My name is Natalie. I am a 26-year-old Afro – Latina and Afro-American woman. My mother’s side comes from the Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico. My father’s side is African American, originally from the south. I grew up in the south with my mother where there were not too many Afro Latinos. I grew up around many non-black Central Americans, non-black Mexicans, and African…
Tag: Afro-Latina representation
Growing Up Afro- Latina – Zoe Boynton
Hello, My name is Zoe Boynton. I am an Afro Latina and I am Panamanian! Growing up I struggled to accept my Latina identity because only one side of my family is Afro Latino (My mom’s side) with my dad’s side being African American. Growing up I only identified with being Black. It was easier…
I am Called Negra – Luz Mack |
I Am a Complex Mixture With a Rich History of Survival—birthed From the Colonizer’s War That Destroyed All Traces of Taino Origins but Not Before Raping and Enslaving Them. They Created a New Generation While Erasing All Memories of the Past but a Future Marked by Mixed Skin, Fallen From God’s Grace, and an Unknown…
Meet Princess Malcolm: Afro-Panamanian Curve Model Promoting Self-Love & Body Positivity in her Comunidad
By Jenay Wright – Changing the stigma of beauty, and creating a safe space for women in all shapes, sizes, colors, and background is a goal that Princess Malcolm has taken under her wing. Through lots of self-love, confidence, and using her voice and platform to shed light on body positivity speaks volume. Her boldness…
Meet Melanie Hernandez: Afro- Boricua Changing the Conversation Around Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence (DV) affects all regardless of race, religion, gender, and socio-economic groups. Domestic Abuse or intimate partner violence can be described as a pattern of behavior in a relationship that is used to gain control over an intimate partner. This could be in form of sexual, physical, economical, and or psychological actions that dehumanize…
Afro-Latina Changemaker: Liliana Ruiz, Social Justice Activist
For Black History Month, #IAMENOUGH and the Eva Longoria Foundation are collaborating to highlight Afro-Latina changemakers. Learn more about the Eva Longoria Foundation’s work to empower Latinas through education and entrepreneurship at @evalongoriafoundation on Instagram. Art and activism intersect in powerful ways, offering unique perspectives on issues old and new. Artistic activism paves the way…
Standing Proud in My Afro-Panamanian Identity – Tiffanie Perea
My name is Tiffanie Samone Perea. I was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. I always knew my father was from Panama. I’m really not sure how to explain how I could be surrounded by family but the sounds from our mouths weren’t the same. They loved me and kissed me and spoke…
Afro, Si! Latina? Onde? – Luana Fernandes Neely
I vividly remember the first time I heard ‘Latina’ in a way that pertained to me, I was seven and my mother was on the phone venting to my Godmother about how my school kept spelling my name wrong, “F-E-R-N-A-N-D-E-S not F-E-R-N-A-N-D-E- Z” for context, I was a predominantly Hispanic school in Arizona so the…
Meet Jessica Jade: The Afro-Latina Organic Skincare Artisan
Skincare is extremely prevalent to many of us, it is instilled into our everyday lifestyle. It is incorporated into our self-care regimes and routines. Having our ski n glow and our melanin shine so wonderfully contributes to us feeling beautiful. Let’s admit it if we have a bomb skincare day or week that makes our…
Thalia Dyche’s Journey through Embracing her Afro -Latinidad
I am no stranger to the questions or “Are you sure you’re Mexican?” or “if you’re Latina, how are you black?” I anticipate these questions because I know that they’re coming. My name is Thalia and I am from San Diego, California. I am Mexican and Afro-Panamanian and identify as Afro-Latina. Growing up, I had…
I Am Black and, Yes! I Speak Spanish. – Marcela Bermudez
How are you Black and speak Spanish? “Honduras? Is that in Mexico?” “I didn’t know that Black people speak Spanish” If I were to get a dollar each time, I heard any of those phrases or questions, I would be extra rica con dinero right now. These questions and comments that I have heard all…
To Be Black, Beautiful, and Costa Rican – Shantel Miller
Both my parents were born and raised in the beautiful country of Costa Rica. (I love saying that lol. Fun fact about Costa Rica. Costa Rica has the largest Jamaican diaspora after Cuba and Panama and its development as a nation is witness to this contribution. Since 1850, fishermen of Afro-Caribbean origin began to…
A Letter to White Latinx and those who Look Good on Television – Faye Tinsley
Dear White Latinx and the passive complicit actors and actresses who love saying N****r to appeal to their white counterparts. How are things? Has your race come into question lately? Do the same white people who tell you not to act like Negros still give you the same treatment? Or are you capitalizing off the…
The Afro-Boliviana Experience: Gabriela Agramont
Every Afro-Latina narrative isn’t the same. Although we share some similar experiences. The most essential key here is listening and understanding each and every person’s individual story. Here’s an authentic story of an inspirational Afro-Latina who is Bolivian and African-American and her journey! What does it mean to be Afro-Latina? To me, being Afro-Latina means…
Growing Up Afro Latina In the South – Kisha Gulley
“My name is Captain so and so where are you from?” “I’m your flight attendant Kisha, I’m from Arkansas.” “No you aren’t.” At this point I roll my eyes. Introducing yourself to your crew is customary in the aviation world. You want to know who you are working with. For me though it always got…
Mabel Guzman; Being Black & From DR
Dominican Republic. The motherland that I couldn’t be prouder to represent. The food, the music, the heat, the enormous amount of people in my family, are just a few aspects of my country that make me love it. But what about culture? It’s probably the first thing people mention when talking about their own…
Mourning Pride – Jackie Torres
These past few weeks, I have participated in a very private kind of mourning. In the wake of Hurricane Maria’s devastation on Puerto Rico, the usual thoughts surrounding my identity have been exacerbated ten-fold in my already overactive brain. Shameful confession? I have never been to Puerto Rico; at least not when I was…
Ivana- Sol Larios – Raices
Una negra hispana. Eso es lo que mis padres creation cuando me hicieron. Una gitana sin una patria de mi propia Con una pierna en el Caroní y una pierna en la Amazónica. ¿Pero a quien pertenezco? El español no sale de mi lengua Tan fácilmente Como mi abuela quiere Y mi piel no…
LandishaBeauty: Discussing the LGBTQ & the Afro-Latina identity
“I drive to represent anyone like me, anyone who has ever felt not accepted or felt like an outcast because of who they are, or how they dress, or who they choose to love. And I also strive to show not only people like me but everyone that it’s okay to be different and it’s…
AM I AFRO-LATINA ENOUGH?
