IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 7 ENGLISH | Page 15

This means among blacks and mestizos.
Thus, it does not seem impossible that there

is fear of a hypothetical, popular uprising.

If that were the case, it is hard to doubt that
the assured presence of the poorest (the
descendants of slaves, that is) would be its
protagonists. A recently offered survey
among young blacks in Havana—whose
results were made public*—proves that
around 94% perceives racial discrimination,
and more than half blamed the causes on the
degree to which measures benefit the higher
social levels in our society. This is about a
phenomenon that has become so notorious
that even the government itself has felt
obligated to acknowledge it in its speeches.
Meanwhile, the number of faithful members
of the intelligentsia or those subservient to
power is ever increasing. They are calling

for attention and specialized treatment for
problems that should have always have
received them. Concretely, though, it is poor
neighborhoods and shantytowns in Havana,
and the destroyed villages of the island’s
interior, that continue being like live power,
day by day. We are going to have to pray
that the Devil doesn’t come and light a
match.

* Selier, Yesenia y Penélope Hernández,
“Identidad racial de gente sin historia”, in
Antología de Caminos, Raza y Racismo, La
Habana: Editorial Caminos, 2009: 131.

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