"The persistence of racism in Cuba is disturbing to some of the island's thinkers, who are calling for a debate on the problem in this country, where equal rights have not guaranteed equal opportunities for all social groups," Patricia Grogg writes in an article for IPS.

"The first documentary on racial discrimination in this Caribbean island nation was filmed here in 2008, incorporating opinions from well-known artists and intellectuals that go to the heart of the controversy. 'Raza' (Race), by young filmmaker Eric Corvalán, could serve as a starting-point to launch the long-delayed debate.

" 'So far, racism has only been talked about in academia, among intellectuals. I think there should be an open, public discussion, even in parliament,' the 36-year-old Corvalán told IPS.

" 'In 50 years (since the revolution), women's issues and homosexuality have been debated: why hasn't racism?' asked the filmmaker. 'It's a revolutionary topic that concerns everyone, because there are black women, black homosexuals and black men.' "

Mario Osava of IPS writes about the continuing persecutions of Afro Brazilians who try to practice their traditional Candomblé: "Millions of Brazilians usher in the new year by wading into the sea, dressed in white, scattering flowers on the water as an offering to the Afro-Brazilian deity Iemanjá, in return for her blessings for the year to come. But few of them realize that this tradition is rooted in a religion fighting for survival in the face of prejudice, racism and intolerance.

"Jaciara Ribeiro dos Santos symbolizes the counterattack launched by practitioners of Candomblé and other African-based religions, which have survived centuries of repression only to confront a new wave of attacks by fundamentalist Protestant churches.

"Jaciara's mother, Gildasia dos Santos, was better known as Mae Gilda (Mother Gilda) in her role as a 'ialorixá' or Candomblé priestess. She lived in Salvador, capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, home to the country's largest population of African descendants.

"In September 1999, Mae Gilda saw her photograph printed in the Folha Universal, a daily newspaper published by the 'neo-Pentecostal' Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, under a headline accusing her of being a 'charlatan' and of endangering the "lives and wallets" of her followers.

"Jaciara is convinced that her mother's death by a heart attack several months later, at the age of 65, was a direct result of the psychological trauma caused by the slanderous attack.

"The case drew widespread publicity, and January 21, the date of Mae Gilda's death, was designated as the National Day Against Religious Intolerance, through a presidential decree adopted two years ago."