Celebrating the live of Aurelio Martinez-Suazo

He was an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and recipient of numerous awards, including the Rolex Award. Aurelio also served as President of the Commission of Ethnic Populations in the National Congress of Honduras and as a Councilman of the municipality of La Ceiba. LEAN MORE

U.S. Institute of Peace conversation about how discrimination, climate change, and conflicts over land rights help drive Garifuna migration to the United States

The U.S. Institute of Peace successfully launched a panel with El Faro English on the displacement of the Garifuna population in Honduras. The discussion examined how discrimination, climate change, and conflicts over land rights help drive migration to the United States and explore policy options that can help protect human rights and curb migration.

Since first arriving to Central America in 1797, the Afro-Indigenous Garifuna communities have played an important role in the region’s cultural and socioeconomic development. However, the Garifuna have long suffered high rates of extreme poverty — as well as vicious cycles of human rights abuses, forced displacement, and violence from political and organized crime.

Speakers included:

Mary Speck, introductory remarks, Senior Advisor, Latin America, U.S. Institute of Peace | José Luis Sanz, moderator Correspondent, El Faro English | Ricardo Zúniga, Senior Expert, Latin America, U.S. Institute of Peace | Andrew Selee, President, Migration Policy Institute | Julio Guity-Guevara, Managing Director, SUDECC Inc | Mirtha Colón, President, Central American Black Organization 

In recent years, these threats have only accelerated amid a competition to control the Garifuna’s traditional lands in Honduras for the sake of tourist development and resource extraction. With few economic opportunities, a lack of policies to protect their rights, and increasingly impacted by climate change, Garifuna people are migrating in large numbers both within Central America and to the United States.

“Afro-descendants at COP28 in Dubai: Embracing Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Programs | A Transatlantic Roundtable Dialogue”

The Pavilion of the government of Ecuador hosted the Roundtable Dialogue titled on “Afro-descendants at COP28 in Dubai: Embracing Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Programs. 

“When we go back to our communities, we want to be able to share the tangible benefits of coming to COP in Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh, and Glasgow…and how these conversations affect the material conditions of our people” Dr. Amara Enyia said at the Roundtable. Dr. Enyia is a strategist and Public Policy Expert on city and state policy as well as international affairs with expertise in Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. She is also the President of the transnational advocacy organization Global Black.

…”Under the Biden-Harris Administration, one of the very first act of this administration was to issue an Executive Order on racial equity and support underserved communities. It was an order to all federal government agencies to look at effect of public policy. And to look at those effect in a way that center racial equity. If we look at different issues, public health, education, and security there are desparate impact and it is not by accident. All of us are called to start measuring for the first time, to look at the data because that evidence will help us direct resources” said Ms. Bama Athreya at the Roundtable.

Ms. Athreya is the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub and the Inclusive Development Hub in USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and innovation. She is also on the Board of Directors of Green America, Advisory Board for Worker Info Exchange, affiliated as a Fellow with Just Jobs Network, and a regular contributor to Inequality.org. 

COP28 Roundtable participants shared lessons learned in the implementation of climate change projects for Afro-descendants populations. They discussed the outcome of recent research on mappings, projects and investments. Participants also were able to build strategic partnerships to accelerate implementation and identify opportunities for cross-collaboration after COP28.

During the Roundtable participants reviewed and analyzed the InvestmentMap data platform as a tool that can support for transparent management of public resources for Climate: International forums like the COP28 or the G20 result in significant financial commitments being made regarding climate change actions and energy transitions – for which open platforms on public investment will be the cornerstone for the efficient and transparent utilization of these resources.

This platform provides timely and quality data that address key challenges related to gender, diversity, and climate change – and magnifies the impact of these (potentially) growing financial allocations. In fact, the call to action resulting from COP28 urges global, regional and local leaders and institutions to promote and prioritize he production of gender and environmental data in an ethical and transparent manner.

How does Latin America and the Caribbean fare on these efforts? Progress has also been made to proactively disclose disaggregated investment data at the national and subregional level, where some population groups are concentrated. Colombia was one of the first countries in the region to disclose information on public investments at the subnational level through the platform called MapaRegalias (now MapaInversiones), launched in 2014. Transparency will not only be important in Latin America and the Caribbean to provide evidence of each country’s efforts but will also be crucial to ensuring that these resources reach their intended destinations, much like the situation of natural disasters or emergency relief efforts.

Some examples of the successful implementation of the InvestmentMap platform include Argentina where users can visualizes the country's public investment projects. It also includes information on works that contribute to the mitigation and/or adaptation to climate change and that contribute to compliance with the SDGs. The platform classifies works according to their contribution to the 2030 SDGs, such as SDG 6 on water and sanitation and SDG 9 on resilient infrastructure and indirectly to SDGs of health, gender, and poverty elimination, and their contribution to climate mitigation and adaptation.

Procurement processes after Hurricane Fiona:

The Dominican Republic is incorporating in its InvestmentMap platform a section to disseminate information on what the government has spent to support areas affected by the Hurricane Fiona, which hit the country in 2022. The platform provides disaggregated information on government-led procurement processes and all contracts so they can be analyzed by citizens or control institutions. Considering that during emergencies procurement processes are rightfully shortened, transparency and accountability becomes a necessity.  

Honduras now makes gender budget information publicly available to identify the public investment allocated through the general budget to reduce and eliminate the gaps between men and women, promoting greater autonomy in the economic, physical and decision-making spheres and the interrelationship between them. This effort materialized with the development of a gender budget marker methodology to identify and quantify public expenditures in the 2024 budget proposal.

H.E. Epsy Campbell Barr

First Vice President of Costa Rica (2018-2022) and current Chair of the the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent also led these COP28 efforts to mobilize resources to implement a programmatic agenda for local populations will facilitate the implementation of projects and programs at the regional level.

The Roundtable also examined the progress made by Afro-descendant delegations after the 2023 Africa Climate Summit, the 2023 First Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, Colorado, the 26th and 27th U.N. Climate Conference (COP26 and COP27) in Glasgow, UK and Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt respectively, and the 2022 Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles and the recent Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris.

