Legacies of slavery, reparations, and algorithmic justice

Slavery, as a historical phenomenon, not only represents a period of profound injustice and human suffering, but has also left a lasting legacy that continues to affect contemporary societies. Of the 10,7 million Africans who arrived in the New World on slave ships between 1500 and 1870, nearly two-thirds arrived in colonies dominated by Spain or Portugal, which became the epicenters of slavery in the Western Hemisphere for more than 350 years. African people were brought to the Caribbean islands from the early 16th century. It wasn't until 1886, with the emancipation of the last slaves in Cuba, and in 1888 in Brazil, that slavery was finally abolished, marking the end of this period in the Americas. Brazil is known for having the largest population of Afro-descendants outside the African continent, highlighting the profound influence of African cultural practices on the formation of national culture in both Brazil and Cuba, and by extension, in territories of Latin America and the Caribbean that exploited enslaved labor.
This historical legacy is crucial to understanding the complexities of racial inequalities and social stratification in Latin America, an open field of debate, with numerous problems, since the end of the 19th century and which has had relevant advances in recent decades.
The virtual seminar also focuses on addressing the multiple forms of resistance employed by Afro-descendant people, ranging from open rebellions to everyday strategies of resistance, sabotage, and survival. These diverse forms of resistance have been fundamental not only to the abolition of slavery but also to the ongoing struggles for civil and social rights for Afro-descendants.
Among these, the virtual seminar studies revolutions, such as the Haitian Revolution, and rebellions (such as that of José Antonio Aponte in Cuba in 1812), emblematic examples of resistance and insurrection, but also everyday forms of subversion, such as marronage, cultural and religious practices, and negotiations for freedom, which played a crucial role in undermining the slave system. These practices not only challenged the legitimacy of enslavement but also affirmed the humanity and dignity of Africans and their descendants.
The virtual seminar also examines how the participation of Afro-descendants in 19th-century independence movements and labor struggles transformed opposition to slavery into a broader fight for civil and labor rights. It also studies the transnational networks that connected Afro-descendants in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa, facilitating the exchange of ideas and strategies, and demonstrating Afro-descendant resistance as a global phenomenon that influenced abolitionist and human rights movements in different parts of the world.
In the context of the legacies of enslavement and historical injustices against people of African descent, restorative justice stands as a fundamental element for addressing both the outstanding moral and material debts, making it a central pillar of this virtual seminar. Its approach draws on the contributions of Black thinkers and activists throughout history, from David Walker's appeal in 1829, through the preaching of Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist pamphlets of José do Patrocínio in Brazil, and the Declaration of the Rights of the Black People of the World, promulgated by Marcus Garvey in Harlem in August 1920. Reparative justice goes beyond seeking redress for past grievances: it aims at a transformation of the social structures that continue to perpetuate racial inequality. This process involves not only economic compensation, but also educational, cultural, and political initiatives designed to restore the dignity of affected communities and correct distorted historical narratives. These distortions include ignoring and forgetting black women, who are absent, resulting in a historical emptying of that memory.
Thus, the right to reparations for people of African descent, recognized in international instruments such as the Durban Declaration against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, is based not only on restitution and economic compensation, but also on a holistic approach that encompasses the recognition of injustices and the guarantee of non-repetition. This approach is reinforced by the 10-point agenda of the CARICOM Reparations Commission in 2013, which has been advocated in various UN forums, proposing concrete measures such as formal apologies, repatriation, development of programs for Afro-Caribbean populations, establishment of cultural institutions, addressing the public health crisis, eradicating illiteracy, promoting African awareness and knowledge, psychological rehabilitation, technology transfer, and debt cancellation.
This expanded framework underscores the need to address both the material and moral and cultural dimensions of reparation, presenting a challenge for States and societies to commit to reparation processes that are genuinely transformative and fully recognize the extent of historical injustices, promoting effective affirmative action and ensuring the non-repetition of such crimes against humanity.
In this context, the role of Afro-descendant women during enslavement, as well as their current impact, constitutes another crucial dimension of the seminar. It is estimated that one-third of the more than 15 million Africans sold in the transatlantic slave trade were women, who faced not only harsh conditions of forced labor similar to those of men, but also sexual exploitation and gender-based violence. These women played a crucial role in preserving the dignity and culture of their communities, resisting in diverse ways that included family, cultural, and spiritual roles, as well as participation in revolts and rebellions.
The stories of these women, many of whom have yet to receive full recognition, offer powerful testimonies of resilience and strength. Facing discrimination and extreme brutality, some emerged as spiritual leaders or key figures in liberation movements. This focus on their resilience is vital to our virtual seminar, as it highlights the capacity of human agency to generate significant change under extremely adverse circumstances.
This online seminar will explore how, through their struggles, Afro-descendant women have influenced subsequent civil rights and women's rights movements, establishing a legacy that transcends generations and geographical boundaries. Through the analysis of historical cases and the discussion of contemporary forms of recognition and redress, students will gain a deeper understanding of how the past informs our present and how we can work toward a more just and inclusive future.
Another commitment of the seminar, this time in the digital sphere, underscores the critical need to ensure access to information and the protection of human rights, with an explicit focus on combating racism. It assumes that the global implementation of independent and public regulators is essential to coordinate efforts to prevent the exploitation of regulatory disparities by digital companies, always keeping in mind the goal of eradicating racial inequality. It advocates for effective content moderation on digital platforms that respects diversity and promotes anti-racism, ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of algorithms. This framework seeks not only to protect freedom of expression and human rights but also to address the digital channeling of racial inequality. It proposes that digital platforms be active agents in building an anti-racist, just, and equitable society, where differences are valued and racism and discrimination are emphatically combated. By highlighting the interconnection between restorative justice and digital ethics, this approach underscores the importance of anti-racism as a central goal, driving collective action to correct both historical injustices and contemporary racial inequalities.
The socioeconomic context of Afro-descendant communities and individuals in the Americas is alarming. According to reports from ECLAC and the United Nations, there are more than 180 million Afro-descendants in the Americas, of whom more than 92% live below the poverty line and more than 26% are illiterate. Low levels of education, high infant mortality rates, specific morbidities, low socioeconomic status, high unemployment rates, and increasing racial prejudice are indicative of a population living in conditions of vulnerability, inequality, and exclusion, according to Jhon Antón Sánchez.
Therefore, a virtual seminar that delves into the study of the legacies of slavery, Afro-descendant resistance, and restorative justice is not only relevant but necessary to understand and address the historical roots of current inequalities, promote the recognition and appreciation of Afro-descendant cultural contributions, and work toward overcoming the conditions of vulnerability and exclusion that affect these communities. This interdisciplinary approach will allow participants to acquire a critical and holistic understanding that is fundamental to contributing to the construction of more just and inclusive societies.

