1st Bogota visit, pt 1.........not good!!!

[Hoda]

Fellas & Fellettes,

ADVISORY!!!
My post on me & Stivalis's first trip to Bogota, are solely our own. Unfortunately, our experiences were not surprising to many of our friends & family who have also visited Bogota. Out of all the cities, that I have visited in Colombia. Bogota, was the only city, where we experienced  people, who had problems with our color. I'm well aware of those of you, who'll deny that such attitudes exist. But they do exist in Bogota.

We take morning Republic-Air flight out of Cali to Bogota. The flight lasted about 50 minutes. The Colombian countryside has to be some of the most stunning, I've ever seen in my travels. It really, really pains me that such a beautiful country, is being torn apart by the DRUG, NOT CIVIL WAR! Anyway, during the landing & taxi-ing (sp) in Bogota, you'll notice the number of Colombian & US state/military aircraft parked along the side hangers(with armed guards of course). We catch a cab to the hotel Tequedama, which is located in central Bogota. The cab ride was only about 20k & 20 minutes. Taxi drivers in Bogota are no different than anywhere else in Colombia. Bogota, from what I saw, is a cleaner city than the others I have visited. The so-called cold temps, didn't bother me at all. Stivalis on the other hand....lol! Took it better than I anticipated.

We arrive at the hotel, get out the cab & head to the door. The doorman gives us the up & down, and turns away. As we get closer, I'm wondering if this guy is gonna open the door for us, like he did for the others? I grab the door & this clown finally turns around to hold the door. I hope he didn't expect a tip? Hang on, it get's better..... Once we enter the main lobby, I see 23 Colombian Military officers sitting & standing around. THEY ALL STOPPED THEIR CONVO'S & JUST STARED AT ME & STIVALIS!!!! No smiles, no buenas dias, nothing but those, "Who are you & what are you doing here looks"! Stivalis grabbed me by the arm & asked, "Why are they staring at us, love?". You would have thought, we had FARC STAMPED ON OUR FOREHEADS or BOMB on the lone little suitcase we had, judging by their stares. The silence was deafening and I had enough, & got ethnic on their azzes & threw it right back at them....

YES GENTLEMEN, MAY I HELP YOU?!!!! This may not been the smartest thing to do at the moment, but I wasn't just gonna stand there & let those fools diss us!!! Most of them started to laugh and return to their convo's. We're standing at the check-in desk, when two (plain-clothes) security men try to ease up on us. As the attendant was describing the room & services, these guys keep eye-balling me & Stivalis. I tell Stivalis, that I'm gonna have fun with these guys. No Howard, please don't make them mad...lol! The lady asked us, how do we intended to pay. Security guys breaking their dayyum necks to listen in. My reply...DO YOU WANT REGULAR OR GOLD PLASIC, DOLLARS OR PESO'S? I can pay by whatever way works for you lady! Security men start to slither away after I open my mouth..... The check-in attendant & busboy apologized for what just transpired. I said thanks, but it wasn't their responsibility to apologise. During our first 2 hours in central Bogota, me & Stivalis didn't see ANY BLACKS. Not ONE!!! Oh yeah, there were a few tan folks, but no BLACKS!!! Not a single cleaning person, cook in the restaurant or security person! I didn't know, they practiced a form of apartheid in Central Bogota.  We were warned by friends & family in Cali of what to expect in Bogota. I didn't want to believe it, but I expected it...if you know what I mean! Believe it not, there's more.....

Peace....Hoda

[FredFresno]

... in response to 1st Bogota visit, pt 1.........not good!..., posted by Hoda on Jul 19, 2002

Some will remember that some of the old Warner Brothers cartoons (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc.; produced between the 1930s and the 1950s) had some episodes where one of the characters would catch a blast from a shotgun muzzle or several sticks of dynamite full in the face, and come away looking like a very stereotypical caricature of an African American.  I no longer saw those particular episodes after around 1980.  I have always supposed that the people who first produced and distributed those cartoons were clueless as to why someone might be hurt or offended by them.  When I was growing up, some of my relatives in the rural Midwest of the same generation as those who produced those cartoons had the same mindset.  They were my family and I held them dearly, but on that particular subject they could be an embarrassment to me.  It may be unfair--I have only visited Bogota and never lived there--but as a “blanco” my impression was that things might be that way in Bogota at the turn of the 21st century.  From Howard’s description, I gather that impression was correct.

