"Human life emerged in East Africa five million years ago; we all are son of Africa, "said writer Rogelio Martinez Fure at the colloquium in honor of the 130th anniversary of slavery abolition in Cuba.

Our country where slavery was brutal and long-lasting , the penultimate nation in America o get rid of this scourge (the last one was Brazil in 1888), has a long written story about this matter.

According to essayist Zuleika Romay, author of two essential books on the subject, Elogio de la altea (Casa de las Américas Prize ) and Cepos de la memoria, it is essential not to hear the claims of those that want us to "forget."

Although slavery came to an end more than 100 years ago in this continent, there are still deep tendencies in a very cruel way in many countries, social differences and discriminations, open and underhanded toward the black people.

Regarding Cuba, Romay commented that "slavery can not be seen as a finished phenomenon in 1886" because its consequences, even under the revolutionary changes, are still visible when showing very unfortunate stereotypes about the psychology, sexuality, talent and possibilities of the black people.

"It's not about attacking people for their racial prejudices – Romay asserted -, but 'cultures' of domination they have followed for many years."

About extremely narrow vision linking black people only with skill to succeed in sports and art, writer and journalist Miguel Terry said that many great inventions we enjoy in our daily life, were created by black people as well as remarkable scientific discoveries.

Historian Rigoberto Castañeda from Guira de Melena Township addressed that the slavery phenomenon in Guira de Melena, where there were about 6,000 black slaves and Chinese, and rebellions took place.

It was especially touchin when Castañeda showed those present the Freedom Charter, in its original format, designed to free his great great grandfather from the brutal shackles of slavery.

Martinez Furé said the ethnocentric racist theory has rewritten history, and have delivered books that are enemies of the world, because a rude "whitening" of the origin and evolution history of man has taken place in these pages, where Africa is just whip and bunkhouse, rather than being the origin of ancient civilizations.

Poet Ismael González Castañer looked from the subtlety of poetry African mark , and how this had established into his environment firmly, while editor Dulce María Sotolongo talked about at different points of view about the presence of black people in pages edited by her.

Above all, González referred to his most beloved historical figure , José Martí, to say in the same convincing way the Apostol did in the article My race:

"That being racist is a confusing word, and it must be put straight. The man has no special right that belongs to one race or another: tell yourself man, and all rights are said. The black, for black, is not inferior or superior to any other man sins by redundant white that says "my race"; redundant sins by black that says "my race." Everything that divides men, everything that specifies, separates or corners, it is a sin against humanity ".

TRANSLATION BY LMMS