The terms Afro-Latina & Afro-Latino refer to members of the latin community who identify with their blackness. Yet, the title entails so much more responsibility. As we watch the binaries of race, culture and politics of society be dismantled before our eyes it is fundamental, crucial and obligatory that we discuss the gravity of the Afro-Latinx community showing up in support of our black counterparts.
Dictionary.com definition: Afro-Latin refers to people from Latin American countries with African ancestry. In both Latin America and the United States, this population is usually coded as being black.
*The term Afro-Latinx removes the gender connotation behind Afro-Latina and Afro-Latino in order to be gender inclusive.
When one’s blackness is enough to be a target for police brutality, it’s important for the Afro-Latinx community to truly stand in what it means to be Black. It’s not enough to be Black when it’s convenient or conspicuous. Identifying as Black, to any degree, means accepting all that comes with that. Even when it gets tough it’s something that you need to accept.
Growing up in East Harlem I was constantly surrounded by people of various ethnicities, predominantly Black and Puerto Rican. Having family members who were of a darker complexion and/or “mixed” with Black & Latino was the norm. The Blackness in my family was obvious to the point where I never questioned it. I say all this to say, I grew up slightly ignorant to the deeply rooted and imbedded colorism and racism in the Latino community because for me inclusion was the norm. I was taught early on that certain members of my family were darker because we were the descendants of African slaves. I understood that I was privileged to have inherited a lighter complexion from my Spanish ancestors because it meant I would never be discriminated against, at least not for my complexion. My great-grandfather defied odds by falling in love and procreating with a Black woman, the direct descendent of African slaves. His wealthy Spaniard family completely disowned him. They went on to have a bunch of beautiful brown babies, one of whom was my grandpa. I like to think he broke a generational chain for those who came after him. I identify as Afro-Latina because I understand and accept my ancestry and refuse to erase my ancestors’ battles, because of which I have been blessed with a privileged life, simply because it’s convenient. However, I also understand that because of my skin tone, hair color and overall racial ambiguity I am privileged. I have never, nor will I ever be, racially profiled due to the color of my skin.
There is so much that can be said about the nuances and deeply rooted ideologies of what it means to be born of Latin-America, specifically the Caribbean, and even more that can be unpacked in regards to Afro-Latinidad. So I thought I would use my platform to spark a conversation about the Afro-Latinx role within the black community that isn’t the first and hopefully won’t be the last. I tapped in with a few influential Afro-Latinx’s using their platforms to advocate for the Black community as well as educate their peers, whom I’m also grateful to call friends.
Like many members of the community Hennessy Goicochea, 28, grew up in Brooklyn and found her Afro-Latinidad to be innate. Yet, she stumbled upon challenges when exploring this reality with her Dominican family members.
” I can’t recall a defining moment or experience when I realized and/or accepted my Afro-Latinidad. I feel like I’ve always been aware of race, and I’ve always been aware of the color of my skin so to me accepting it was so natural, I always felt so strong about it and never doubted it. But explaining to my family and getting them to realize and accept it has always been my biggest challenge. To me it isn’t enough that I know, and that I take the time to learn my history but that I also explain it to my friends and family. You see being Afro-Lantinx in a culture that has been white washed for generations, that will find every word possible to describe their melanin except for Black, and that will deny their blackness because of ideas related to Anti-Haitianism, is definitely tough. But I have to make sure I take the time to educate my friends and family and to show that with acceptance of ourselves also comes acceptance of others.“
Hennessy Goicochea @hennessyg_
To understand the resistance that Afro-Dominicans like Hennessy face, we must take a brief look back at the history of the Dominican Republic in relation to it’s Black population:
In 1930 Rafael Trujillo was elected President in a rigged election through forced coercion and intimidation. For over 30 years Trujillo’s dictatorship reigned over the Dominican Republic keeping him and his family in power mainly through violence and brutality. Trujillo had a deep hatred for Black people and sought to eliminate any association with Haiti, despite sharing the island of Hispaniola. “In October 1937, in an incident known as the Parsley Massacre, Trujillo ordered the slaughter of an estimated 20,000 Haitians” and continued to enforce racism, xenophobia and anti-haitianism in DR until his assassination in 1961.
While it may seem long ago, it’s important to realize there are Dominicans alive today who experienced Trujillo’s regime and passed his beliefs on throughout the generations. There are many other instances of xenophobia, racism and colorism deeply rooted in the history of every Latinx country, Trujillo’s regime in the Dominican Republic is just one example. That is why it’s vital to unlearn these ideologies first before we can learn & educate others. (see resources list below for reading material to get started)
Fortunately, there’s been a large movement of Latinx’s embracing their blackness and doing the work to undo decades of indoctrination, mainly spear-headed by Millennials. Sully Guzman, 26, a woman of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent who also grew up in Brooklyn is one of many Afro-Latinx’s proudly embracing her roots and advocating for equal rights.
