Questionnaire Text

Questionnaire form view entire document:  text  image
7. Afro-descendants
According to your culture, history and traditions, does [the respondent] consider himself/herself black, in other words, Afro-Mexican, or of African descent?
[Circle one code]

[] 1 Yes
[] 2 Yes, partially
[] 3 No
[] 8 Does not know
Questionnaire instructions view entire document:  text  image
Afro-descendants
This question applies to everyone in the dwelling. Its objective is to identify whether any occupant, according to their culture, history, and tradition, it is considered Afro-Mexican or Afro-descendant.

[Figures are omitted]

The Afro-Mexican or Afro-descendants descent from those people from Africa who came forcibly to Mexico centuries ago during the colonial period to work on farms, mills, mines, manufacturing, or as cookers, traders and nurses, among other activities. There were people who stood out as leaders in the independence movement and other times of the history of Mexico. Such Afro-Mexican or Afro-descendent populations in Mexico have been rendered invisible for centuries. Therefore, some people or communities that descend from diverse African cultures hardly know the history of their ancestors; however, many of them know they have particular traditions and particular customs different from those of the indigenous or mestizo populations.
In question the term "black" is used, since Afro-descendent or Afro-Mexican people are recognized with this word in many regions of the country. In some places, they are identified as "black mascogos", "black jarochos", or "black costeƱos". However, being Afro-descendent does not imply certain skin color or hair texture. For that reason, this question refers to the history, culture, and traditions as elements of identification and not the skin color. It is important to respect the self-description of people, i.e., as they recognize themselves.

Read the question slowly and without omitting words, listen the answer and circle the corresponding option. Always ask this question even if you consider that there are not Afro-Mexicans or Afro-descents in your work area.

Pay special attention to the response of the informant, as sometimes they understand "Mexican" instead of "Afro-Mexican". Therefore, if he/she answers as "we are Mexicans", "we were born here", or something else similar, comment that you refer to the term "Afro-Mexican" and explain it. If the answer is "yes", circle the code 1, but he/she says "maybe my father, but not my mother", "I would say a little" or something similar, circle the option 2 "yes, in part". When the informant does not know the answer of other people in the dwelling, circle option 4 "does not know".