BIPOC STUDENTS

During Franco’s dictatorship (1936–1975) (more info here), Spain saw almost no immigration, resulting in a highly homogenous and mostly white society through the late 20th century.

Between 2000 and 2010, immigration surged, Spain’s international population quadrupled to nearly 14% of the total. While the U.S. added one to two million immigrants per decade, Spain grew by that amount each year. Since then, immigration has continued to rise: as of 2024, about 18% of Spain’s residents were born abroad. The country has become far more diverse in ethnicity, religion, and lifestyle, though it’s still adapting to these rapid demographic shifts.

Spain’s Black community today includes recent immigrants from Africa, Afro-Spaniards, and first- or second-generation Black Spaniards. Estimates place this population around 2 million people (roughly 2–3% of the total), though official racial data are limited. In 2019, the European Parliament urged member states to adopt national anti-racism strategies to address inequities in education, housing, health, employment, policing, and representation across public life.

• Black Barcelona is Barcelona's main meeting point for BCN's Black community. They organize an annual festival full of literary, theater, musical, fashion, and gastronomic activities. They also host smaller meet-ups throughout the year to bring visibility to the Afrodescendent population in Spain.

• Barcelona Black Women is an informal collective on Facebook of Black women living in Barcelona.

• The African Society Barcelona (@theafricansociety on Instagram) is a community-driven platform celebrating Black excellence, entrepreneurship, and culture in Barcelona. Through inspiring panels, curated events, and powerful conversations, they create spaces that amplify voices from the African diaspora and beyond.

• Afrofémininas is an online community for Spanish-speaking women of African descent. It is an independent communications firm created by a Spanish & Cuban Black woman in 2014, with the goal of promoting anti-racist critical thinking.

• SOS Racisme is an organization that fights against racism by promoting awareness, training, and tools. They organize lots of events and even have a hashtag to make racism visible - #aixoesracisme ("that's racism" in Catalan). There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with their work here.

  • • • • The Servei d'Atenció i Denúncia per a Victimes de Racism (SAiD) is a free service provided by SOS Racisme and it offers a platform and resources to report incidents of discrimination. They also offer counseling and assistance in reporting crimes or racist offenses. 

• Fundació Tot Raval is a foundation of more than 50 organizations who work together to improve social cohesion, coexistence, and quality of life in one of the most densely populated and diverse neighborhoods in Barcelona, El Raval. There are many opportunities to get involved with their work.

• Black & Abroad is an organization led by education abroad staff at universities across the state of Virginia. It shares the experiences of Black students abroad and creates a space for discussions with the goal to inspire, motivate, and provide insight.

• El Espacio Afro is a Spanish organization that works to empower the African and Afro-descendent community.

• We encourage you to engage with the following Barcelona SAE Beyond Las Ramblas podcast episodes: 

  • • • • "Why Not You?" - an interview with alumni student Rosalina (North Carolina A&T State University)

        • "Building Cultures" - an interview with alumni student India (Xavier University of Louisiana)

        • "A Work of Art" - an interview with alumni student Azaria (Eastern Illinois University)

        • "Breaking Barriers Abroad" - an interview with alumni student Leslie (Elizabeth City State University)

• ALLAbroad is a platform to highlight resources to support students from all backgrounds with their global education experience.

• Be Globalii's Culture & Diversity Travel Guide to Spain provides a historic overview of Spain, health & safety tips, and identity-specific resources to prepare students with insight and resources.

• The GoOverseas article on Top 10 Tips for Being BIPOC Abroad: Surviving & Thriving in Study Abroad for BIPOC Students

• Afropean is an online journal that provides insight into the Afro-European diaspora. It features great articles, like Notes on National Identity from an African-American in Spain, We Are Not the Same, and other articles about Spain.

• STAMPED is a podcast highlighting the study abroad stories of Black & African American students and industry professionals.

• Lucia M Bomio is a Spanish journalist that frequently posts about her experience as a Black woman in Spain and recommends resources like the book ¿Te Puedo Tocar el Pelo? De la Negación al Exotismo: Experiencias en Torno al Pelo Afro (Can I Touch your Hair? From Denial to Exoticism: Experiences Around Afro Hair).

• @hijadeinmigrantes on Instagram is the author of Hija de Inmigrantes (Daughter of Immigrants) and she reflects on her experience as an African woman in Spain.