In 1861, Juan Jose Nieto Gil was appointed President of Colombia, known at the time as the United States of Colombia. An accomplished liberal politician, Nieto Gil had been elected twice to the provincial chamber of Cartagena and was also Governor of the State of Bolivar. In the course of his career he actively advocated for the abolishment of slavery and supported Indigenous people in their effort to maintain their Indigenous reserves. He was the very first Colombian novelist and a founder of a newspaper called "Democracy". He was also an army general who fought in the so-called War of the Supremes.
Unlike other Presidents whose portraits are honourably displayed on a Presidential wall in the Nariño Palace, Juan Jose Nieto Gil did not receive his place on the wall until 2018. Until then, he was not even recognized as a former President of Colombia and his name and accomplishments never made part of Colombian history books. That's right. I never knew that in 1861 Colombia had a President who was Black. He was a brave warrior and democracy advocate, who used power for equality and respect for the rule of law, but he was erased from Colombian history because he was Black. In a country with close to 5 million African-Colombians, 9.3% of the entire population, in a country that praises itself for its ethnical and cultural diversity, the only Black president was denied his rightful place in the history of the country for 157 years.
His portrait, made before Nieto Gil was appointed President, was sent to Paris at one point to get "whitened" in order to conceal the fact that he was Black. It took decades of investigation by remarkable Colombia historian, Orlando Fals Borda, and a promise made to him by Colombian journalist and friend, Gustavo Gillen, to restore Nieto Gil's skin complexion and obtain for him the place he deserves on the walls of the Nariño Palace as President 42 of Colombia, which was finally accomplished in 2018.
There is no Black History Month in Colombia. This month-long celebration of the amazing contributions of Black people to the history of the world is recognized in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Had I not immigrated to Canada, I would have never heard of Black History Month, and Nieto Gil would still be a completely unfamiliar name to me. The truth is, I only learned about him when purposefully started to research about accomplishments of Black people in Colombia.
Black History Month has made see that we know only half the truth about everything. Half the truth is not the truth. Half the truth is a lie. What are we learning in our schools and what's been taught? Why are we so complaisant with the information we receive? Why don't we want history to be fully visible? Why are such meaningful parts of history hidden? Black history should not be just about a month to recognize Black people's contributions to the world. Black history is history in every country, every year, since forever. It's not a separate history. It is not for just one month to celebrate and acknowledge. It is not for us to hide or conceal or tergiversate.
There is a lot to change in many of our systems, including our school systems. Too much math and science and physics and not enough credible and accurate history. Not enough of what helps us to understand ourselves as human beings.
In this month of February, I am honouring Juan Jose Nieto Gil, President 42 of Colombia, with a promise to keep educating myself, so that day by day, I get closer to the truth, even if only a little closer.