These events were powered by the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Organization (SUDECC, Inc.), Global Black, Global Coalition against Systemic Racism, COPAFRO, the Central American Black Organization (ONECA), along with other members of the Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change, non-governmental organizations, the academic community, private sector, government agencies, multilateral development agencies and other stakeholders.

Strengthening the Climate Change Agenda for Afro-descendant Populations | First Cities Summit of the Americas Roundtab

International Development Practitioners proposed actionable recommendations to local leaders from the region during the First Cities Summit of the Americas Roundtable on “Strengthening the Climate Change Agenda for Afro-descendant Populations

Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have had a devastating impact on the Afro- descendant populations of Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with twenty of the countries in the world with the highest number of infected people. Afro- descendants constitute a significant population in Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Barbados, just to mention a few countries. These countries lack the minimum social, environmental and economic infrastructure. Especially in access to the production and distribution of clean energy, water and sanitation, transport and sustainable communication. The countries also do not have a regional programmatic agenda, nor the financial resources to overcome these challenges.

The Summit with its approximately 2, 500 attendees, 65 sessions and 40 supporting events, included the Roundtable. Under the leadership of SUDECC, Global Black, the Central American Black Organization, participants reviewed best practices implementing sustainable, resilient, and equitable Programs in the Americas. It also included an art exhibition and artistic presentations powered by https://www.biennialoftheamericas.org/fabricadearteamericas

Afro-descendants and Climate Change at the First Cities Summit of the Americas

More than 133 million Afro-descendants in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), which constitute a third of the population of the Americas, face a range of serious and diverse challenges – from climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent increase in food and fuel as a consequence of the domino effect of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. These factors are further increasing the gaps in social and economic inequality in the region, which generally translate into citizen insecurity and regional instability.

Impact of climate change, Covid-19, and access to infrastructure. A Summit with the leading participation of Afro-descendants offered to relevant stakeholders the opportunity to create inclusive and equitable processes. Leaders from across the region proposed actionable recommendations on how to generate programmatic actions to improve lives and build confidence to promote true reconstruction, recovery and economic relief in the region. Particularly, facing the challenges of adaptation to extreme weather, access to clean energy, assistance to develop communal land and housing projects, digital, financial education and technical and credit assistance. All these aspects must include the perspective and differentiated approach from and for Afro-descendant populations

Relevant Links 

The Cities Summit

Supporting Events and Opportunities

SUDECC and the X Summit of the Americas Roundtable: Strengthening the Climate Change Agenda for Afro-descenda

Press Release | First Cities Summit of the Americas to Be Held April 26-28, 2023 in Denver | U.S. Department of State

Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP 27)

The 27th U.N. Climate Conference (COP27) witnessed its largest known delegation of Afro-descendants from the Americas in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change (AIFCC)) and its partner institutions provided to stakeholders an opportunity to hear and internalize a different perspective on how to accelerate climate change adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The AIFCC includes a team of international development practitioners, advocates and members of the academic community trained to design and implement more inclusive and practical tools to adapt and mitigate climate change

The agenda focused on tackling the issue of ‘loss and damage’ in coastal populations, cities and small islands - known as the Natural Belt of the Americas - where the highest concentration of people of African descent in the Americas reside.

During the COP27 Summit, members of the AIFCC proposed actionable recommendations under different scenarios, including a panel on the “Invisible Environmental Defenders: Afro-descendant communities in the Americas.” This panel took place at the Colombian pavilion and addressed several topics. Including: (i) financing the climate agenda in Afro-descendant populations in Latin America and the Caribbean; (ii) empowering local leadership through the AIFCC; (iii) the climate contributions of Afro-descendant territories by Conservation International; and (iv) the AIFCC’s role in promoting research, participation, visibility and innovation in Afro-descendant populations.

A meaningful engagement of all segments of society to tackle the climate crisis must include an active participation of leaders that are implementing locally-led projects that will have transformational change in the region

There are over 200 million people of African descent in the Americas. Participants of the panel on the “Invisible Environmental Defenders: Afro-descendant communities in the Americas,” included: David Lammy, UK's Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs; Francisco Canal, Vice-minister of Environmental Planning of the Territory, Ministry of Environment of Colombia.

Ambassadors of the Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change at COP27 included Marcela Angel, Josefina Klinger, Angelica Mayolo, Heiny Palacios, Raisa Banfield, Kelvin Alie, Robert Asprilla and Julio Guity-Guevara.

Partner organizations were represented by several organizations, including Solange Bandiaky-Badji and Omaira Bolanos of the Rights and Resources Institute, Jimena Niño, Chief of party of the Indigenous People and Afro-Colombian Empowerment (IPACE) through ACDI/VOCA; and Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF - Development Bank of Latin America, among others.

During two weeks— November 6 through November 18 - COP27 held high-level and side events and key negotiations. Delegations from more than 180 countries, 100 Heads of State and Governments, and more than 35,000 participants joined the event. This is the Second time the AIFCC successfully participated COP after it was created in the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, UK in 2021.

Related Topics

More about the UN COP26 and the creation of the Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change | COP26 Summit in Glasgow, UK.

FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Initiatives at COP27 to Strengthen U.S. Leadership in Tackling Climate Change

Fundación PASOS Representa a Panamá en la COP27 con su participación en el AIFCC

AfroFestival 2022 | Washington, DC

Promoting the contribution and development of Afro-descendants in the Americas through the presentation of music, arts, and dialogue. A music performance by Aurelio Martinez, and an Exhibition by Isidra Sabio and Celea Guevara.

A conversation between Vice President of Costa Rica, Epsy Cambell Barr and the President of the Inter-American Development Bank Reina Irene Mejía Chacón. 

IX Summit of the Americas Roundtable: Strengthening the Climate Change Agenda for Afro-descenda

Epsy Campbell Barr received the "2022 Mastermind Latino (M.M.L.) Award"

Saturday April 30, 2022 | By Julio Guity-Guevara, LL.M.

“Being a politician and a woman in this hemisphere is a complicated issue. It has a lot of variables that get in the way. Violence, derogatory speeches, discrimination, traps by which quotas and other parity policies are avoided. These are eternal problems that we never finish solving
….On the other hand, being of African-descent adds to that complexity…In our hemisphere, we have some unfinished business that we have been trying to solve for a couple of centuries. When one reads the biography of Epsy Cambell Barr, one feels in the presence of someone who has fought, who has built and prevailed. Someone who has made her presence known in the social and political field with determination and sagacity...”

