Spain 'equality stamps' spark outcry over pricing

Spain’s postal service is feeling a backlash from its controversial attempt to highlight racial inequality.

State-owned Correos España this week issued a set of four stamps in different skin-coloured tones.

The darker the stamp, the lower the price - the lightest colour costs 1.60 euros ($1.95) and the darkest costs 0.70 euros ($0.85).

The postal service introduced the “Equality Stamps” on the anniversary of George Floyd being killed by a police officer in Minneapolis.

It said the stamps reflected "an unfair and painful reality that shouldn’t be allowed”.

Every letter or parcel sent with them would “send a message against racial inequality”, it added.

The campaign was launched during European Diversity Month in collaboration with Spain’s national SOS Racism Federation, a nonprofit group.

But while the goal was to highlight racial injustice, critics have accused the company of misreading the sentiment of Black people in Spain.

The main thrust of the public criticism is that the darker stamps have a lower value, giving the impression that a light skin colour is worth more.

Moha Gerehou, a Spanish author and a former president of SOS Racismo Madrid, said that was “an insurmountable contradiction”.

The postal service's initiative has divided Spanish anti-racism activists.

While the national SOS Racism Federation backed it, the organisation’s Madrid section poured scorn on the effort.

SOS Racismo Madrid said the campaign helped conceal the structural nature of racism and perpetuate the notion of Black inferiority.

Any racially aware person would have identified what was wrong with the campaign, it said.

The ad proved the need for more racially aware people in decision-making positions at companies, it added.

Correos España made no official comment on the controversy, but did say the campaign had received positive feedback, as well as criticism.

It isn’t the first time the Spanish postal service has sought to make a statement on social issues.

Last June, to coincide with LGBT Pride Month, it issued a special stamp and painted its delivery vans and mail boxes in rainbow colours.