My Latinidad Is Enough – Natalie Warren

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…

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…

Y no soy negra? – Sharee Yveliz

Cuando me pusieron desrizado y rolos abajo la secadora?  Cuando un estilo “simple” coge mas que una hora? No soy negra?  Cuando le gente se quedan en sorpresa escúchame hablar la idioma ? O que una mujer piel blanca puede ser mi mamá?  No soy negra ? Cuando me preguntan “ju speak eSpanish?” Y me…

I’m Afro-Latina and From The UK and Yes, We Exist – Ashley Farias

I can’t make out what you are” “Are you really Latina?’ “But your hair” “You’re the first Latina I’ve ever met” if I got paid every time someone made one of those comments about me, I’d be rich rich. Growing up in an area in London where there were not many Latinos, I’d hear and still…

Meet Liliana Ruiz: Chingona Blaxican Rollerskater

From her graceful spirit to her vibrant energy and creative soul. It was so easy to get lost in her innovative artistic videos. It feels like I was watching a live roller skating experience. Black Girl Magic unfolded right in front of my eyes, the glow showed up and showed out. It was extraordinary! Her…

Meet Destiny Corporan: Afro-Dominican Tarot Reader and Reiki Master

Spiritual Healing is an essential practice that many use to contribute to improving their overall wellbeing and helps with having better health. From yoga, medidiation, tarot reading and so much more there are endless opportunities to help with your individual healing. It is a space so many souls gravitate to looking for change, transformation and…

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…

Pues no me mires – Sharee Yveliz

pues. no me mire.is what i wish i had the guts to say  all those years ago.when everything was commented on from my hair, my clothes down to the color on my toes no me mireswhen you dont like my hair because you wouldnt style it as suchwhen its shaved short, long or my afro…

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…

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…

What are YOU? I am more than just an Afro Latina!—Tracey Phipps

“What are you?” That’s a common question I normally get asked. I’ve also heard “I knew you were mixed with something but didn’t want to ask,” or “there’s something different about you.” To some people this is offensive but I appreciate the curiosity. I’m flattered now when people assume I am an exotic creation handcrafted…

Owning My Afro-Latinidad, Unapologetically — Monique Soto

    By: Monique Soto —  I am a proud Black and Puerto Rican – an Afro Latina! It has taken a long time for me to love and accept my heritage and descent until this point in my life. I had my fair share of identity struggles. My father is Puerto Rican from Rio…

La Afro-Mexicana de Santa Ana – Crisma Petatan

  By Crisma Petatan — “One of the questions I get asked the most is “What are you?” I am asked this question after I start speaking Spanish. I have brown skin and afro hair. When people see me, they see a black woman and black women in America only speak English right? Well that…

Meet Vivian Moran: The Voice of Afro – Indigenous Peruvians

Imagine being a product of two rich ethnic groups. Imagine being a descendant from Peru and standing proudly in your skin. Imagine being Vivian Moran.  Whose art recognizes her African and Indigenous roots and gives a voice to her community.  From celebrating Black and Indigenous womanhood through digital art. Or saying what needs to be…

Dear You – Sharee Yveliz

  Dear you, My “Dominican side” is not showing. It didn’t make an appearance as if my blackness was hiding it. My American status doesn’t take away from the culture I was raised in. Dear you, I am Dominican. I shout in Spanish when I’m frustrated; curse words roll off my tongue when I’m angry….

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…

5 times Nitty Scott did it for Negritas

By Jenay Wright – Afro-Boricua Nitty Scott speaks life and her music is a empowering movement. If you don’t already it time follow a long. When I listen to music I want to feel empowered and motivated. As music is an art of expression  its a necessity for me to take things away from each…

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…

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…

Reclaiming My Identity; Jenay Wright

I look at beautiful brown people as they walk pass me as they talk and laugh, they look just like me. Shopping in soho, with their beautiful brown skin and bright smiles while the sun shinned so bright on their melanated color. They wear blackness so bold and so confident.  I looked back at my reflection…

The Afro-Dominican Writer, Womanist and Healer

As a woman of color, black woman and a conscious Afro-Latina I find their are a lack of outlets devoted to mental and spiritual healing for our community. These resources are imperative to have access to. The process of self-healing is a useful tool to have in your life and for individuals who are interested in using this tactic we need platforms…

BLACK , LATINA AND BEAUTIFUL

          By Mitzy Quarless  Jimenez  — I’m a Panamanian, Afro-Latina and a proud repper of all things negritud. [ Here is my story ] because it is one of positivity and one that has kept me strong despite the world trying to bring me down for things I have no control…

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…

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…

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….