Racism rife in Bogota

[Judi Lynn]

Racism rife in Bogota
Saturday, 09 April 2011 10:34
Kathryn Thompson

http://colombiareports.com.nyud.net:8090/pics/2011/04/no_blacks.jpg

Racist undercurrents, discrimination and segregation are still plaguing the Colombian capital of Bogota, newspaper El Espectador reported Saturday.

In the International Year of African Descendants, the news comes as a blow to a country whose African population have suffered centuries of discrimination since colonization.

There are almost 10,000 people of African or indigenous descent living in Bogota, constituting the poorest sector of the population in terms of education, living conditions, health and economic progress.

Direct racism is also evident in the city. A sign in a window read "Apartment for rent: but not for a black". An Afrocolombian girl in Bogota recalled ringing up about an apartment, "When you say you are black, they respond, we don't rent to blacks."

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/15487-racism-rife-in-bogota.html