Cablegate: Results Report: Target of Opportunity Speaker On

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

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

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