— Organization of America States (OAS) Secretary General, Mr. Luis Almagro

2022 Mastermind Latino (M.M.L.) Award

H.E. Vice President of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell Barr received the 2022 Mastermind Latino (M.M.L.) Award from Mr. Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS). She is First Vice President of Afro-descent of Latin America in 200 years.  This Award is the highest honor given by the European Institute of Efficient Intelligence (IEIE) of Madrid, a center for research, development and training for individuals and corporations.

The ceremony took place in Miami, Florida under the leadership of Dr. Estrella Flores Carretero, who is a specialist in transactional psychology, educational psychology and senior business management. The event included a panel discussion led by Mario Andrés Moreno, a Colombian journalist considered one of the most recognized voices in Miami media.

Last year, H.E. Vice President of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell Barr was elected to represent the region in the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. As an Independent Expert elected by the General Assembly of the United Nations, she will be responsible for helping operationalize the Forum as a platform for improving the safety, quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent. 

Afro-descendants and Climate Change at the IX Summit of the Americas. This award to H.E. Vice President Campbell is timely in the light of the upcoming IX Summit of the Americas that will take place in Los Angeles, California between June 5 and 9, 2022. There is an expectation of higher participation of representatives of Afro-descendant populations in the dialogues and negotiations of the Summit. More than 150 million Afro-descendants of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), which constitute a third of the population of the Americas, face a range of serious and diverse challenges – from climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent increase in food and fuel prices as a consequence of the domino effect of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. These factors are further increasing the gaps in social and economic inequality in the region, which generally translate into citizen insecurity and regional instability.

A Summit with the leading participation of Afro-descendants will offer us the opportunity to create inclusive and equitable processes. In addition, this will allow us to generate programmatic actions to improve lives and build confidence to promote true reconstruction, recovery and economic relief in the region. Particularly, facing the challenges of adaptation to extreme weather, access to clean energy, assistance to develop communal land and housing projects, digital, financial education and technical and credit assistance. All these aspects must include the perspective and differentiated approach from and for Afro-descendant populations.

SUDECC & Telemundo | 2022 BHM | Agenda for Recognition, Justice and Development

Congratulations H.E. Epsy Campbell Barr!!

By Julio Guity-Guevara, LL.M.

H.E. Vice President of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell Barr has been elected to represent the region in the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. As an Independent Experts elected by the General Assembly of the United Nations, she will be responsible for helping operationalize the Forum as a platform for improving the safety, quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent. The Forum has been strongly supported by the governments of Costa Rica and the United States where the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on the President’s vision for Racial Justice in the Americas.

Recently, Vice President Campbell led a High-Level International Forum to commemorate the 1st UN International Day of People of African Descent. This event was held in the cities of San José and Cahuita, Costa Rica.

She has devoted her life to advocate for the elimination of racial and ethnic discrimination, inequality and violence. Now, with the challenges of COVID-19, climate change and the frequent natural disasters, the digital gap and income inequalities that we face in the region, Vice President Campbell will join a platform that will enable her to help implement (i) actionable recommendations at the highest level to increase economic opportunities for the over 200 million people of African Descent in the region; (ii) activities to increase collaboration among underrepresented and underserved racial and ethnic communities; and (iii) regional and international projects and programs for low income communities. I can’t imagine a person better qualified to tackle these immense challenges.

The UN COP26 and the creation of the Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change

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By Julio Guity-Guevara, LL.M.

An important outcome of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26 Summit in Glasgow, UK, was the creation of the Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change (AIFCC). This historical development provides to people of African descent from the Americas a voice that represents them globally at the highest level of climate change policy dialogues. The Forum was established to continue building on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It advocates for Environmental Equity and Racial Justice in coastal cities of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where most of the approximately 200 million people of African descent of the Americas are heavily concentrated.

The Forum seeks to produce pathfinding research and studies, provide technical support and leverage financing for projects and programs impacting the Amazon and Natural Belt of the Americas. During their deliberations in Glasgow COP26, participants of the Forum produced actionable recommendations on how to address climate change issues in populations of people of African descent in the Americas. 

Some recommendations included to:

a) prepare regional and country by country strategies with a differential approach for Afro-descendant to promote sustainable development with the cultural identity their populations;

b) ensure land tenure and the implementation of payment for ecosystem services programs; c) support forest, coastal erosion and fishing management programs;

d) create trust funds - with contributions of the public private sector - to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation policies and programs. E.i., access to clean cooking technologies;

e) ensure that stakeholders implementing projects in the region include the ethnic-racial variable in all the formats for capturing information about climate change; and

f) to strengthen local and territorial governance systems.

Why are people of African descent adversely affected and highly vulnerable to climate change effects?

Why do we need a differentiated approach based on race/ethnicity and cultural factors? Despite exposure to repeated and severe climate events, these populations have shown exceptional resilience and strength in recovery. The high vulnerability and exposure to climate change of Afro descendant populations in LAC stems partly from their history of forced migration and resulting geographic concentration of residence in coastal cities. In addition, given historical racism and structural bias, lack of inclusive policies and programs, and other discriminatory practices, Afro descendant populations are disproportionately concentrated in low-income neighborhoods with no or poor-quality infrastructure access and environmentally sensitive areas prone to floods, erosion and other negative climate events.

The Forum and parallel Trust Fund seeks to tackle the strengths and resilience of these coastal communities to change their challenges into opportunities for sustainable development

Overwhelming evidence indicates that climate change adaptation and mitigation projects and programs need to include the perspective ethno-racially different populations. Severe weather and geological events have disproportionately and negatively impacted Black populations.

Adaptation Challenges facing Afro descendant populations

Populations located along the coast and in other vulnerable areas need to adapt to challenges of the rise of sea levels and temperatures, back-to-back hurricanes, massive flooding of rivers, internal and external forced displacement, deforestation, and decrease in rainfall.

