Jonathan Rodriguez

FIQWS 10103

Prof. Aisha Sidibe-Leyva

11/21/18

Costa Rican Identity

Abstract: The purpose is to discuss the backlash, alienism, and denial of Afro-Costa Ricans as people of Costa Rican heritage and citizens. Discussing the history of the trial and tribulations they faced and what it has lead to in Costa Rica. Motivation is having Afro-Latinos in my family, and want to prove that they are just as Hispanic. Style of writing would be addressing the hypocrisies in believing Afro-Latinos not to be considered Hispanic.

Introduction: The current conversation surrounding the topic is the matter of Puerto Limon.  At some point in time for Costa Rican society, Black Costa Ricans were segregated to Puerto Limon, a city on the east coast of the country. Puerto Limon housed Black Costa Ricans as well as Jamaicans, who sailed to Costa Rica for trading opportunities and work. It wasn’t until around the 1970’s in which they started to migrate to other parts of Costa Rica, such as the capital of the country San Jose. The transition of Black Costa Ricans assimilating into the rest of the country lead to mixed feelings between Costa Ricans. For many people during this point in time, this was their first time seeing or encountering a black person. There were those who discriminated against them, those who supported their citizenship, and those who didn’t know how to think of the situation. It is important for the greater world because it shows how outside influences are what make a country what it is, no matter how down it is looked upon.

Research Question: Why were/are Afro-Costa Ricans seen as outsiders and considered solely black despite having deep roots into Costa Rican culture? Why did society react the way they did in accepting Latino’s from Puerto Limon?

Thesis: Many did not accept Afro-Latinos as Costa Ricans because of their different looks, origin, and culture, which is why the government saw them solely as workers or foreigners. Costa Rican society influenced the government, which then in turn affected the treatment of Afro-Costa Ricans.

Research Methodology: For my research I will use the City College Library databases. First, I will start of with knowledge from my Costa Rican grandparents. They experienced and saw how Puerto Limon Costa Ricans were treated and how society and they themselves viewed them. Next will be online sources telling the history of Puerto Limon and how it developed into the countries Afro-Latino Province. The final research will be finding statistics stating the rise of numbers that developed in Puerto Limon, and how long it took for them to spread to the other provinces of Costa Rica. It will showcase how long it took them to assimilate into the population and how long it took society to accept them.

 

Works Cited

Chomsky, Avi. “Afro-Jamaican Traditions and Labor Organizing on United Fruit    Company Plantations in Costa Rica, 1910.” Journal of Social History, vol. 28, no. 4, 1995, p. 837.

This source will give insight on the origins of Jamaican immigration into Costa Rica. It tells about the fruit plantation, which was the second big company that used Afro-Latino and Jamaican workers, and also how they forged a way of life as workers. Also giving details such as how they held a British identity.

 

Gordon-Chipembere, Natasha. “Carving Caribbean Spaces in between: the Life of Ruth Gourzong in 20th Century Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.” Journal of International Women’s Studies, vol. 17, no. 3, 2016, pp. 117–129.

Gordon’s article talks about the history of Jamaican workers coming to Costa Rica to work on the Northern Railway. However it mainly describes the account and experience of the authors grandmother. Which is similar to me finding information through my grandparents, except is seen through the lens of an actual Afro-Costa Rican who experienced it firsthand. This will prove resourceful in examining the mentality of Costa Rican Society at this time period.

 

Hamilton, Kendra. “Finding a Name That Fits.” Black Issues in Higher Education, vol. 18, no. 16, 2001, pp. 40–41.

This source will aid me in my defense of proving that Afro-Costa Ricans and their Jamaican ancestry are still fully Costa Rican. In this article Hamilton explains the differences in using the terms Hispanic and Latino. He further develops on the matter on discussing how it is portrayed by government, society and media. It will aid my defense in diminishing the Latinos of Puerto Limon being seen and treated as outcasts and belong to Costa Rican culture itself.

 

“Costa Rica,United States : Eliminating Afro-Descendant Exclusion in Latin America Is Vital for Development.” Mena Report, 2018, pp. Mena Report, August 30, 2018.

This source will delve into the statistics of Afro-Latinos living standards and how they fare economically in Latin American countries. It takes in account how many are or identify as Afro-Latino and where they are structurally in society and economics. It takes examples from different countries and what would be needed to fix these problems that they Afro-Latino population continues to face. The main goal being to eliminate the exclusion of Afro-Latinos throughout  the Latino countries. This will help me to further establish how large the problem is with Afro-Latino exclusion, by giving statistics of Costa Rica along with other countries. Which will prove how Latino society overall mistreats and does not acknowledge its African roots.

 

Gradín, Carlos. “Occupational Segregation of Afro-Latinos.” Vol. 1105, 2011.

This source will provide statistics on the treatment of Afro-Latinos compared to White Latinos. It looks at the different levels of segregation across Latin American countries and how they differ. This will aid in showing the White Latino Costa Rican portion of society’s’ level of segregation compared to other countries. Also mentioning education levels between the two and the geographical reasons and effects of segregating Afro-Latinos in Latin America.