Venezuela Myth Summary

Being the Northern-most country of Latin America and strategically located in the Caribbean Sea, Venezuela; is best known for beholding the largest petroleum reserves on planet earth. Global interests on this valuable commodity naturally caused foreign companies to explore and work this prosperous land. Winthrop Wright tells the story that during their visits; mainly White-Americans spent their nights at hotels, which held a strict policy of refusing service to “blacks” (policy made to guarantee satisfaction for their guests). Daily journals from the 1940’s brought this topic to light, which became matter of confusion among locals. It challenged their pride, their identity and the Venezuelan myth of racial democracy; the idea that prejudice
This initial overview is intended to provide the reader with an understanding about the emergence of the Venezuelan Myth. Followed by a debate, which discusses the idea of racial democracy among experts. This essay argues that even though Venezuelans consider racial equality to be an exceptional attribute to their nation, racism remains existent in their land. The noticeable inequality and the marginalization of black and indigenous communities in Venezuela are a product of the prevalent colonial prejudice, perpetuated by the presence of the U.S in Latin America. Lastly a conclusion will synthesize all the content displayed in this
However after neoliberal monetary policy was abruptly implemented, a crisis began to unleash. Jesus Herrera argues that during the first stages of the economic crisis of 1983 the upper and middle sectors of the country blamed foreign blacks for their misfortunes. "those blacks from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti" as well as "the Indians of Peru and Ecuador," all "that rabble," had "made the country falter". These comments did not take long to spread through the media and soon began to include Afro- Venezuelans, poor people of the cities as well as indigenous