Recently, Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Central America and Isla San Andres, Colombia, the earthquakes and storms in Haiti, volcano in St Vincent, the logging in the Amazon rainforest and the Río Plátano biosphere reserve and those impacted by oil drilling and spills and mining activities across Latin America and the Caribbean. Opportunities to incorporate the perspective of populations of people of African descent from Latin America and consider their geographical locations as innovation hubs to bring renewable energy and other technologies for adaptation and mitigation are a real possibility.

Mainstreaming.  The AIFCC aims to mainstream the perspective of people of African descent in climate change initiatives of the United Nations, international and regional organizations. It will facilitate research and reliable data to improve the allocation of resources to build capacity and provide the required access to finance to improve well-being and reduce forced migration.

Data and resources

Climate change adaptation research in the Americas lacks data and allocation of resources that consider the racial and ethnic characteristics of these populations in the Americas. To plan accordingly and have a positive impact, realistic and measurable outcomes, stakeholders need to consider the racial/ethnic and cultural differences of the communities that they are trying to serve.

Mitigation challenges and opportunities facing Afro descendant populations: Responding to climate change through mitigation includes scaling up the deployment of renewable energy solutions and expand renewables markets in heavily concentrated Black cities and regions such as Chocó Colombia, Esmeraldas Ecuador, Bocas del Toro—Colón y Darien Panama, El Carmen-Picsi and San Luis de Cañete Perú, Salvador Bahia Brazil, Limón Costa Rica and the Garifuna communities along the coasts of Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, just to mention a few.

Each of these populations lacks access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity and sustainable infrastructure. They are the most vulnerable populations facing the greatest threat to their lives and property because of climate change. The AIFCC and Trust Fund seek opportunities to fund and address these needs in a thoughtful and sustainable way.

The AIFCC counts on the support of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the Government of Costa Rica, Conservation International, the Open Society Foundation, the Central American Black Organization, Afro Global Consulting, SUDECC, Inc, community-based organizations, and leaders of the over 4.2 million Black immigrants living in the U.S., among others.

COP26 Representation. COP26 representation included national delegations from 197 countries, world leaders, the business community, civil society organizations, advocates and youth. Populations of people of African descent also joined the negotiations, over 70 leaders from the region facilitated that launch of the AIFCC. They were invited by U.S. Congressman Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Vice President of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell Barr, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF).  In-person participants also included Mr. Luis Gilberto Murillo, Former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia; Mr. Robert Asprila, Climate leader and President of Afro Global Consulting; Ms. Katy Gil of the Central American Black Organization; Mr. Abel Batista of the Autonomous University of Chiriquí in Panama; and Mr. Julio Guity-Guevara, LL.M. of SUDECC, Inc.

Related Topics

Nuvu Innovation School hosts first climate talks session with world leaders | By Ellen Thomson | November 2021

See Environmental Equity and Racial Justice | Sur Journal by Luis Gilberto Murillo and Marcela Angel Lalinde | December 2021

See Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change | Conservation International | February 2022

See the Afro-InterAmerican Forum on Climate Change | Environmental Solution Initiative | February 2022

The World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean meet with Afro-descendant Representative from the Region

On September 14, 2021 Mr. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean met with representatives of the Platform of the World Summit of Afro-descendants, the Sustainable Development and Climate Change (SUDECC, Inc.) Consulting Firm and the Central American Black Organization (CABO).

It is the first in-person meeting that Mr. Felipe Jaramillo launched in Washington, DC with representatives of the over 150 million Afro-descendants from Latin America and the Caribbean since his appointment as Vice President almost 13 months ago. The meeting followed all the COVID-19 long distance protocols.

During the meeting, participants provided first-hand knowledge of recent events impacting Afro-descendant populations, including the challenges following severe storms that hit Afro-descendant populations in the region. They also discussed expected measurable outcomes of the existing International Financial Institutions in supporting Afro-descendant populations, particularly after hurricanes Eta and Iota and COVD-I9, and agreed to identify partners for the establishment of the “Afro-descendant Development Trust Fund.”

Participants highlighted the efforts that need to be executed to mainstream the needs of Afro-descendant populations in international organizations through regional investment plans and country strategies, and identified potential areas of collaboration moving forward.

Participants included Dr. Jerry Francisco Sabio, Mayor of the Municipality of La Ceiba, Honduras, Gregoria Jiménez, President of the Ethnic Community Development Organization (ODECO), Mr. Pastor Elías Murillo Martínez, former Vice President of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Mr. Julio Guity-Guevara, LL.M, Managing Director of SUDECC, Inc, Ms. Palmira Ríos Gonzales, Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, and Mr. Igor Correa of the Afro-descendant Permanent Council of the Americas (COPAFRO), Ms. Cecilia Moreno Rojas, Director of the Center for Panamanian Women, among other members.

During the meeting, Mr. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo made a historical institutional commitment of supporting the agenda for Recognition, Justice, and Development of People of African Descent.

Joining the leadership of Vice President Epsy Campbell

The World Bank meeting with Afro-descendant representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean builds on the commitments made by the United Nations Population Fund and the Government of Costa Rica (under the leadership of Vice President Epsy Campbell) during the recent commemoration of the International Day for People of African descent.

Black African Immigrants in the US

by Valerie Lacarte, PhD

With the Trump administration in the rearview mirror, immigrants can take a breath. The frequent insults and erection of barriers to immigrants from Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and from highly educated international students to destitute families arriving at the southern border, are well documented. Yet, some harmful policies against Black immigrants got less attention. Various reports indicate a disproportional rise in deportations of West African and Haitian immigrants, rejections of legitimate asylum cases and abusive enforcement practices by ICE.

Compared to his predecessors, President Trump dramatically cut the number of refugees admitted –many of which are Africans - making the country lose its top spot as recipient of refugees in the world. In 2016, the last year of the Obama administration, 97 thousand refugees were resettled compared to only 23 thousand in 2018. On its way out the door, the Trump administration launched a pilot program to discourage tourists and business people from overstaying their visas by requiring applicants from 23 countries –15 of which are in Africa - pay a bond of up to $15,000, a steep increase from the average visa cost of $160 to $300.

