Aires to be exact, should I worry?

Show all answers

Queen Kitty

I am originally from Argentina raised in California. People in Argentina have a different point of view when it comes to racial comments. For example I visit Argentina twice a year. When I am with my friends over there they sometimes call me " Negrita" even thought I am obviously not black. But it doenst bother me, its just because I happen to have very dark hair and dark eyes and light olive skin .And many times is to differentiame me from people who have light hair and eyes, which is more than half of Argentina. But they do it as a term of endearment not as an insult. There really isnt any real Black people there( you may see one Black person once in a while and even they, are very light skinned Blacks who got absorved and blended in with the white people either that or they come from Brazil) so you may get stares or people may ask you if you are from Brazil.

um ok, this is the best i know about latin america in general. my husband is from mexico, and has also lived in Buenos Aires. what i have noticed is that they *seem to* 'get along' more comfortably with black people than in the U.S. - i mean, there isn't all the stress between races that we have here - however there IS racism, and they are NOT politically correct about it. they like to tell jokes about minorities, etc. but in general i would think you should have a pleasant experience. hopefully someone from argentina will answer on here.

Jorge R

OK, I don't agree with the other answer.
In Argentina there are no rascism like in USA.
we tell jokes, about "******" as we call them but in refference to some actitude of the mestizo .
And "politicaly correct" is a matter of costume and culture , what is politicaly correct for an American can or can not be politically correct for us.
By the way You will find in Argentina the greater variation in color skin you can imagine, unfortunatly we don't have real black population and that is beacause we declare the abolition of the slavery in 1813, and was not good bussines for Portuguese pirats to bring them to Buenos Aires (instead they went to Uruguay and Brazil).
You will be surprise how ofthen you'll find out we call ***** to a friend or a public personality in a loving way of expresion.
You will be called el ***** o La Negra, for yours friend, who will love you.
And other surprising fact is that we call ***** in the same loving way to famous people in a way to expres our admiration( when sometimes they are caucasian). As el ***** Olmedo, El ***** Fontanarossa, La negra Bernasi, o El ***** Dolina ( Alejandro Dolina).You can look for yourself this people in You tube
People that we love without doubt and they like to ba called in that way, cause is a friendly and loving expresion.
I don't know if somebody can say this is or not politicaly correct, Personally I prefer to have friends calling me El *****, and know they care about me, than a more American "politicaly Correct Society" where you can have as many black friends as you want , but is at the end your perception of what is wrong and what is right.

Diego Z.

I am from Argentina. (prov. Santa FÃ©).

Don't worry don't there danger in Buenos Aires by now.

Luck.

sofia p

Im argentinean. There is no racism against black people in Argentina.Not as it exited in the US. Abolition of slavery was in 1813, even before the country got its independence (in 1816). This is something we can be proud of. Spaniards that colonized america got well mixed with the indigeans, contrary to what happened in the US where the whites didnt mix with the native (lets say siux, for example). So, the mixture of people of different color had been sth normal since the begginings of the times!! this was unconcivable in the US at those times (1500 - 1900).
A "black" person would have no problem in getting a sit on a bus in the 40's. The only racism that may have existed wasnt even at a "society level" : it's the one that arised from inmgrants (italian families that didnt want to mix with the native), however this didnt last for long (they got mixed anyways in lesss than three generations!). But you shoulod know that argenitneans from the 1880's (speacially politicians) looooveeed europe and were concerned about attracting poeple from europe (inmigration) to "improve the population" becasue the "native" was considered lazy.
You should have no problem of racism.
About the jokes, it is true... they exist, but those doesnt go far like mistreating black people (or whatever the color), or forbiding black people to study, or letting black people to use a sit in a bus as happened in the usa.( that was really barbaric). people with a veeery dark dark skin may call the argentineans' attention (suppose in the streets) since it is not common to see them... but it doesnt mean being racist...

blitzcrackunders

You're in luck actually! I've traveled through a few countries in South America (but not Argentina so this might just be a generalization) but as a black person you actually have to worry LESS about what is happening to you. As a white person I stuck out like a sore thumb, but people who I've met that were black traveling down there were always saying how people tried to rip them off less often. In Peru and Ecuador there is a much greater percentage of Black people than White people. I know Argentina and Chile have more "European" looking people, but I imagine you'll still be okay!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: