Of course, despite the difficult experiences many Afrocolombian and indigenous peoples have faced, they are very proud of their culture and ethnic roots. As you saw in my article about the Festival of San Pacho in Quibdó, these communities celebrate their heritage and continue to find joy and purpose for themselves and their loved ones, even through hard times. At the Festival of San Pacho, I saw many parade floats and signs dedicated to promoting respect for diverse Afrocolombian peoples and indigenous groups, as well as encouraging peace as a means for uniting their communities.
Furthermore, organizations like the Museum House of Memory, where I serve as a volunteer in Medellín, are working to raise public awareness to the suffering and violence forced on innocent people during Colombia’s civil war so that we can use our knowledge of the past to work toward a better future. At the museum, visitors can listen to testimonies from victims of the war, and also read inspiring messages of hope and possibility for change in present-day Colombia.
It can be hard to learn about sad and harmful events from the past, but knowing about history can also help us to improve our societies for the future. Colombia’s indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities have faced especially difficult realities since the beginning of Spanish colonization, but they have not allowed that to keep them down; rather, they continue to find strength among themselves and stand up for their communities’ needs to the best of their abilities.