Moving forward, US policy towards African immigrants must be informed and proactive given global demographic trends. As a continent, Africa has the youngest population: the median age is 18 years old compared to 35 in North America and 42 in Europe. One model predicts that by the year 2100, half of kids 0-4 years old will live in Africa. The prospects for Africa’s economic growth may be mixed, but there’s no doubt that out-migration, including to the US, will continue.

The majority of Black African Immigrants living in the US come from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya. Africans are racially and ethnically diverse.

Over the last decade, Africans have been the fastest growing group of immigrants to the US. Based on data from the American Community Surveys (ACS), the number of immigrants from Africa who identify as Black totals 1,729,376, which represents 36% of all Black immigrants. The largest flows come from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya.

Table 1. Number of Black African Immigrants living in the US by Country of Birth, 2014-2018 

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: All ages. All people who self-identify in the ACS as Black only or in combination with another race/ethnicity. North Africa includes: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia.

For most Sub-Saharan African countries for which we have data, over 90% of their diaspora in the US are Black. But looking at all immigrants from continental Africa, close to a quarter are not Black. This group primarily comes from Arab/Muslim countries and from South Africa: only 7% of Libyans and Egyptians, 10% of Moroccans and 17% of South Africans living in the US identify as Black.

Black African identity is grounded in a rich ancestral system of ethnicities and tribes that was shattered by Europeans during colonization, and the subsequent decolonization that left Africa with nation-states and institutions designed by foreigners. Cultural, linguistic and religious differences combined with territorial disputes have fostered a climate ripe for ethnonational forces to take over political systems and manipulate civilians into violent conflicts. The Rwanda genocide is one tragic example.

A number of African countries strive to find power-sharing arrangements that satisfy their diverse populations. For example, while 98% of Ethiopian immigrants in the US self-identify as Black, there are over 80 ethnic groups in their home country, and the largest ones (Amhara, Omoro and Tigrayan) have been in a power struggle for decades. Combined with a nearly 30-year war with neighboring Eritrea – ended by President Abiy Ahmed for which he won the Nobel peace prize in 2019 - many have been displaced internally and abroad, resulting in thousands of refugees over the years, including to the US.

Black African Immigrants are dispersed across the US, a testament to their diverse channels of immigration.

Black African immigrants come to the US through various channels; they are more likely than other immigrants to come as refugees or through the diversity lottery program. They are fairly spread out across the United States, but the highest concentrations are in Texas, New York, Maryland, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Georgia.

Some notable communities include Nigerians, who have a particularly high share of educated professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers) and a growing number of business owners. Kenyans - who will forever celebrate their US born descendant President Barack Obama – are heavily concentrated in Washington, DC. Also well-known are Somalis in Minneapolis, many of which came because of the 1990s civil war, and are now represented by Ms. Ilhan Omar in the US Congress, a trailblazer in many respects.

Figure 1. State of Residence of Black African Immigrants, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: States identified with a blue dot on the map represent where 77% of all Black African immigrants live. Other states have less than 2% of the total Black African immigrant population.

A Significantly Higher Share of Black African Immigrants Have a University Degree Compared to African Americans.  

The educational profiles of Black African immigrants and the US born Black are quite different. First, the percentage of African immigrants with university degrees is significantly higher. Close to 45% of Black African immigrant men hold at least a bachelor’s degree, equivalent to three times the share of African American men. The share of Black African immigrant women with university degrees is also higher than for African American women, though the difference is smaller (31% vs 23%).

Second, gender dynamics are opposite. African American women are more educated than their male counterparts; the reverse is true among Black African immigrants. The highest shares of people without a High School degree are Black African immigrant women (18%) and African American men (16%).

Figure 2. Highest Degree Obtained by Black African Immigrants and African Americans, by Gender, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Age 25 and older. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Black African Immigrants earn more and have lower unemployment rates than African Americans. Gender trends in unemployment are opposite between the two communities.

Looking at median annual earnings, Black African immigrant women and men earn 3 to 6% more than their African American counterparts. This represents a difference of about $2,000 a year. Despite being a relatively educated group, African American women earn the least of all.

Figure 3. Earnings of Black African Immigrant and African American Workers, by Gender, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Median earnings of people 16 and older who work at least 35 hours a week for 36 weeks per year. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

The unemployment rate for African American men (11.7%) is more than double that of Black African immigrant men (5.2%). To a lesser extent, African American women’s unemployment rate is also higher than for Black African immigrant women (9.6% vs 7.8%). As in the case of education, gender dynamics within those communities are reversed. African American women have a lower unemployment rate than the men, but among Black African immigrants, it is the men who have a lower unemployment rate.

Figure 4. Unemployed Black African Immigrants and African Americans, by Gender, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: 16 and older. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Black African Immigrants are less likely to live in poverty. They are also more likely to be married than African Americans.

About 18% of Black African immigrants and 21% of African Americans live below the federal poverty line. While the former are slightly better off, the number of poor Black people is disproportionally high compared to the national poverty rate of 11.8% (in 2018).

One important difference between these groups is the structure of their families. Marriage rates are much higher among Black African immigrants (59% vs 29%), and they are less likely to live in multigenerational households (unlike Black Caribbean and Latin American immigrants). This is probably due to African migration being more recent, and family-based immigration being less prevalent than for other immigrants.

Figure 5. Poverty and Family Structure of Black African Immigrants and African Americans, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Age 18 and older. Poverty thresholds are determined by federal guidelines using information on income, number of people living in the households and cost of living. Multigenerational households have at least 3 generations. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

The median household income of Black African immigrants is close to $62,500 or 16% higher than in African American Households. This is driven in part by Black African immigrants’ higher share of couples, individual earnings, educational outcomes, and lower unemployment rates.

Figure 6. Median Household Income of Black African Immigrants and African Americans, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Includes income from all people living in the household. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Conclusion: Black African Immigrants highlight the diversity of Black experiences in America – not only in terms of culture but also in social outcomes.

Black African immigrants and their descendants play an important role in celebrating Black identity. They capture the world’s imagination from Nollywood – the powerhouse of African movies - to Hollywood, with celebrities like Danny Glover, Forest Whitaker, Lupita Nyongo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Daniel Kaluuya, all who have starred in Afro-centric movies such as The Color Purple, 12 years a Slave, and Black Panther.

