Lack of Diversity on the Camino

[Bob Spenger]

Douglass,

I can remember only one or two pilgrims who appeared to be of African descent.
One that I met on the road was from France and she spoke only French. The other
was in Santiago and may have been a tourist. In Bilbao, which seems to be a
predominantly Basque city, there is sizable population of Spanish speaking
people of African descent. Both France and Portugal have a large number of
African emigrants and their descendants, but I saw them only in the larger
cities, i.e. Paris, Toulouse, Lisbon, and Porto.

BTW it is a wine fountain, not water, and it is my impression that Europe was
well ahead of the U.S. in terms of official tolerance. I have no way of judging
what it is like on a personal level.

regards,

Bob Spenger

Douglass Norvell wrote:

> Are Negroes allowed on the camino?
>
> I have been watching the webcam at Irache for about two weeks and am deeply
> troubled by the lack of black faces beaming up at me from the drinking
> place.
>
> Is it a "Whites Only" water fountain?
>
> Do the Spanish, particulary the Basques, discourage brothers from the trail?
>
> Now I know that these Basques are a mean lot, given to blowing up whatever
> annoys them, and I want to steer clear of any problems when I make my own
> pilgrimage.
>
> Douglass G. Norvell, Ph.D.