Ric Francis

Unexpected Faces

It is common knowledge that people of African heritage have deep roots in Brazil and Colombia. However there also exist Latinos whose ancestors were enslaved from Africa in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. 'Unexpected Faces' is an ongoing project that documents the experiences of Afro-Latinos in the unexpected places of South America.

A coca farmer heads home in Tocana, a tiny community in the lush Yungas Valley, which is made up mostly of Afro-Bolivians.
  
A group of Afro-Bolivians share conversation and drinks.
   
Martha Rey, second from right, an Afro-Argentine, along with Miguelina Monzon, distributes religious literature to men waiting for a meal outside a church. Contrary to common belief all blacks living in Argentina are not foreigners, said Ms. Rey.
     
  
Several Afro-Peruvian farmers gather at a campsite for food and drinks.
   
Claudio Martin, 37, right, works as a doorman. Afro-Peruvian men are highly sought for such jobs under the belief that their skin color lends an aura of elegance to the position. Discrimination against blacks is strong hence job opportunities are limited.
   
Afro-Peruvian men (called Camalenque) are highly sought to work as pallbearers - clad in tuxedos and white gloves at the most upscale funerals - under the belief that their skin-color lends an aura of elegance to the job. On May 18, 2010 Peru's Ministry of Culture denounced the practice of the Camalenque as racist and requested - to no avail - that the mortuary business end the service.
     
  
An Afro-Peruvian musical and dance group, Pinta y Canela, performs at a restaurant.
  
Carolina Anton, 8, left, and other students from Academia Afro hold dolls that caricature blacks, as they await the start of a program honoring the musical contributions of Afro-Peruvians.
  
A rainbow paints the sky over El Carmen which is home to a large Afro-Peruvian community.
     
  
An Afro-Bolivian hunter returns home at the end of the day.
   
Juana Vasquez, 71, works in the field picking coca leaves.
   
Exhausted from picking coca leaves Juana Vasquez, 71, chats with her 7-year old grandson.
     
  
An Afro-Bolivian dance troupe performs for churchgoers during a celebration marking a religious festival ('Fiesta de San Benito').
   
A young Afro-Bolivian girl appeals to her mother for permission to go outside during church service; her plea was denied.
   
Afro-Bolivians and indigenous community members participate in a ceremony marking a religious festival ('Fiesta de San Benito').
     
  
An Afro-Bolivian woman observes church service.
   
Three Afro-Ecuadorians make their way home along Cayapas River.
   
A young girl, 12-years old, masquerades in blackface as an Afro-Latino prostitute as she solicits tourists for money.
     
  
Activists hand out leaflets denouncing the racist depiction of Afro-Peruvians on national television shows.
   
After celebrating the Virgen del Carmen with a Catholic mass and procession, residents in the Lima district of La Victoria party into the evening.
   
A group of men and women from different African countries enjoy their interaction with Peruvians on a commuter bus. The men are seminary students in Lima, and the women are doing missionary work.
     
  
A young Afro-Bolivian girl carries her cousin.
   
An Afro-Bolivian woman sits on her porch in the lush Yungas Valley.
  
Family members head home after a day in the field picking coca leaves.
     
  
As evening falls adults assist a younger family member with her homework.
   
As midnight (Christmas day) approaches two Afro-Peruvian women view photographs taken during a family Christmas eve celebration. It's a tradition in Peru for families to have Christmas dinner at midnight.
   
Several Afro-Peruvian men play cards.
     
  
Two young Afro-Bolivian girls stroll home.
   
A worn and faded hand-drawing, created by Dayana Rene Ballivian, 9, hangs outside her family’s home that reads: “My mother is negro, my father is negro and so am I. I am proud.” In 2009 Afro-Bolivians won a moral victory when the Bolivian government - which had always denied their existence - formally acknowledged them.
   
An Afro-Bolivian woman, Irma Medina, 45, pauses while walking up a hill to her home.