Social and economic achievements by Black African immigrants are to be celebrated, but they do not erase the reality of the overall Black experience in America. Their better educational and labor outcomes – relative to African Americans - are both encouraging for the broader immigrant story, and disconcerting for the future of the Black community as a whole. The fact that long-established African Americans are trailing behind in key socio-economic indicators deserves attention: Black immigrants are likely to run into the same obstacles, if not themselves, likely their children.

 As we were reminded in the last years, in spite of individual achievements, Black people – US and foreign born – are frequent targets of discrimination. Even the high-achieving Nigerians were included in the infamous “Muslim ban.” Is it possible to build on the successes of some, while lifting the voices of the unheard majority? Recently acclaimed Issa Rae shows that a good recipe is to mix creativity with consciousness. Through her work, this young actress-producer of Senegalese-descendant regularly uses her platform to address racial injustice, all while showcasing a beautiful, diverse, yet cohesive and promising Black America.

Data, Methodology and Definitions: Dr. Lacarte conducted analysis using microdata from the American Community Survey 2014-2018 5-year sample by IPMUS (publicly available for download). At the exception of Table 1 and Figure 1, all data refers to immigrants who came to the US as adults. The definition of Black includes anyone who self-identified as Black - alone, or in combination with another race, in the 2014-2018 ACS.

About the author: Dr. Valerie Lacarte received her PhD in economics from American University, Washington, DC. She has expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, international development, labor, immigration and the intersectionality of gender and race/ethnicity. Image by @celeaguevara

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For questions on the data analysis or for references, contact info@sudecc.com

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Afro-Latinos and Black Latin American Immigrants in the US

by Valerie Lacarte, PhD

We are just 5 weeks away from the election and there is still uncertainty about the direction of the Latino vote. This voting bloc is far from homogenous with Republican-leaning Cubans, Democratic-leaning Mexicans, the generational divide, and the growing call to fight anti-Blackness. A low Latinx turnout could facilitate the re-election of Donald Trump who has disparaged people of color and immigrants throughout his presidency.

Democrats should scratch beneath the surface and pay attention to a small but relevant group: Black Latin Americans and Afro-Latinos. Addressing their top concerns – affordable healthcare, police brutality, systemic racism and the criminalization of immigrants - means involving most of the Democratic party: Black and Latinx voters.

Being Afro-Latinx in the US: Facing Anti-Blackness on All Fronts.

Not all Black People from Latin America count as Afro-Latinx in the US. There are varying definitions of Afro-Latinx and the term itself is an issue of debate. A broad definition of Latin America includes all countries where a romance language is spoken (French, Spanish, Portuguese). But the Hispanic/Latino definition in US statistics is specific: it designates people with origins from Spanish-speaking countries. To identify as Afro-Latinx on the Census questionnaire, one must check two boxes: the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity and the Black/African-American race.

There are 2,174,899 people who identify as Afro-Latinx in the US. The large majority are US citizens by birth: 69% are born in continental US and 5% in Puerto Rico. The others are foreign-born with many coming from the Dominican Republic (see the number of Afro-Dominican and Cuban immigrants in Part 1 of this blog series).

Figure 1. Afro-Latinx Population Living in the US by Place of Birth, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: All ages. All people who self-identify in the ACS as Latino and Black (alone or in combination with another race).

Afro-Latinx Activism : Stepping up to the Plate

Though the number of Afro-Latinx born in Puerto Rico is relatively small, their influence is notable: 16% of the Afro-Latinx born in continental US claim Puerto Rican ancestry. Culturally and socially, Afro-Puerto Ricans have been consequential since the 1960s’ Young Lords movement when they stood up against White supremacy and led community actions for the self-determination of oppressed people.

The Afro-Latinx movement continues to be strong and celebrities are leveraging their influence to draw attention to the presidential election. Carmelo Anthony, an NBA player and son of a Young Lord, uses his YouTube series “What’s in Your Glass?” to discuss racism, police brutality and politics with big names like Snoop Dogg and Killer Mike.

Rosario Dawson, an actress who happens to be the partner of Senator Cory Booker, co-founded Voto Latino, which educates young Latinos about politics. More recently, Cardi B – a rapper with millions of followers – raised important issues such as voter suppression and police brutality in her live conversations with Bernie Sanders and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The Afro-Latinx voting group is uniquely positioned to talk about racism since they often face discrimination and are invisibilized within the broader Latinx community. With 1 in 3 Black men facing the possibility of incarceration – compared to 1 in 17 White men –Afro-Latinos are actively engaged in the Black Lives Matter movement, recognizing that they are just as likely to be presumed guilty and harassed by the police.

The majority of Black Immigrants from Continental Latin America come from Guyana, Central America and Mexico.

Continental Latin America includes all countries from Mexico, Central America and South America, but it excludes the Caribbean. There are close to 409,000 Black immigrants born in continental Latin America who live in the US. A third of them are from Guyana – a South American country that is culturally and politically close to the Caribbean. 

Very few Black people from non-Spanish speaking countries self-identify as Latinx in the US. For example, of the 29,022 Black Belizean immigrants in Table 1, only 873 claimed to be Latinx. This is a testament to the cultural diversity of Latin America where non-Spanish speaking Afro-descendants - like the Creoles and the Garifuna People – have a long-established presence.

While Afro-Mexicans are still fighting for recognition in their own country, they are the second largest group of Black Latin American immigrants. This is not surprising because Mexicans are the largest foreign-born population in the US.

Table 1. Number of Black Latin American Immigrants living in the US, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: All ages. All people who self-identify in the ACS as Black only or in combination with another race/ethnicity. Only countries from continental Latin America are included, thus excluding the Caribbean.

Not everyone has the opportunity to migrate. For example, the largest Black population in Latin America is in Brazil, yet they only make up 5% of all Black Latin American immigrants in the US. Whereas Black Belizeans who come from the country with the smallest population in continental Latin America are over-represented. They rank 4th as a proportion of all Black Latin American immigrants. In fact, together, Central Americans make up most of Black Latin American immigrants: the majority come from Panama, Belize and Honduras.

