Colombia’s history-making VP blames racism for four years of frustration

Francia Márquez, Colombia’s first Black vice-president, has publicly attributed her four years in office to systemic racism, highlighting the challenges she faced within the government and her strained relationship with President Gustavo Petro. Elected in 2022 alongside Petro, Márquez is the first Afro-Colombian to hold the vice-presidency in a country where at least 10% of the population is Afro-descendant. She also joins a small group of Black women who have served as vice-presidents in the Americas, including Kamala Harris in the United States and Epsy Campbell Barr in Costa Rica, all of whom she says were blocked from leading roles by racial discrimination. Márquez described the Colombian state as inherently racist, a barrier she said has persisted regardless of the political orientation of the government. She drew parallels with Kamala Harris, suggesting that Harris’s limited influence within the Biden administration contributed to her failure to secure the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Márquez revealed that she and Petro have had minimal communication for over a year, underscoring the political and personal difficulties she has endured. Her candid remarks shed light on the broader struggles faced by Afro-descendant leaders in predominantly white political systems. Born in Yolombó, Cauca, a region deeply affected by Colombia’s long-standing armed conflict, Márquez’s activism began early. At 13, she opposed a dam project threatening her community. She gained national prominence in 2014 when she led the March of the Turbans, a 350-mile protest by Black women against illegal mining that polluted rivers and displaced communities. Her environmental advocacy earned her the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018, marking her as a significant figure in Colombia’s social and political landscape. Márquez’s tenure highlights ongoing issues of racial inequality and exclusion in Colombian politics, raising questions about the inclusivity of the country’s democratic institutions. Her experience reflects the broader challenges Afro-descendant politicians face in Latin America, where systemic racism often limits their political influence despite growing representation.