They glide through the streets in bright, flowy dresses, stunning patterned headwraps, and baskets of sweet treats atop their heads. Passerbys stop in their tracks to witness their beauty. Palenqueras are entrepreneurs who sell goods in Cartagena, Colombia’s city center. But they’re from a place that is deeply important to our people.
San Basilio de Palenque is the first free Black town in the Americas. It’s tucked away in the mountains of Colombia, founded by Benkos Biohó, a fierce abolitionist who escaped enslavement and formed the village with ten others during the 16th century.
To them liberation was sweet, in more ways than one.
Palenqueras created Alegría, one of Palenque’s most beloved coconut-laden desserts. They still sell the sweet treat, which helps the town financially.
Palenque is a beautiful place of Black resilience and community that has existed for centuries. We all must remember that we can resist these anti-Black systems and thrive on our own.