| Blackness in the White Nation: A History of Afro-Uruguay Contributor(s): Andrews, George Reid (Author) |
|
 |
ISBN: 1469606372 ISBN-13: 9781469606378 Publisher: University of North Carolina Press OUR PRICE: $80.33 Product Type: Other - Other Formats Published: June 2014 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Latin America - South America - Social Science | Black Studies (global) - History | Social History |
| Dewey: 989.500 |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Uruguay is not conventionally thought of as part of the African diaspora, yet during the period of Spanish colonial rule, thousands of enslaved Africans arrived in the country. Afro-Uruguayans played important roles in Uruguay's national life, creating the second-largest black press in Latin America, a racially defined political party, and numerous social and civic organizations. Afro-Uruguayans were also central participants in the creation of Uruguayan popular culture and the country's principal musical forms, tango and "candombe." "Candombe," a style of African-inflected music, is one of the defining features of the nation's culture, embraced equally by white and black citizens. In "Blackness in the White Nation," George Reid Andrews offers a comprehensive history of Afro-Uruguayans from the colonial period to the present. Showing how social and political mobilization is intertwined with "candombe," he traces the development of Afro-Uruguayan racial discourse and argues that "candombe"'s evolution as a central part of the nation's culture has not fundamentally helped the cause of racial equality. Incorporating lively descriptions of his own experiences as a member of a "candombe" drumming and performance group, Andrews consistently connects the struggles of Afro-Uruguayans to the broader issues of race, culture, gender, and politics throughout Latin America and the African diaspora generally. |