The virtual seminar is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the legacies of enslavement, Afro-descendant resistance, and restorative justice, focusing on the historical, social, economic, and cultural implications of these phenomena for Latin America and the Caribbean. This academic approach seeks not only to illuminate the main characteristics of these legacies but also to examine their contemporary presence and mechanisms of reproduction, especially regarding the generation of new forms of dependency and political subordination in the global context.
Through a detailed analysis of the history of slavery and its late abolition in countries such as Cuba and Brazil, the course will delve into the lasting impact of these practices on the formation of contemporary societies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Special emphasis will be placed on the influence of African cultural practices in shaping regional and national identity.
The virtual seminar will also address the socioeconomic conditions of Afro-descendant people in America, highlighting the urgency of implementing public policies that promote equality and inclusion.
The history of Afro-descendant resistance will be studied as a continuous struggle for dignity, freedom, and equality. Understanding this resistance in its diverse forms is essential to comprehending not only the history of slavery but also the contemporary struggles of Afro-descendants for rights and recognition. This historical approach enriches the sociological perspective of the virtual seminar, underscoring the importance of resistance in shaping contemporary societies and in the ongoing fight for social justice and equality.
Incorporating discussions on the right to reparations for Afro-descendant communities and individuals, along with their contributions, will enrich participants' understanding of the ethical, historical, and legal foundations of restorative justice. This multidimensional approach prepares future activists, policymakers, practitioners, and engaged communities to advocate for and contribute to the implementation of just, effective, and sustainable reparations policies, thereby promoting a more equitable and inclusive society.
This academic program is designed as a space for critical analysis and reflection on slavery, its legacies, and forms of resistance and restorative justice, with the aim of contributing to the construction of more just and inclusive societies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Furthermore, this course enriches its content by drawing on the experience and publications of CLACSO's working groups on Afro-descendants and features the participation of professors who are active members of these groups. This integration of knowledge and experience seeks to foster a deep and applied understanding of the topics covered.

