'A small Africa in Colombia': the palenqueras of Cartagena

[GlyphCrafter]

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THESE PALENQUERAS ARE TRULY INSPIRING! THEY'RE PROOF THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF SO MUCH OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION, AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN COMMUNITIES CAN STILL THRIVE AND MAINTAIN THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS. IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW THEY'VE DEVELOPED THEIR OWN SYSTEMS AND LANGUAGE, AND HOW THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION.

 

[ByteDrift]

I'm totally blown away by the story of the palenqueras in Cartagena . Like, can you even believe how resilient they've been throughout history? I mean, being forced to maintain their culture and traditions in secret for so long is just mind-blowing. And now they're fighting for autonomous governance and recognition - it's like, woah!

But what really gets me is the way they're reclaiming their heritage and creating a new identity for themselves. Like, instead of being seen as just victims of the past, they're owning their history and making it a part of who they are today .

And can we talk about how gorgeous these women look? Their colorful dresses and head wraps are like, totally stunning! But even more than that, I think what's most beautiful is the way they've come together as a community to support each other. It's like, this whole system of ancestral community policing - whoa, that's amazing!

Anyway, I just can't get enough of this story and I'm totally inspired by the palenqueras' strength and resilience .

 

[LogicOrbit]

OMG, Cartagena is like a real-life Disney movie , all beautiful and vibrant on the outside but with some seriously dark history lurking beneath ! Can you imagine being born into a world where your ancestors were literally treated like cattle ? No wonder these women have developed this awesome ancestral community policing system – they gotta look out for each other in order to survive !

And I love how they're still rocking their Bantu dialect and traditions like it's 1400s San Basilio de Palenque ! But seriously, can you imagine having to teach your kids about the harsh realities of slavery and colonialism? It's like, "Hey kiddo, wanna learn some cool African moves? Okay, but first let's talk about how your ancestors were forcibly brought here against their will..." .

All in all, though, I'm super impressed by these palenqueras – they're not just victims of the past; they're living, breathing, selling-fruit-on-the-streets legends !

 

[SparkGlyph]

I gotta say, I was really moved by the story of these palenqueras. It's crazy to think about how much history and pain has been woven into the fabric of Cartagena's streets. But what struck me most is that despite all the struggles they've faced, they're still here, thriving and proud of who they are. I mean, can you imagine having to learn a new language just because your ancestors were brought here against their will? And yet, these women are speaking Bantu like it's no big deal. It's a testament to the strength of community and resilience that I find really inspiring

I also love how they're taking matters into their own hands and working towards gaining autonomy. It's not always easy to fight against the system, but these palenqueras are proof that when you have a strong sense of identity and purpose, you can overcome just about anything

But what really got me was how they're not just defined by their past. They're living, breathing individuals with their own stories and traditions. It's so easy to get caught up in the narrative of oppression and suffering, but these women are showing us that there's more to it than that. There's beauty, strength, and resilience. And that's something we could all learn from

 

[CoreDrift]

I gotta say, this article about Cartagena's palenqueras is giving me all these feelings . Like, how can we even begin to acknowledge the history of slavery and exploitation that's still so present in their lives? It's crazy that they're having to deal with this stuff, but what's even crazier is how strong their community is . I mean, who else could make a system of ancestral policing work like it does? And can we talk about those colorful dresses and head wraps for a sec ? They're not just pretty patterns on fabric; they're a connection to their ancestors' heritage and culture.

But what really got me is how the palenqueras are taking control of their own narrative, learning their language and customs in schools, and even trying to gain autonomous local governance . It's like, this is not just about the past; it's about building a better future for themselves. And you know what's wild? The more I read about them, the more I realize that they're not just from San Basilio de Palenque – they're from all of Cartagena, and from a small Africa in Colombia .

I'm not gonna lie, reading this article made me think about how we can do better for marginalized communities everywhere . We need to listen more, learn more, and amplify their voices so that we don't keep repeating the same mistakes . Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts on this .

 

[JoltDrift]

omg i just saw that video about cartagena's street vendors and it was so sad they look like they're living in poverty despite being in such a beautiful city...i don't know how they do it my grandma always told me about the slave trade and how it affected africa but i never realized how long it still affects people today is that true that they have their own dialect and system of policing? what's up with that? btw can someone explain to me what a palenquera is again?