[Nathan]

... in response to 1st Bogota visit, pt 1.........not good!..., posted by Hoda on Jul 19, 2002

I have traveled over much of Latin America, though not to Columbia, and to pass off racial attitudes as somehow harmless quirks is silly. It is far more than a simply noticing class differences...they are class differences largely enforced and based on race. Sure there are exceptions, but throughout Latin America, the model has been fuedal- Europeans own the plantation and blacks or Indians are to work on it. Now that is beginning to Change-
Peru has its first Indian blooded president for example.
That is not to say that relations between races are always bad- so long as everyone "knows their place".
 If one was not protected by holding an American passport...well, the hotel incident may have turned out quite differently. It is easy for whites to deny that it exists, but I have observed incidents like yours in numerous places in Latin America.

Nathan

[bogota vet]

... in response to 1st Bogota visit, pt 1.........not good!..., posted by Hoda on Jul 19, 2002

Hoda is right , Bogota is as white as it gets.

I don't think they are predjudice, a lot of time they think a black guy is a sports hero or something.

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: 1st Bogota visit, pt 1.........not g..., posted by bogota vet on Jul 19, 2002


it's soooooo funny, you should mention that sports hero thing. I actually heard a few people in Bogota say, that Stivalis looks like a relative of the current Ms.Colombia & that I was Mike Tyson....ROTFLMAO!!!! Then I felt insulted. The only thing me & Mike Tyson share, is complexion & haircuts. Plus, Mike Tyson has a helluva lot more money than me. But, I look a helluva lot better than him...lol! I'm sorry B-Vet, I can't accept or believe that they aren't somewhat predjudiced. If I was a "sports hero" or "something". We still should have been treated with much more respect...

[robbysanjuan]

... in response to Oh man B-Vet......, posted by Hoda on Jul 19, 2002

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A. I've been around the Caribean, Mexico and Spain. It is the same there. When you think it sucks here try the other countries. Sorry Hoda, it is digusting what you faced, but that is 500 years of Spainish attitude for you.

[colman]

... in response to Re: Oh man B-Vet......, posted by robbysanjuan on Jul 21, 2002

ditto on the GOD BLESS THE U.S.A-I totally agree, but that old saying "if you don't like it go somewhere else" cr@p is old and stupid. That is why this country is so great you can say what you like and criticize it. It takes a real american to opinionate his/her opinion about the negative aspects of this country and initiate "awareness" so hopefully some of these people can change their attitudes. Yes, I know you can't change everybody into an open-minded, loving human being but you can CHANGE some attitudes.---Colman

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Oh man B-Vet......, posted by robbysanjuan on Jul 21, 2002

I agree!!!  What happened to Hoda not only can but will happen to him and his bride no matter where they go!!!!

Hoda,
While we all appreciate your knowledge and expertise!!! Can or will you be able to see past the treatment you recieved while in the nations capitol of Bogota!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Re: Oh man B-Vet......, posted by AlexG32 on Jul 21, 2002

Alex...

One of the things that gets under my skin, is the "Cosmo" image that Bogota tries to portray. When Colombia crowned it's first black Ms.Colombia (Dayyum she's fine...lol), I said "whoa...welcome to the 21st century". No doubt about the international flavor that Bogota is trying to out for the world to see. But after visiting Bogota for the first time & experiencing what Stivalis & I went through. I just feel that the powers that be in Bogota are putting on a "See how LIBERAL WE ARE!!!" face to try and convince the rest of the world, how far they've come.

Another thing...

After visiting a number of towns where the population is mostly black & tan. It is so obvious that the money stays in Bogota & Medellin! Most of the family & friends that I have in these cities don't complain too much about their lifestyle, they complain about the promises that repeatedly go unfulfilled & about being forgotton by Bogota. Infrastructure (indoor plumbing, roads, etc) sucks in many places. I only want to visit Bogota once. Stivalis has to go back for the 2nd interview. I'll never go back to Bogota. I'm sorry if this pains you, but you have to understand what we went through....

[bogota vet]

... in response to Oh man B-Vet......, posted by Hoda on Jul 19, 2002

A lot of soccer stars are black also.

In all the trips I have been to Bogota, I never see any blacks, same in Medellin.

Cali is like the US.

Cartagena and Barranquilla is more ethnic thne the US.

[Pete E]

... in response to 1st Bogota visit, pt 1.........not good!..., posted by Hoda on Jul 19, 2002

Howard,
Waiting for the rest of your story.The US is not perfect but some other places are light years behind.I have heard some of the Bogota ladies can have a snobby attitude also.

Pete