General objectives

• Understanding the legacies of slavery with a gender perspective: To critically analyze the history and impact of slavery on contemporary Latin American and Caribbean societies, with a special emphasis on how this historical legacy has shaped the region's social, economic, and political structures from a gender perspective. To specifically explore the role and influence of Afro-descendant women in shaping these structures.
• Examining Afro-descendant resistance: To study the diverse forms of struggle employed by Afro-descendant communities throughout history, including the specific contributions of women in rebellions, revolutions, and everyday cultural resistance. To evaluate the impact of these actions on the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the achievement of civil and social rights.
• Analyzing restorative justice: Reflect on the concept of restorative justice in the context of the legacies of enslavement, considering how historical injustices have disproportionately affected Afro-descendant men and women. Explore theories, international legal frameworks, and practical strategies for addressing these injustices, incorporating a gender perspective that recognizes and values ​​the specific experiences of women.
• Linking digital ethics with anti-racismTo study the importance of regulating digital platforms to promote equitable access to information and protect human rights, with a specific focus on combating racism and fostering racial and gender equity. To analyze how responsible content moderation and transparency in the use of algorithms can help address both racial and gender discrimination in the digital environment.

Specific objectives

• Promote interdisciplinary knowledge with a gender focus: To promote an interdisciplinary understanding of the topics covered, integrating perspectives from history, sociology, law, anthropology, communication, and economics, with a special emphasis on the experiences and contributions of Afro-descendant women. This will provide students with a holistic understanding of the complexities of enslavement, Afro-descendant resistance, and restorative justice from a gender perspective.
• Develop critical and analytical skills: To empower participants to develop critical thinking and in-depth analysis skills on issues of “race”, inequality, and human rights, with a particular focus on how these intersections affect Afro-descendant men and women differently, enabling them to critically evaluate public policies and social initiatives from a social justice and gender perspective.
• Promote the practical application of knowledge: To encourage participants to apply the knowledge acquired in the development of projects, policies or initiatives that contribute to the reparation, inclusion and improvement of the living conditions of Afro-descendant communities, especially considering the specific needs and experiences of women within these communities.
• Promote dialogue and ethical reflection: To stimulate a space for dialogue and ethical reflection on individual and collective responsibilities in repairing historical injustices, as well as in building more inclusive societies that respect gender and “race” diversity.
• Promote the recognition of cultural contributions: To value and disseminate knowledge about the rich cultural, historical and social contributions of Afro-descendant communities to Latin American and Caribbean societies, countering narratives of invisibility and stigmatization, and highlighting the specific role of women in these contributions.

• Historical foundations of slavery in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Afro-descendant resistance and liberation movements
• Legacies of slavery, contemporary structures of inequality, and the prevention of hate speech.
• Reparative Justice and Human Rights
• The field of discussion of Afrofeminisms: thought, practices, movements, culture. The case of the specific gender dimension in the analysis of racism.
• Algorithmic justice and the fight against racism in the digital sphere
• Afro-descendant contributions to culture and society
• Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin American thought, for a culture of liberation
• Strategies for inclusion and racial equity as key to confronting systemic violence and preventing insertion into illegal economic networks

The virtual seminar on the legacies of slavery, Afro-descendant resistance, and restorative justice is aimed at a broad spectrum of recipients, including academics, researchers, educators, legal professionals, social workers, activists, community and political leaders, as well as all those interested in deepening their understanding of the historical and contemporary dynamics of “race,” inequality, and social justice in Latin America and the Caribbean.
It is particularly relevant for those seeking not only a rigorous academic understanding of these issues, but also practical and theoretical tools to advocate for, design, and implement policies and programs that promote racial equity, social inclusion, and the redress of historical injustices.
This program is ideal for professionals in the social sciences and humanities, as well as those in the public and private sectors committed to the formulation and implementation of affirmative action policies, human rights, and community development.
Furthermore, it offers a valuable opportunity for members of non-governmental organizations, social movements, and Afro-descendant groups seeking to strengthen their capacities in the fight against racial discrimination and in the promotion of restorative justice.
Finally, it is of great interest to educators who wish to incorporate these critical perspectives into their pedagogical practices, contributing to the education of future generations on the importance of recognizing and valuing diversity and Afro-descendant history.

Will be awarded 50 full scholarships aimed at activists in social movements, members of community organizations, students, researchers, public officials and the general public who carry out activities related to the topic in question.

Requirements for the application:

• Applications will be submitted through the CLACSO website.
• The candidates must:
  
  1. Complete your details
  2. Briefly describe your interest in participating (and the relevance of the issue to your organization, territories, and areas of operation)

• The available scholarships will be allocated respecting regional diversity and gender equity.
• This call for applications will remain open. up to the 17 / 09 / 2024