Afro- Latina speaks community of empowering individuals. It represents a culture of those who Celebrate traditions that deeply root back to the motherland. It signifies the rich Sounds of our ancestors who carried the musical rhythms of Africa with them. It preserves our expression of dance, songs, religion and literature with a Latin twist without neglecting our African roots. It crosses barriers from SudaAmerica to Centroamerica along to the coast of Puerto Rico. It flows through all facets…
The Hangout with HarmoniCurls: Afro-Latina Beauty Vlogger
The creative project AfroinSanJuan documents some of the most unique, organic and refreshing women living in Puerto Rico. Each Afro beauty has her own story or voice behind her image. The photography is so creatively intriguing you want to know more. When Afro-Latina Vlogger Harmonicurls was featured I automatically clicked to her content because it was…
Not Just A Label; Paola Aragon Brown
It was during my college career that I officially heard the term Afro Latina, weird right? I guess I was a late bloomer. Born to Afro Colombian parents, they never quite emphasized on the fact that we were Afro Colombians, we were just Colombian. It has been my observation, as I have dissected…
NEGRA; Gabrielle Greiner
I never knew I was black. Growing up, my blackness wasn’t taught to me, like how I wasn’t shown how to do my hair. When I raised questions to my elders, “Why does my hair grow out? Like sideways, not down. And why is it so curly?” The response glossed over centuries of…
Documenting the Afro-Latina Beauty; Afros in San Juan
The Afro beauty seen in San Juan, Puerto Rico is absolutely breathtaking. Bringing visibility to Afro-Latinos is essential because they are often underrepresented compared to other Latinos. Hence, thanks to projects like Afros in San Juan who is devoted to highlighting the Afro-Latina beauty on the streets of San Juan. This ongoing project will …
MY BLACK ?… YOU CAN’T ERASE
By Jenay Wright —Being Black means the world. While many will try their hardest to hide this part of them. I have to embrace it. Apart of Self-Love is loving all that comes with you. If you carry that Black magic with you, it’s essential to celebrate it. There is more to being Black then…
Afro-Latina & Beautifully Mixed; Michelle Lopez
THE CONFUSING GAME I’m tired of people telling me: You’re not black.. Oh wait You’re only black if a war breaks out. You’re fat No wait, You’re thick in the right places. You’re not really Mexican, You’re Latina! Brazilian yes because you got that hair and booty. Umm… white and Spanish too right? Samoan, Dominican…
Soy Afro-Panameña –A Personal Story of Afro-Latina Identity and Pride
Tamika Burgess is a Writer and Educator. She produces the monthly Afro-Latina focused newsletter, Es Mi Cultura. Follow her on twitter @TameeksB By Tamika Burgess —“I thought you were Black!” This is the response I sometimes get from people when they find out my parents are Panamanian. Looking down at my arm in a sarcastic…
United Nations of Melanin
By Yokary Cruz-Garcia — Growing up in the Dominican Republic, people told me how lucky I was that my light-skinned father is a fourth generation Spaniard. I was the “piel morena ” with good hair, blessed because I didn’t need a “desrizado ” to straighten my hair. People made comments about my dark-skinned mother’s good fortune…
They Said I Had Bad Hair
By: Suyent Rodriguez Me dijeron que tenia pelo bueno Because it flowed in the wind …when it was relaxed “You can brush her hair all you want but it will curl up eventually” Mami’s coworkers said When I was a baby she loved my hair because it was straight and soft Little did she know,…
Child of the Diaspora: Being Afro-Latina in America
By Kae Ramirez Lashley — My mother is Afro-Panamanian (her mother is Black, her father mestizo) and my father is Bajan (from Barbados). I identify as Black, Afro-Latina, simply Latina, West Indian, or Caribbean. I know who I am. I never try to deny my African roots. I am not more Black than Latina. I…
Representing her Afro-Latina: Miss Houston Caribbean Queen
We shape our own identity and it is essential that we understand our own cultural experience. We learned this with Afro-Latina Ashleigh Lugo our recent Miss Houston Caribbean Queen as she embraces her roots and represents her community in pageants. What is your perspective behind the term” AfroLatina”? What does it mean to you?…
