Venezuela: “Mi Negra” Racist? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Octavio shares some interesting thoughts on the intersection of race, politics, and language in Venezuela's heated presidential campaign. The debate stems from Hugo Chavez calling the “Mi Negra” debit card proposal of Manuel Rosales racist. Octavio writes: ” I listen to this and have to wonder what my cousin AM must thing of this. See, AM was always called “El Negro” in our family. It was so linked to him that when my youngest brother was baptized and AM was named his godfather, my little brother acquired the same nickname at his Baptism. “El Negro” became his name and to this day many use it. Yes, neither of them was completely white, but who cared?”