Racism in Costa Rica: Examining the Reality of Anti-Afro Racism Beyond Limón Province
Velvet Waite I September 12, 2024
Costa Rica, a country known for its vibrant biodiversity and strong commitment to sustainability, has a more complicated social fabric that includes a history of racial tensions, particularly towards its Afro-descendant population. While the Caribbean province of Limón is predominantly Afro-Costa Rican, many Afro-people living outside this region encounter racism that remains largely unaddressed in the national conversation.
Historical Context
The Afro-Costa Rican community has deep roots, dating back to the late 19th century when Afro-Caribbean workers, primarily from Jamaica, arrived to build the railroad connecting the country’s interior to the coast and to work in banana plantations. Although these contributions were foundational to Costa Rica’s development, Afro-Costa Ricans faced institutionalized discrimination. For many years, laws restricted their movement, keeping them largely confined to Limón and its surroundings.
This historical marginalization set the stage for persistent racial inequality. While much has changed, and Afro-Costa Ricans have become integrated into broader Costa Rican society, racism towards them remains a significant issue, particularly outside of Limón.
Perception of Afro-Costa Ricans Beyond Limón
In provinces like San José, Alajuela, and Heredia, Afro-Costa Ricans are often viewed as outsiders or “others,” despite their long-standing presence in the country. Stereotypes about Afro-descendant people—such as associations with crime, laziness, or inferiority—remain pervasive. This manifests in microaggressions, discriminatory hiring practices, and biased treatment in schools, housing, and healthcare.
For many Afro-Costa Ricans living in these regions, racism is a daily reality. Some experience overt racism, such as being called derogatory names or being treated with suspicion in public places.
However, more subtle forms of racism—such as being passed over for jobs or promotions in favor of lighter-skinned candidates—are just as damaging. The assumption that Afro-Costa Ricans are less educated or less capable is one of the more insidious aspects of racism in Costa Rican society
Education and Representation
One contributing factor to the persistence of racism is the lack of Afro-Costa Rican representation in Costa Rica’s educational curriculum and media. In school, students learn little about the contributions of Afro-Costa Ricans to the nation’s history, and the stories of Limón’s Black community are often sidelined. This lack of representation perpetuates ignorance and allows racial biases to persist.
Afro-Costa Ricans are also underrepresented in positions of power, whether in government, business, or media. This absence reinforces the idea that Black Costa Ricans are less capable of leadership, further entrenching societal divisions. When Afro-Costa Ricans are visible in the media, they are often reduced to stereotypes, which reinforces harmful prejudices.
The Role of National Identity
Costa Rica’s national identity is often constructed around its mestizo (mixed-race) and European heritage, with less emphasis on its Afro or Indigenous roots. This Eurocentric narrative marginalizes non-white Costa Ricans and perpetuates the idea that Afro-Costa Ricans do not fully belong. In many parts of the country, especially outside Limón, this results in an unspoken but deeply ingrained hierarchy, with lighter-skinned Costa Ricans at the top and darker-skinned Afro-descendants at the bottom.
National discourses of “pureza” (racial purity) and the glorification of European ancestry have contributed to a racialized hierarchy that persists to this day. These narratives are subtly passed down through generations, shaping social attitudes and reinforcing systemic racism.
Moving Forward
There is a growing movement within Costa Rica to address racism, with civil rights activists, scholars, and organizations pushing for greater awareness and action. The fight for racial equality must include efforts to expand the representation of Afro-Costa Ricans in all aspects of society and ensure their contributions are fully acknowledged.
Public education plays a key role in combatting ignorance, and national efforts to decolonize Costa Rica’s curriculum could provide a path toward greater understanding. In addition, more open conversations about the lingering racism in the country are necessary to dismantle the systems of inequality that continue to affect Afro-Costa Ricans.
While Costa Rica has made strides toward racial equality, racism remains a significant issue, particularly for Afro-Costa Ricans living outside Limón. Overcoming these entrenched prejudices requires a commitment to addressing the historical and social roots of racism, ensuring Afro-Costa Ricans are represented in all facets of society, and fostering a national identity that truly embraces all its citizens.
Without these efforts, the country risks perpetuating a legacy of exclusion and inequality, despite its image as a peaceful and progressive nation.