Black Latin American Immigrants are Spread out Across the US. Many families fled Latin America because of state violence and criminality.

Half of Black Latin American immigrants live between New York, Florida and California. Other states where their numbers are important are Massachusetts (7%) and New Jersey (6%). About 59% of Black Latin American immigrants are naturalized US citizens.

Some push factors out of the region include the 1980s civil wars in Central America, political instability, criminality and natural disasters. Central Americans have suffered from the spillover effects of the drug wars in Mexico and Colombia, resulting in an intensification of gang activity and the use of violence to terrorize entire communities.

In recent years thousands of families and unaccompanied children have sought refuge in the US. Special immigration programs have afforded them protections, such as Temporary Protection Status, the Central American Minors Refugees program and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Figure 2. State of Residence of Black Latin American Immigrants, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: States identified on the map represent 78% of Black Latin American immigrants. Other states not identified have less than 3% of Black Latin American immigrants

Over a quarter of Black Latin American Immigrants do not have a High School Degree. Black Women are generally more educated than Black men.

One issue is the gap in education between Black Latin American immigrants and the US born Black population - or African Americans. Black Latin American immigrants lack formal training: 28% of the men do not have a High School diploma. In contrast, only 16% of African American men are in that same situation. A similar trend exists between women from these respective groups. 

In general, Black Women tend to be more educated than men. Close to 23% of African American women have at least a bachelor’s degree compared to 16% of African American men. Likewise, 20% of Black Latin American immigrant women have a university degree compared to 18% of their male counterpart.

Figure 3. Highest Degree Obtained by Black Latin American Immigrants and African Americans, by Gender, 2014-2018

Source: Microdata analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Age 25 and older. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

 Despite lower educational outcomes, Black Latin American Immigrants earn more and have lower unemployment rates than African Americans.

The median annual earnings of full-time year-round workers are fairly close between African Americans and Black Latin American immigrants. Still, within genders, Black Latin American immigrants earn more.

Figure 4. Earnings of Black Latin American Immigrant and African American Workers, by Gender, 2014-2018

Source: Microdata analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Median earnings of people 16 and older who work at least 35 hours a week for 36 weeks per year. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Despite having lower educational attainment, Black Latin American immigrant unemployment rates are much lower than for African Americans. The difference is significant for men: about 12% of African American men are unemployed compared to only 5% of Black Latin American immigrant men.

Figure 5. Unemployed Black Latin American Immigrants and African Americans, by Gender, 2014-2018

Source: Microdata analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: 16 and older. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

 A higher percentage of Black Latin American Immigrants are married or living with a spouse and they are less likely to live in poverty than African Americans.

About 21% of African Americans live in poverty, or 6 percentage points higher than for Black Latin American immigrants. In fact, family dynamics in Black Latin American immigrant households are quite different. Only 29% of African American households are headed by a couple compared to 52% of Black Latin American immigrant families.

Black Latin American immigrants are more likely to live with at least 3 generations of the same family, i.e. grandparents, parents and child. Family members can be a source of support by providing financial and in-kind contributions in time of need, like grandparents providing free childcare for their grandchildren.

Figure 6. Poverty and Family Structure of Black Latin American Immigrants and African Americans, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Age 18 and older. Poverty thresholds are determined by federal guidelines using information on income, number of people living in the households and cost of living. Multigenerational households have at least 3 generations. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

With larger families where marriage is more common, the household income of Black Latin American immigrants is 25% higher than for African American families. This $13,000 difference means that Black Latin American immigrant households are slightly more secure in the advent of a negative shock.

Figure 7. Household Income of Black Latin American Immigrants and African Americans, 2014-2018

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Includes income from all people living in the household. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Conclusion: Poverty, combined with an oppressive criminal justice system and repressive immigration enforcement weaken the Black community.

Black men – whether born in the US or abroad - face a much higher probability of being arrested based on their race. However, those with greater financial means will likely be released if they can afford the median bail amount of $10,000 . According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 74% of people in the prison system have not been sentenced: they are sitting in jail simply because they are too poor to post bail. With 40% of the prison population being Black men and women, it is clear that the double negative impact of racism and poverty tears Black families and entire communities apart.

A unique concern of Afro-Latinos is the fear of being criminalized for being, looking or sounding like immigrants. Aggressive immigration enforcement practices that separate families have stoked fear in the Latinx community, with a growing number of immigrants being detained for excessively long periods for minor violations. This puts Afro-Latinx families at risk, especially those from Central America who deal with the presumption of being undocumented.

Black and Brown people are being criminalized because of their skin color, their lack of resources and/or their immigration status. Afro-Latinos and Black Latin American immigrants know this reality very well. These are the issues Democrats need to talk about if they want to turn out the vote on November 3rd.

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Data, Methodology and Definitions: Dr. Lacarte conducted analysis using microdata from the American Community Survey 2014-2018 5-year sample by IPMUS (publicly available for download). At the exception of Table 1 and Figures 1 and 2, all data refers to immigrants who came to the US as adults.

The definition of Black includes anyone who self-identified as Black - alone, or in combination with another race, in the 2014-2018 ACS.

About the author: Dr. Valerie Lacarte received her PhD in economics from American University, Washington, DC. She has expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, international development, labor, immigration and the intersectionality of gender and race/ethnicity.

For questions on the data analysis or for references, contact info@sudecc.com

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Black Caribbean Immigrants in the U.S.

by Valerie Lacarte, PhD

The historic nomination of Kamala Harris as the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee highlights the Black community’s diversity. Senator Harris who is a proud African American – recall her presidential campaign launch from Howard University on MLK Day – often mentions her Indian mother and Jamaican father. Other examples of first, second and even third-generation Black Caribbean immigrants who broke barriers in recent political history include: Colin Powell, Yvette Clarke, Karl Racine, Frederica S. Wilson, Mia Love, Karine Jean-Pierre, Eric Holder, Susan Rice, to name a few. Black Caribbean immigrants and their children contribute to improving the Black experience in the US by taking an active role in dismantling barriers that plague all Black people.  

