A Blow to Anti-Racist Movements in Mexico
Poder Prieto, a prominent Mexican anti-racist organization, recently announced its disbandment after a year of inactivity. The organization, known for its strong stance against racism and colorism, was a beacon of hope for many people of color (POC) in Mexico.
Statement from Poder Prieto Founder Maya Zapata
Poder Prieto was founded on March 26, 2021, by José Aguilar from racismoMX, along with actors Maya Zapata, Horacio García Rojas, and Vania Sisaí Rodsan. While Tenoch Huerta, Yalitza Aparicio, and Mabel Cadena all posted with the hashtag during the initial campaign, many media outlets have falsely reported that Huerta founded Poder Prieto.
On May 14, Maya Zapata released a statement acknowledging the challenges the group faced and expressing gratitude for the support received. Despite their efforts, the organization decided to cease operations, leaving a significant void in the fight for racial equality in Mexico.
“Poder Prieto stopped its functions this year. And although we know that the mission is not complete and that there is still much to do, we also recognize that as a collective we can no longer continue, our struggle and our voices must join, from the individual trenches to the rest of the struggles. We must reintegrate ourselves into a larger collective: that of all Mexicans.”
Since the announcement, online racists have celebrated Poder Prieto’s disbandment with vicious memes attacking the founder and its members. Tenoch Huerta, who left the organization by the end of May 2023, has also faced a barrage of racist tweets. This online harassment underscores the pervasive racism that still persists in Mexico, highlighting the critical need for anti-racist movements like Poder Prieto.
GIF of a monkey with the text “AY NO” overlaid, responding to Poder Prieto’s disbandment. 
GIF of an orangutan with a human and the caption “Chingaron a su prieta madre” with laughing emojis, responding to Poder Prieto’s announcement. 
An edited image of Pikachu with dark skin, labeled “NIGACHU” and “NIGA NIGA,” using a racial slur. The tweet references the announcement from Poder Prieto. 
A cartoon image depicting a dark-skinned boy with exaggerated features sitting at a table with a sad expression. The text reads “Memín Despreciado,” which translates to “Memín Despised.” Richard comments, “Qué triste.” 
Video screenshot of three gorillas running, captioned “Terrible ¡Bailemos!” in response to Poder Prieto’s announcement 
Tweet showing Poder Prieto’s announcement with the user commenting “apes.”
Mexico’s History with Race and Colorism
Mexico’s struggle with racism and colorism has deep historical roots. The concept of “Mestizaje,” or racial mixing, often glosses over the persistent inequalities faced by darker-skinned Mexicans. Colorism in Mexico perpetuates a preference for Eurocentric features and lighter skin, leading to significant psychological and social impacts on those with darker skin tones.
Research shows that colorism is a pervasive global issue with severe mental health implications. Children exposed to colorism from an early age often suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. These biases, ingrained through family and societal interactions, follow individuals into adulthood, affecting their mental health and overall well-being. Studies conducted in countries like the United States highlight similar trends.
Key Findings on Discrimination and Mental Health:
Early Exposure: Color biases internalized during childhood can lead to long-lasting psychological effects.
Depression and Anxiety: Individuals with darker skin tones are more prone to depression and anxiety disorders due to chronic discrimination and social stress.
Beauty Standards: Eurocentric beauty standards exacerbate feelings of inferiority among those with darker skin, contributing to lower self-esteem and higher rates of mental health issues, including the harmful practice of skin bleaching.
Discrimination Statistics: According to the ENCUESTA NACIONAL SOBRE DISCRIMINACIÓN (ENADIS) 2022, Afro-descendants, 35.6% reported being victims of discrimination.
The findings align with global research, highlighting the need for comprehensive anti-colorism initiatives to combat these pervasive biases and support the mental well-being of affected individuals.
The Orchestrated Smear Campaign Against Poder Prieto
Poder Prieto’s vocal stance against racism and colorism posed a threat to the status quo, leading to a series of orchestrated smear campaigns. The organization faced false accusations, including claims of misrepresenting the creation process of cultural garments and improper crediting of artisans. These baseless allegations aimed to discredit the organization’s efforts and destabilize its influence.
One such incident involved the creation of a feathered cape worn by Tenoch Huerta at Milan Fashion Week 2022. A TikTok made by Feliciana Hernández Bautista’s cousin, Julia Bautista, showed excitement about Tenoch mentioning Feliciana’s work on social media. This was a significant acknowledgment, highlighting the pride in their heritage and craft.
However, during a conference with the Michoacán Government, Mrs. Feliciana expressed her disappointment when Hijos de Maíz failed to acknowledge her contributions, claiming the designer took full credit for the cape. This misrepresentation led to further misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
Feliciana’s Support for Tenoch Huerta Amidst Controversy
Despite these issues, Mrs. Feliciana spoke positively about Tenoch Huerta, stating that he welcomed her warmly and was not a bad person. She expressed that involving her in the controversy only created more problems, negatively affecting both Tenoch and Luz Valdez.
The fact that Feliciana responded through her Facebook story, accepting Tenoch’s apology and thanking him, highlights the genuine relationship and mutual respect between the artisan and the actor. This stands in stark contrast to the false narratives pushed by those seeking to undermine Poder Prieto.
Statement from Tenoch Huerta:
In September 2022 I wore a cape at Milan FW, that was designed for me, which filled me with pride. You will understand that for many years some brands did not want to dress me, and to think that a group of people, including Mexican Artists, came together to make such a significant garment made my heart happy…Unfortunately, the brand that approached us made mistakes in the process and traceability; there were intermediaries, and much of the information provided was not verified first-hand. That led to errors on their social networks, errors that they have corrected and publicly accepted.”
Clarification from El Feisbuk de la Malinche
Another notable incident involved allegations from Elena Rios, who accused Poder Prieto of exploiting her contributions to a podcast. Her claims, however, misdirected the blame and sparked unwarranted controversy. In reality, Poder Prieto had no involvement in the production or monetization of the podcast. They had merely recommended it, as they did with other content that aligned with their mission. Upon receiving a request to remove the recommendation, Poder Prieto complied promptly.
The podcast producers, El Feisbuk de la Malinche, issued a statement detailing their attempts to contact Elena Rios for her payment, to which she never responded. This highlights the misplaced nature of her accusations against Poder Prieto.
The Impact of Whitexicans on Anti-Racist Movements in Mexico
The disbandment of Poder Prieto marks a significant loss for the anti-racist movement in Mexico. As racists celebrate online, the need for organizations that fight against racism and colorism becomes even more evident. Mexico’s deep-rooted issues with race and colorism continue to affect the mental health and well-being of its darker-skinned population. The smear campaigns against Poder Prieto highlight the lengths to which some will go to maintain the status quo.
However, the fight is far from over. The efforts of organizations like Poder Prieto have laid a foundation for future activism. The stories they have shared and the awareness they have raised will continue to inspire and mobilize others in the pursuit of racial equality and justice.
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