MAMP Podcast Ep #19: Spain’s Hidden Black History

On this episode of the podcast, you’re going to hear the fascinating story of Spain’s hidden Black history!

Episode 19 is a little different from previous episodes. It’s actually Part 1 of a two-part series about life in Spain for Black people. Part 1 is all about Spain’s mostly unknown Black history and Part 2 covers what it’s like to live in Spain today, in the 21st century,  as a Black person. 

Black in Spain…Then and Now

This audio documentary is actually a follow-up to my 2008 memoir, Kinky Gazpacho. After being away from Spain for an entire decade, I decided to document the changes that have occurred in the society regarding Spain’s relationship to Blackness.

The documentary is divided into five chapters. On episode 19, you’ll hear chapters one and two, where I revisit Spain’s Black history – from the 16th – 19th centuries –  and all of the ways this history is seeping into contemporary Spanish culture.

On episode 20, you’ll hear chapters three, four and five, where I will be exploring what life is like for Black people – African immigrants, Afro-Spanish people, Black Brits, and African Americans – living in Spain today. Ultimately, I’ll be trying to answer the question: Is Spain a place where Black people can be free? The answer will probably surprise you. 

This show was an absolute pleasure to research and record and I hope you enjoy it. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Please don’t forget to rate and review the show on Apple podcasts. We so appreciate the support.

RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW

My search for Blackness in Spain started with my memoir, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love and Spain.

Gurumbe: Afro-Andalusian Memories is the documentary I saw in the United States that sparked my desire to return to Spain. Watch the trailer and be inspired.

If you want to learn more about Gurumbe’s director, Miguel Angel Rosales, who I interview in this episode, read this.

I went to Sevilla to visit the small church where the “Brotherhood of the Blacks,” was located. You can read about the Brotherhood’s history here, but, note, it is in Spanish.

There are several Spanish academics now writing about Spain’s Black history. Most of them are, understandably in Spain, but if you are looking for something in English, try reading anything by Bucknell University professor, Nicholas Jones. You can start with this article and he also just finished a book called “Staging Habla de Negros: Radical Performances of the African Diaspora in Early Modern Spain.” BTW, you’ll hear from Jones in Part II of the program.

Credits

Note: The Black Virgin seen in the photo  is the Virgin de la Merced and is the patron of the city of Jerez. 

Also, thanks must be given to the group Gnawledge for their song Flamencología (found via the Free Music Archive) which you heard throughout the episode.

In addition, that airplane noise you heard wasn’t really my plane taking off, it was sound borrowed from Freesound.org.