Jamaicans and Haitians make up two thirds of Black Caribbean immigrants and 9 out of 10 Black Caribbean immigrants live on the East coast.

Since the 1950s, a combination of low economic opportunities, political instability, crime and natural disasters have pushed thousands out of the Caribbean. In the US, the number of people born in the Caribbean who identifies as Black totals 2,083,488, representing 44% of all Black immigrants in the US. Jamaicans and Haitians make up two thirds of Black Caribbean immigrants, followed by Trinidadians, Dominicans, and in smaller numbers Barbadians, Cubans, Grenadians and Bahamians.

Table 1. Number of Black Caribbean Immigrants living in the US by Country of Birth

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: All ages. All people who self-identify in the ACS as Black only or in combination with another race/ethnicity.

About 64% of Black Caribbean immigrants are naturalized US citizens; non-citizens include permanent residents, individuals with non-immigrant authorizations (student, H1B, diplomatic visas, refugees, etc.) and undocumented migrants. The majority of Black Caribbean immigrants live along the East coast with the largest concentrations in Florida (32%), New York (31%) and New Jersey (7%).

Figure 1. State of Residence of Black Caribbean Immigrants

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: States identified on the map represent 88% of Black Caribbean immigrants. Other states not identified have 0-2% of Black Caribbean immigrants.

Black Caribbean immigrants have lower levels of education than African Americans; African American Women are the most educated.

One in five Black Caribbean immigrant has a bachelor’s degree or higher - about the same share as African Americans. An important difference is that 23% of Black Caribbean immigrants do not have a High School degree, which is much higher than among African Americans (16% of men and 13% of women). African American women are the most educated group shown in the figure below: 23% of them have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Figure 2. Highest Degree Obtained by Black Caribbean Immigrants and African Americans, by Gender

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Age 25 and older. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Black Caribbean Immigrant and African American workers earn about the same, but a higher proportion of African Americans are unemployed.

Considering only full-time year-round workers, the median annual earnings of Black Caribbean immigrants are about the same as those of African Americans: $40,000 for men and $36,000 for women.

While Black women are as educated - or more - than Black men, they earn less. Persistent gender inequality in the home – women typically do more household chores and childcare – pushes women into part-time work and often lower-paid jobs with little or no benefits. Many of these jobs are in the care and hospitality sectors where frontline workers are more vulnerable as we are seeing right now with the COVID-19 crisis.

Still, the gender wage gap in the Black population is one of the lowest across all racial and ethnic groups. Both Black Caribbean and African American women earn about 10% less than their male counterparts, compared to the 18%-20% gender wage gap in the general population.

Figure 3. Earnings of Black Caribbean Immigrant and African American Workers, by Gender

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Median earnings of people 16 and older who work at least 35 hours a week for 36 weeks per year. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Black men tend to have among the highest unemployment rates in the US. But within the Black community, the Caribbean immigrant men’s unemployment rate is much lower than for African American men (7% vs. 11.7%). Black Caribbean immigrant women also have a lower unemployment rate than African American women.

Figure 4. Unemployed Black Caribbean Immigrants and African Americans, by Gender

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: 16 and older. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Black Caribbean Immigrants have larger families, higher household income and are less likely to live in poverty than African Americans.

Many Caribbean immigrants immigrated to the US under the family reunification program and they tend to rely on family as part of their integration process. In fact, Black Caribbean immigrants are much more likely to be married than African Americans: 51% are married compared to only 29% of African Americans. They are also more likely to live in families where there are at least 3 generations.

Figure 5. Poverty and Family Structure of Black Caribbean Immigrants and African Americans

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Age 18 and older. Poverty thresholds are determined by federal guidelines using information on income, number of people living in the households and cost of living. Multigenerational households have at least 3 generations. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

African Americans are more likely to be poor: 21% of adults live in poverty compared to 15% of Black Caribbean immigrants. With larger families where marriage is more prevalent, it is not surprising that the household income of Black Caribbean immigrants is $10,000 higher than for African American households. Having a spouse and other family members to rely on can alleviate unforeseen circumstances, like job or income loss.

Figure 6. Household Income of Black Caribbean Immigrants and African Americans

Source: Author’s analysis of the 2014-2018 American Community Surveys. Note: Includes income from all people living in the household. Immigrants who came to the US as adults.

Conclusion: Black Caribbean immigrant today, African American tomorrow: two communities intertwined.

The data analysis suggests that individual achievement isn’t enough for African Americans to improve their economic outcomes. While African Americans, particularly women, have higher educational attainment, they are afflicted by higher unemployment, poverty, and lower household income than Black Caribbean immigrants. Systemic discrimination affects African Americans even more than their brothers and sisters born abroad. This is worrisome because just like Kamala Harris who is both African American and a second-generation Black Caribbean immigrant, these communities are intertwined.

The experience of Black Caribbean immigrants reveals that strength can be found in the family. With a larger share of multigenerational households, more often headed by couples, Black Caribbean immigrants benefit from a cushion of support based on kin. This increases their access to financial resources, but also in-kind support. Stronger Black families can be a source of much needed resilience for a community that continues to experience economic disadvantage, lower life expectancy, higher maternal mortality rates, disproportionally high incarceration rates, police brutality and voter suppression.

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Data, Methodology and Definitions: Dr. Lacarte conducted analysis using microdata from the American Community Survey 2014-2018 5-year sample by IPMUS (publicly available for download). At the exception of Table1 and Figure 1, all data refers to immigrants who came to the US as adults. The data analysis was fact-checked by Dr. Tanima Ahmed.

The definition of Black includes every individual who self-identified as Black - alone, or in combination with another race, in the 2014-2018 ACS. Only countries in the geographical Caribbean are analyzed, thus excluding Belize, Guyana and Suriname despite their political and cultural ties to the Caribbean. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are also excluded because of their US citizenship though we recognize the need for a separate discussion on their unique experience.

About the author: Dr. Valerie Lacarte received her PhD in economics from American University, Washington, DC. She has expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, international development, labor, immigration and the intersectionality of gender and race/ethnicity.

For questions on the data analysis or for references, contact info@sudecc.com

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Afro-Latinos and Black Latin American Immigrants in the US

Black African Immigrants in the US