I live in Panama. Monday I ordered an Uber to go to a bank. There is a grocery store across the street from it. Clients of this bank are folks w money (white) . The driver asked are you going to the bank or the supermarket? I said the bank. He said oh ok the supermarket.

I didn't correct him.I know he didn't hear me, or want to hear me bc his notion was "there's no way this negra is going to that bank, even thothat is what she typed into Uber." He decided what space I was supposed to be in, even though I had already declared the space for myself

So when he missed the turn to the bank. I said dryly "you missed the turn." And he's like "oh I thought you were going to the supermarket." I'm like "why would you think that when I said I am going to the bank?" He didn't say anything and I got out and went to the bank.

I let these situations play out so folks can see how they played themselves. However I know that one interaction isn't gonna shift or change their antiblack notions bc they will rationalize it as "I have a rich white husband," or some other harmfulthing that fits their narrative.

Or maybe I am "the help," doing an errand for my boss. I've seen it all. Like when I was in workout clothes at the W hotel in Panama City & these white Colombians asked me about maintenance and I'm like I am in chancletas & workout clothes but u thought I worked here.

The other time I was a guest at a hotel in Colombia and a white Colombian came up to me and asked me about what time does breakfast end. I'm like I'm in a bathing suit. You're in a bathing suit. Do the folks working here on their shifts wear bathing suits to work?

This ain't about me being "better" than anyone's labor. It is that Latin Americans have prescribed roles for Black folks. They see a Black woman...OF COURSE she will be the laborer! OF COURSE she's poor! No matter the context or environment. I am the worker,never the leisurer

And I KNOW the security & maintenance folks in my apartment building are SICK tryna figure out how I make money. It is accepted that white Latin Americans make money while laying down. But a negra? Even a foreign negra making money will still bother & torment them.

It's always those looks of "how do you have these things?" YOU???!?!? A Black woman? How can you not be sweating & bleeding & crying to make $2? WHAT IS IIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Latin Americans STAY asking me what my job is and I'm like "I'm a lady of leisure." Da fuq.

In that same hotel in Cartagena, me & my friend were with a tour group. We're the only Black girls. Hotel staff constantly asked what rooms we were in, to see our room cards to access breakfast etc. The rest of the group RAVED about the service. Lemme go leave them a review...

white Cuban women GAG when they realize they have to be in service to a negra in the tourist sector. They can't even hide it. They are SICK that I have access to privilege they will never have. I don't "deserve" that citizenship privilege in their eyes. Choke bitch.

The other time, walked into a copy store. All the employees ignored me. I sat down. A white walked in 5 mins after me and was IMMEDIATELY tended to. Of course I set it off in that place. But again, why should I have to? To just make 2 raggelly copies, this is what I must endure?

I don't DESIRE to set it off every time I set foot outside my apartment. I don't. I am tired. I am exhausted. I am depleted. And I just want to do my fucking errand in peace. I off-set this by vibing extra hard w other Black folks in the spaces I'm in. Community is everything

Just like my husband getting stopped DAILY in Havana, when he had his moto. It's not believed that a Black man can ever afford a moto. MUST be stolen. His white acquaintances with motos NEVER engage with police, as it is accepted whites have the access to buy and own a moto.

Another time, hailing a cab. My husband out there waving and hailing. Our white friend says, look we are short on time, they not gonna stop for you, lemme go get the taxi. Within minutes we had a taxi. But tell me more about Latinx "mestizaje" kumbaya.

And the gag is EVERYBODY FUCKING KNOWS THIS. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT BLACK PEOPLE GET TARGETED ANDKILLED. EVERYONE VISUALIZES A BLACK PERSON WHEN THEY SAY MALEANTE. It's that they won't PUBLICLY admit it. Especially not amongst foreign company.

The general surprise among Panamanians when they see my husband is Black. Again it is accepted that if you are an attractive Black woman, you will seek out someone who can be a provider...a white man. Black women with beauty currency & married to Black men is "radical" & "weird"

But adding to that, it is bc I am a "respectable" negra. Cuz the norm of the hood are upsettingly beautiful Black women periodt. But. It is expected they should partner with Black men who "cannot" provide. Always side-stepping WHY Black folks are blocked from livelihoods.

So again, here are links to my upcoming classes & workshops. I will end every thread promoting them. Many love a free twitter thread but recoil at paying us for our labor & taking actions TO DIVEST FROM ANTIBLACKNESS:
https://radiocananegra.ticketleap.com/antiblackness-in-the-latine-community---part-2/
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https://www.eventbrite.com/e/verano-negro-course-on-black-latin-american-history-contemporary-life-tickets-115646703403