Black History Month, in Catalonia

Every month I take some time to try and approach a specific theme or topic that pertains to that month, or some world event that has defined us in a new way. Well, in North America, February is Black History Month and while some view a single month dedicated to black history as problematic, given that black history is an inherent part of all history, it is important to lend particular visibility to it because it is often overlooked. Case in point: last month, President Trump insulted a civil rights leader, John Lewis, just before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Clearly, some people forget the importance of black history the other 11 months, so some special attention should be paid. That got me thinking about the way we dismiss the significance of POC in Western “world” history, and even in every day life.

Similarly, I find it concerning, that there is a severe lag in the way Spain, Catalonia included, is dismissive and unaware of its intolerance for people of colour (POC). However, for other marginalised groups, such as the LGBTQ community, I have seen a much more tolerant culture of understanding towards varying sexual orientations.

As for colour, everyday language used to represent other (non-white) people does just that –creates an “other” by sustaining historical words for people of Arabic descent, and a number of different backgrounds. Actually, one of the largest issues is the apathetic attitude taken by residents here toward understanding and knowing the difference between different cultures of East Asia, India or the Middle East. Compounded by this, stereotypes held by many about these cultures often go unchallenged or uncontested in social (or even political) spheres. Perhaps the same blindness to differences among foreign cultures here affects the inability to notice similarities closer to home. It is quite fitting, then, that Catalans get up in arms when they are clumped together with Spaniards as being from the same place.

A friend from Puigcerdà asked me recently how the rest of the world sees Catalonia. I had to break the sad news to him that dissemination of Catalan news outside of Europe, even in the UK, is slim to none. Having said that, I do make an effort to explain Catalonia's “plight” to foreigners –or anyone who will listen, for that matter. However, this tactic does not always carry the same weight we think it does here in Catalonia. There is no historical point of reference; no relative comparison for others to make that is quite the same. The point here is this: if we expect others to make the effort to see Catalans as part of a unique culture worthy of international respect and recognition, then we must do the same.

Even from a Canadian perspective, where Canada is no bastion of tolerance and acceptance of race, creed or sexual orientation, acceptance is what we need to use as a starting point, through language. So, while you may not have the historical understanding of the importance of Black History Month in Catalonia, or elsewhere, there is something to be gained from diving into this past off the springboard of the very relevant present.

While we may not even directly see the results of this on society yet, there are echoes of history that cannot be ignored and we must act. I am sure that in the future we will reflect on the post-Obama era as one of a declining moral fabric defined by a historically dangerous and lethal type of apathy. Ask yourself how many POC feel welcome here. Does our dialogue and collective understanding enable that sense of belonging? I don't think it does. Actually, it's likely the opposite. Maybe this is the month, then, to reflect upon how we will always see different cultures as collective “others”, when the words we choose to use perpetuate that sense.