I'd just like to say hello first of all. I was replying to another post, and just thought I would ask. Is there anyone else here who is african american? I have had an interesting set of experiences because of the fact that I am. Almost all have been good, and I have a family that has "adopted" me into the fold. I also have been the subject of angry stares, and comments. I know this isn't something that is exclusive to me, and I am made of sterner stuff, but it did take getting used to. And as my spanish improves, I can really get to express my self more and speak up.
Has anyone one else had anything similar happen? How did you deal with it? I think I'd like to stay here (I'm Canadian and a US resident), I would like to talk to other people about adjusting.

Hi there! First, I'd urge you to not take it personally. Spain is more diverse every single day ... a fact that I would guess many Spaniards celebrate. There are always going to be those few who are close-minded ... in any country ... but don't let them ruin your experience. I lived there for a year and had a couple experiences that were similar. I'm actually not African American, a but very, very white American! (one of those fair-skinned redheads) And it made me pretty conspicuous, and occasionally a target of ignorant comments. One experience stands out in my mind ... I was in a cafeter�a with a friend, who was Spanish, and a man across the bar stopped and stared ....actually, glared at me. It was shortly after the beginning of the war in Iraq, and he started shouting "Asesino! Asesino!" at me.(Murderer ... murderer ....) He was furious that I was American, and made quite a scene. Of course, I could have been as against the war as him, but it certainly didn't occur to him to ask. However, for the most part the Spaniards were wonderful ... I had an entire group of friends and a couple families "adopt" me, and a friend of mine, who happened to be African American. In general,I think you'll find that most Spaniards will judge you by your own merit ... not by your skin color, or by the country you come from. I know race and nationality aren't exactly the same issue, but at one time or another most extranjeros probably deal with the occasional look or comment. So hang in there ... don't react in anger, but pity those who would verbally attack you ... the obviously know none of the joy that can come with embracing diversity.

Thanks! As I was saying, It doesn't really bother me now if I have a bad experience.. No more than "What a jerk!" On the whole I agree with you though. The people here are really open and friendly. Living in Andalucia I have found it especially so. Thank you again fr sharing your experience with me.

I am African American and I will be studying abroad in Seville. I am very interested in your experienes. I consider myself to have very thick skin but I fear that having spent the last four years attending Howard Univeristy in Washington DC I might be in for some what of a culture shock.

I am Cuban-American and what in Cuba would be called "mulatica clara" (light skinned mulatto) but I easily pass for a Spaniard, except when I have a dark tan, or the moment I open my mouth. However, because of relatives, friends, one ex-boyfriend, and many students that I've worked with, I've seen many sides of this issue.
I think there is one thing that is important to keep in mind: what sometimes might seem tremendously racist to our pc American sensibilities might just be a sign of ignorance or curiosity to a Spaniard who hasn't had a lot of contact with people from different races or cultures. Or have absolutely nothing to do with it and you�re getting it all wrong because you don�t have all the tools to judge it from the cultural viewpoint of a Spaniard in Spain. Besides not taking it personally, don't be too quick to judge if you were a victim of racism becuase you might just have been the target of a curious, albeit ignorant and rude sounding but well-intentioned question or enquiry.
I think this is a good thread and can be beneficiary if we learn from each other's experiences and not turn it into a b*****ng session. I liked the bit about how a very white American can also be a victim of racism and xenophobia, because their racial characteristics will cause them to stand out just as much over here.
And we could also add some useful information here like places to buy hair products, or addresses of beauty parlors where they will cut/braid your hair. Now it's easier to find but 12 years ago my then boyfriend had the hardest time finding a barber, he kept being told when he walked into barbershops "aqu� no cortamos pelo como el tuyo" (here we don't cut your kind of hair).
One last anecdote to illustrate my point from paragraph 2: we had a student several years ago that came and complained to me that people stared at her in the subway or bus because she was black. I told her that in my humble opinion they were staring at her because of the way she dressed: lots of very bright colors, original outfits, hats, it all looked good on her but it was different than the Spanish �moda� and she stood out. So I suggested she go shopping, buy some stuff here and try dressing just like a Spaniard her age and see how many stares she got then. It worked. After that she enjoyed the stares more when she wore her �non-Spanish� clothes, because she realized they weren�t as negative as she previously thought, and it was the colors and her original clothes, not her skin color, people were looking at or admiring.
I hope Redwood gets on this thread, he might have some pearls of wisdom on the subject.
Lena

Both Redwood and Salsera would have a lot of great insight.

If you are (African-American) looking for a place to get your hair done... both ladies and gents... there is a sal�n right around the corner from me on cl. Capit�n Blanco Argibay called Lady Ultimate that specializes in Afro-Caribbean hair. Metro is Valdeacederas (line 1). They also sell hair products there.

Also from a "where do I fit in?" perspective. I am what is known as a "mestiza" in the Phillipines as my father is Filipino and my mother is caucasian American. The funny thing is that I am darker in skin color than most 100% Filipinos that I know. And my bone structure is much larger (thanks to the German ancestry on my mother�s side) than the average Filipino. I often get mistaken for Latin American here but then really confuse them when I speak Spanish and they cannot place my accent.

I have gotten comments about my "chinito" eyes or rasgos orientales and don�t take it offensively. As Lena puts it I view it as a natural curiosity.

Don�t be afraid to be who you are and don�t try to be who you aren�t. Just be natural and you will be fine.

I'm really glad that people have somethingt say about this topic. And please dont get me wrong, I do know tht a large part of the stares I get are from curiousity or just in some cases a bit of shock. When I live in Ja�n for example, I was constantly being stared at or noticed for as near as I can tell one main reaon. There are african americans in Ja�n, but they all seem to be from Africa, and bootleg CD aand video sales men. Adding to that, I was always the only person like me in any of the bars or clubs that I went to with my friends. In addition, Whenever one of the African mn came into a bar to sell CDs, THEY stared at me too. That isn't racism. That is just a case oh "Wow..look!".

This is a great country however, and it would be difficult to live in the US again I am finding. I a enjoying going out because I can meet people and they can meet me. Once people get to know one another it makes it a little easier for those that come behind.

Sorry, I do go off on corny tangents sometimes...

I really appreciate all of the responses. I have already made a mental note to leave all of ecentric clothing at home.


Oh yes please tell me where I can get my hair done. I am a brat when it comes to my hair and I live for my Friday morning appointments. My sister will be in Madrid and I will be in Seville. Can any of you reccommend a salon in Seville? If not never fear I will just have to take the bus ride once a month to Madrid to get my hair done (and somehow rough it the rest of the time!!!!)

hey clouise, there are quite a few african hair salons in and around the puerta del sol (dead-center of madrid).

there are a few on calle montera and another one that looks less expensive in the plaza del carmen, a plaza that is tucked in between calle montera and calle del carmen.

saludos,
jer...

I'm Latino from the USA and I had been stared at quite a bit. In the smaller towns, you most likely will be the CENTER of attention! This is the attitude that I hold toward Spain: Most are great people, they're warm, friendly, but because of the comments, looks, inability to catch a taxi, etc, I probably wouldn't do it over. That's just my experience though, other people of color say they enjoy Spain. Obviously it hadn't been all bad or else I wouldn't be on this board.

I should mention that blondes and redheads receive their share of comments, stares, incidents, however they don't experience the same type of discrimination.