Identidades in English No 1, February 2014

Afro-Descendant Women: Challenges for Racial and Gender Equality Race, class and gender in Cuba and the world Cecilia Moreno Rojas Sociologist Member, Regional Coordination of the Network of Afro-Latin American, Afro-Caribbean and Diasporic Women—REMAP Panama D eveloping new leadership as Afro-descendant women Black women have and need to gain the space we have been historically denied by society. We assume more proactive leadership roles that are more proactive, committed and in solidarity with the rest of black women, and with the entire Afro-descendant community capable of daily facing the barrier of exclusion and class, gender and racial exclusion. More than ever, nowadays, worldwide globalization, new economic trends, free trade agreements, the modernization of communication and rapidly advancing, new technology demand that we develop a more entrepreneurial, optimistic and positive attitude when facing challenges. This new reality demands that we be more proactive, and that we come up with creative ideas that can strengthen our abilities in the politic activities, business activities and sociocultural organization of our communities. Economically, Afro-descendant women need to learn to recognize the marketplace’s rules, and dare to go further in the development of businesses that generate income and contribute to the quality of life of our families. We must acknowledge that in many of our countries there is strong resistance and generalized fear of opening accepting that we suffer from racism and racial discrimination. To a degree, we have become accustomed to hearing and seeing expressions and stereotypes charged with racism, and practices that discriminate against o W"v

Identidades in English No 1, February 2014 | Page 28