1 Year Blogging Anniversary!!
By Jenay Wright — I have this voice and I had this dream. It so happened that they both connected through destiny and it was interesting how faith kept them going. Doubts are danger. Doubting is dangerous. I say that twice to reiterate the message that doubts can get in the way of what you…
Zaira Miluska Funes : An Afro-Mestizo’s Journey
By Zaira Miluska Funes — I’m Salvadoran-American and growing up in Los Angeles I always knew, from a young age, I looked different from my Mexican friends, they were fair-light skinned with straight/wavy hair and had more Eurocentric- standard Mestizo features. While I, on the other hand, had thick curly hair, darker skinned tone, and…
Revealing my Roots: An Educator in the South
By Juceliz Batista —I’m Dominican. A Dominican from Washington Heights with brown skin and curly puffy hair. I am also a Black woman. When I was 10, my mom put a desrizado in my hair because I had too much hair to manage. Ten years later, just like every other girl who wants to free…
My Black..My Power…MyAfroLatinos
Case 1. I got arrested and they read me my miranda rights. They cuffed me and asked me what I was ethnically. I told them Black and Latina and they delivered that message to the station.They said I have a 21 year old Black Latina female and we are taking her in. Case 2 I…
Roots and Identity : An Afro-Cuban’s Discovery of Self
When I think of this word, it holds so much weight. Everything a person does is rooted in their identity. Identity to me is not so cut and dry, but ever evolving. When a baby is born, they are given a name. Their name serves as a building block to their identity. When that child…
Celebrating Beautifully BLACK Latinas @afrolatinas_
Social Media is an essential platform in order to gain attention to a topic or subject. The power it holds is endless and there are so many different types of social tools to utilize. So knock yourselves out! Instagram is a photo sharing app , which allows you to discover and explore new things….
DIARY OF A CONSCIOUS AFRO-LATINA
Individuals must really try and understand what it means to be an Afro-Latino and take the time to understand our cultural experience. That’s why many bloggers, musicians , poets , historians who are products of the African Diaspora in Latin America are truly taking out the time to educate those about our existence ….
Embodying the Soul, Embracing Her Afro-Latina: Alexandrea Lushington
As an artist you must stand out, which sounds fairly relative to what an individual’s identity should signify. A musician must profess originality and creativity while your personal identity sets you apart from the crowd. The question is will we ever see an artist whose identity expresses something we’ve never seen before. The answer is yes! Meet Alexandrea Lushington a dedicated and passionate artist whose…
Understading the Afro-Latinidad Experience: Kimberly Roman
There are many young women of our generation who are dedicating their time and energy to educating, discussing and empowering others about the Afro-Latina experience. We must recognize and celebrate, those who play a significant role in informing people about who we are. As we are in the month of March, also known as…
Acknowleding, Accepting and Embracing the AfroLatina Perspective
By Bianca Betancourt—Growing up, I didn’t know there was such a thing as “AfroLatina” and how diverse, complex and complicated that term could really be. When people would (intrusively) ask me “what I was” I would always answer the same way: “Puerto Rican, Black and Native American.” Puerto Rican—because of all the minorities that make…
When is Black Enough?
Often times people tend to judge actors who are chosen to lead roles in biopics. Actors should be judged off their acting capabilities, but in some cases it always relates back to color. Most of the time people give their input based off physical appearance. It is significant that in a biopic the actor should nail…
Essence of Diversity
In the Afro-Latina culture we celebrate and recognize diversity within our community. #Wearelistening #Weareseeing #Wearetalking #Wearefeeling #Weknow #Wearebeautiful #Wearestrong #Weareconfident #Wearenough Photos by : Jenay Wright
5 reasons being Afro-Latina is unique
As an Afro-Latina women I am honored to identify with two incredible heritages . My black heritage as well as my Latina and Panamanian heritage. This is something I take pride in and I encourage the rest of you to be proud of as well. Despite the discrimination and rejection we have encountered from our…
Our Time , Our Heritage , Our People
Each time you log on your to social media account, whether its Facebook, Twitter or Instagram you probably have come across a post that said “Happy National ______ Day.” Have you ever sat back in your chair and thought is this really that important to be celebrated nationally. Some of these national days created seem…
Finding my identity
There is one thing you should never do, allow someone to deprive you of who you are. There is two things you should never do, allow someone to steal your pride and your confidence. And if there is three things you should do is appreciate, cherish and love yourself no matter what you go through….
hashtagiamenough.com 