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The Social Economy of Afro-Argentines and African Immigrants in Buenos Aires

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The Black Social Economy in the Americas

Part of the book series: Perspectives from Social Economics ((PSE))

Abstract

In this chapter, we examine the ways in which the Black social economy in Buenos Aires provides a means for subsistence, integration, and political articulation. Furthermore, we argue that it is an important site of converging and forging diasporic connections. We observe the ways in which Afro-Argentines, Afro-descendants, and African immigrants living in Buenos Aires participate in informal groups, charities, and mutual-aid societies to gain a political and social positioning that is difficult to achieve by formal means. This analysis is situated against recent state recognition of the need to address the visibility, recognition, and rights of Afro-descendants outlined in the Ley 26.852 of 2013 and Argentina raices afro, the publication of the Secretary of Human Rights in 2014. Despite recent laws and public policies that recognize the presence of Afro-descendants in Argentina as well as the inequality of their political, social, and cultural experience, structural and discursive racism continue to disenfranchise Afro-descendants.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The law states, “Migration is an essential and inalienable right of the person … The State shall ensure the effective equality of treatment to foreigners to enjoy their rights and fulfill their obligations, provided they meet the conditions for entry and stay, according to existing laws. In all jurisdictions, the State will ensure equal access to immigrants and their families… particularly in reference to social services, public goods, health, education, justice, labor, employment and social security” (Law of Migration 25.871, Decree 610/2010, Ministry of the Interior and Transportation) (my translation).

  2. 2.

    Information about the Union Caboverdeano of Dock Sud was provided in an interview (2016) and through subsequent correspondence with Miriam Gomes, the former president of the organization.

  3. 3.

    All translations of the interviews, Spanish to English, are the work of the authors. Interviewees include Miriam Gomes, ex-president of the Dock Sud Cape Verdean Union and Ndathie “Moustafa” Sene, the president of the Association of Senegalese Residents in Argentina.

  4. 4.

    Where not cited, information about the Argentine Association of Resident Senegalese was provided in an interview and subsequent correspondence with Ndathie “Moustafa” Sene, president of the organization (Sene 2015).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Prisca Gayles

  2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Diane Ghogomu

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  1. Prisca Gayles
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  2. Diane Ghogomu
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Caroline Shenaz Hossein

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Gayles, P., Ghogomu, D. (2018). The Social Economy of Afro-Argentines and African Immigrants in Buenos Aires. In: Hossein, C. (eds) The Black Social Economy in the Americas. Perspectives from Social Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60047-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60047-9_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-60278-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-60047-9

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