US embassy cable - 05LIMA1322

UNCLAS LIMA 001322 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA (CBARONE), INFO IIP/T/SV (CAPONTE), INFO 
WHA/PDA (SLEBENS/MDCONNERS/GADAMS), WHA/PD (GGALLEGOS), 
WHA/AND (JMONSERRAT) 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PE 
SUBJECT: Results Report: Target of opportunity speaker on 
"African American Cultural Identity and Civil Rights" -- 
Tracker 23339 
 
REF: LIMA 000024 
 
1. On February 9-16, Dr. Sheila Walker, Director of the 
African Diaspora and the World Program and Professor of 
Anthropology at Spelman College, visited Peru as part of 
PAS's activities to commemorate Black History month.  Dr. 
Walker gave two lectures in Lima, the first organized by the 
Congressional Committee of African Peruvian and Indigenous 
Affairs and the other by the University of Lima.  She also 
addressed audiences in two northern provincial cities and 
had the opportunity to meet with representatives from two 
traditionally African Peruvian towns.  These events were 
sponsored by the Binational Centers in Chiclayo and Piura. 
Additionally, the CAO hosted a lunch in honor of Dr. Walker 
which renowned African Peruvian, Grammy-nominated singer, 
Susana Baca, attended. 
 
2.   Dr. Walker discussed the achievements of the civil 
rights movement in the United States and gave an overview of 
the African diaspora in Latin America.  She stressed the 
importance of respect for human rights and development of 
cultural identity. 
 
3. Audience: Over 300 participants attended the four 
different events, they included members of the African 
Peruvian community, members of Congress and other government 
officials, NGOs representing African Peruvian, indigenous 
and women's groups, members of the diplomatic community, key 
African Peruvian cultural, political and educational 
leaders, and journalists. 
 
4. Press coverage: 
-- Center-right influential leading daily "El Comercio" 
(circulation 59,600) published extensive, exclusive 
interviews with photos, headlined "The lady and history" and 
"My Africa" on February 16 and 20. 
-- Center-left daily "La Republica"(circulation 24,000) ran 
an interview with photo titled "Africans not only brought 
music and dance." 
-- On February 11 and 12, Northern Regional daily La 
Industria ran articles with photos headlined "Conference on 
African American reality" and "Zaa and Capote in African 
American History - World Scholar visited towns" 
 
5. Quality of U.S. support and IIP offices involved: 
Post thanks Carmen Aponte for helping us arrange this great 
target of opportunity speaker program. 
 
STRUBLE