Perceptions of the “Black Woman” in Madrid, Spain

As a black woman moving to Madrid, I was warned several times about the stereotypes of black women in the city. Without any stretch of the intellectual imagination, one would concur that the mass media stereotype of the “black woman” along with several connected socio-economic issues would create a pre-conceived mentality of black women in Madrid.

I can never say that I was blatantly criticized for my race, but I was certainly approached more than my white-American friends for everything from a picture request (like I was some sort of celebrity) to the blunt approaches from men who wanted to sleep with me. HAAAAA! Admittedly, although I clearly knew that they were fascinated with finally being able to see the “exotic other” since we are in such a white-spainard society like Madrid, I did accept the free drinks because what college student wouldn’t!

But let’s have a serious conversation about this, why the heck does my skin color dictate my promiscuity? Is it really ok for you to stop me and my black friends for a picture, but have no interest in taking one with my white friends? Is it acceptable for us to be on the subway and you to literally STARE ME DOWN? Nevertheless, the show moves on.

I’m moving to Sevilla for academic and language immersion reasons because NYU in Madrid is way too “Americanized” for my taste. I did get a chance to hit Sevilla up last weekend, which sparked my move and love affair with the small town.

But with Madrid soon to fade into the clouds on my flight to Sevilla…in all, the Madrileno society is interesting and like any city, up front about its beliefs and culture. As a black woman, I may always be an outcast in Europe or several other continents I may visit. However, I think there needs to be more dialogue on the stereotypes of black women outside the United States and even how American media (since everyone in Europe is fascinated with American hip hop and pop culture) has influenced and objectified the black woman globally.

Spit your thoughts!

Arielle

This is going to be really short but… its a start :)

name: Melissa or Akua
age: 20
academic concentrations/majors/areas of interest: History, Education, Languages, Postcolonial theory, music,
type of program/areas of study: NYU study abroad. I am taking a history course at University of Ghana (History of Ghana in the 19th and 20th centuries), A photography, studio art class, and Ashanti Twi class through NYU and a journalism class that’s also through NYU but we work with Ghanaian grad students on projects.
inspirations: My younger brother Christopher, who showed me how to look beyond the surface and the importance of understanding. James Baldwin, John Coltrane, a lot of others!
favorite thing to do while alone: listen to music, draw

Esta Tia (This Girl)

Nombre: Arielle o Ari

Major/Concentración: Comparative Literature, Africana Studies, Spanish & Latin American Studies, Black Women’s Studies, Civil Rights, Race Issues, Etc.

Edad: 19

Viajes: I studied in England at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies from September 2008 to December 2008. While in the UK, I visited Wales, Italy, and Portugal. But now, I’m studying in Madrid, Spain and trying to see the rest of Europe and Northern Africa (on a student budget hmmm).

La razón para este viaje:  Basically, this whole “leave New York for a year” thing started in the Spring 2008 semester when I was tired of looking out the window of my 10th and broadway dorm and seeing my fellow New Yorkers “mean mug” any person who walked by. Plus, I was irritated from constantly hearing the American perspective on the world (for 18 long years!). It was time to pop the bubble and figure out what it truly meant to be an American, all of its privileges, lies, and strengths included. I’ve had some great personal discoveries since the beginning of my travels last year, so I’m hoping to start 2009 on the right note with these madrilenos and finally fix my Spanish.

Don’t worry though, I refuse to have a complete Spaniard accent, so I will be traveling South America for two months this summer to fix that crazy “th” and “vosotros” stuff from my vocab! Lo siento a los madrilenos pero todo del mundo latino no habla como ustedes!

Beginnings…

Name: Eden J.

Age: 19

Academic Concentrations/Areas of Interest: media studies, africana      studies, Hip-Hop (studies), tip-toeing into womens studies, creative        writing, arts for social change

Travels: I will be traveling to the Republic of South Africa, living in          Johannesburg for five months and traveling to various areas outside      of here

Studies while traveling: Arts and Culture in Post-apartheid South            Africa at Wits School of the Arts

Inspirations: for this journey… Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, black culture, Hip-Hop, Tamara, Ericka, Salome, Aja, Javon, Aaron, Daniel Banks, Octavia Butler’s “Seed to Harvest”, NYC, my Lyrics on Lockdown fam including the boys at Rikers Island, Kelly Thomas, Ismael, ANSA, Mama Jeff, Miles, Oprah, Siya and Everest, Jeremie, Lindsay, Tshaka,

Favorite thing to do when I’m alone: pretend I’m a gay black man and    practice voguing

El primero…

Name: Akeesh

Age: 19

Academic Concentrations/Majors/Areas of interest: Foreign Literature, International Studies, Modern Languages and Western Politics as it’s related to third world nations

Places of Travel: I’ve traveled to Spain, Portugal, Aruba, Mexico and other Carnaval cruise-esque destinations but I will be going to Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Perú, Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia.

Type of Program or Areas of Study you will be involved in while traveling: I’ll be studying courses that pertain to Latin American Poltics and Literature as well as Popular and Mass Culture classes.

Inspirations:  Everyone and everything, good or bad, inspires me in some sort of fashion.

Whats your favorite thing to do when you are alone: I hate being alone. Sorry.

A little intro (please excuse the corniness)

I’m no writer. This blog is simply meant to be a self reflective space for me to get ready to embark a new journey. Part of the reason why this blog is so important to me is that I lack discipline. I’m itching to learn how to articulate my experiences in a way that will allow me to look back and think of how rad my life was once. I’ve traveled abroad before, and all I have are pictures of Cathedrals and people who I’d rather crop out. Memories, sure, but nothing concrete and tangible. I’m packing up my things and my open mind and traveling to another country to live for 5 months. A country that I plan to affirm or re-create a new imaginary. I’m planning on moving to Buenos Aires, Argentina, a place where few people look like me, speak like me and do the same things that I do. But that’s ok. We all need to be a little uncomfortable sometimes. I currently live in New York City and in preparing myself for my trip I will be traveling the city through the eyes of a Foreigner. I’m excited to see how everyone documents their own journey and if being a person of color hinders, enhances, or is of no importance to their travels. I’ll be doing things I vowed I would never do for fear that it would make me look too touristy and I’ll be documenting each step. It should be fun, expensive and worthwhile.