“Personally, being Afro-Latinx means I’m rich. Rich in culture, rich in community, & rich in resources. I am a hispanic woman who is black because my countries both have African roots. I love my people. Politically, embracing being Afro-Latinx means I don’t conform to society’s agenda to divide our community. I don’t conform to the colorism that has plagued our culture for years. Politically, embracing being Afro-Latinx means I am well educated, aware, and truly have a heart for humanity. “
Sully Guzman, @sullyg_
While there are many steps that need to be taken, I think we can all agree that education is the first. Whether you identify as Afro-Latinx or not, it’s important to understand where the two initially intersected. The denial of other’s rights due to the color of one’s skin sometimes derives from the denial of one’s very own blackness.
To me on a personal and a political level being Afro-Latinx is taking the time to understand my roots, to understand my history, and to accept that I am black. While the Portuguese made their way to Brazil with enslaved Africans, Spaniards made their way to Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic + Haiti). Most of those slaves came from West Africa and the Congo. Currently 90% of the Dominican Republic is Black and Mulatto. So of course stating that I am Afro-Lantinx means acknowledging and accepting my Blackness.
Hennessy Goicochea, @hennessyg_
Growing up in a city as diverse as New York is a privilege because we’re exposed to the diversity of a multitude of Ethnicities, Cultures etc… Sometimes though, this also means realizing the differences between us as well and what that means on a socio-political level. For Justin Marcus, being half Dominican and Puerto Rican, education played an important role in making sense of this diversity growing up in Brooklyn.
I always felt connected to Black people in some way. I never really felt like we were different. Of course growing up in Brooklyn, NY both Latinx & Black people separated from each other & looked at each other differently because of colorist ideals so I never fully accepted it until, all I had to do was minimal research. It isn’t rocket science & although it’s a hard concept to grasp for others for me it was so easy. I think the real battle politically is getting other Afro-Latinxs who don’t have “brown” skin to accept who they are & where they come from.
Justin Marcus, @justinnmarcus
Despite the progress we’ve made as a community particularly in the new millennia, Afro-Latinx’s still have a long way to go. The popularity of black culture, partially due to it’s accessibility via the media, has stimulated a rise in claiming Afro-Latinx out of convenience. It’s dangerous to claim to be part of a marginalized group when one has the privilege to reap the benefits of that inclusion yet not suffer the risks. Whether because of their skin tone, primary language or other nuanced features attributed to non-blackness, many Afro-Latinx’s have the privilege of not “wearing” their blackness everyday and thus not being a target to dangers such as police brutality, among others.
…they are ignorant to who they really are & it isn’t right. If you truly don’t identify or truly just aren’t Afro-Latinx, you should be mindful of the content you put out on social media, the words you use & things you say to a Black person. And no, you should not indulge in Black sub-cultures.
Justin Marcus, @justinnmarcus
Colorism and racism are political. For centuries, many latinos have looked down on darker skin complexions because it doesn’t “advance” the culture. When you are silent about these issues, you conform with white supremacy. You agree that being “lighter” is more favorable. When you are silent and dismiss the racism in America, you are saying that black men & women are less valuable humans. We need to stand up for one another, because the reality is we are not that different. Yes, our cultures may look different, and our values may vary from household to household. But we come from the same land, from the same people. And if we, people who are literally joined by DNA, can’t unite, how in the world do we expect to get the people who are not us to join forces and stop killing us?
Sully Guzman, @sullyg_
People who claim Afro-Latinx and do not speak out about issues that directly impact the black community are complete hypocrites. They are willing to benefit and use Afro-Latinidad when it is convenient but aren’t willing to support and fight against the injustices that the black community faces.
Hennessy Goicochea, @hennessyg_
Once we’ve educated ourselves on our history and roots as Afro-Latinxs, the question then becomes how can we use our diversity as an asset instead of a dividing force amongst the Latinx and Black communities?
I think a very important way, is to show that there is more to Latinxs than the Euro-Latin narrative that’s been pushed in both Latinx media & American media. I think in America, Black people who had darker skin were the ones who didn’t have a choice in how they were treated for years. As for Latinxs, we come in all shades but a big majority are lighter skinned. So from both point of views, we aren’t them & they aren’t us. But now it being 2020, especially with this political climate we need to understand our roots even more than ever & come together, not separate because of the different cultures we may practice. Being black is many things!
Justin Marcus, @justinnmarcus
I always say there is power in unity. We can use our diversity to help educate our communities, educate others in different communities and come together to fight against injustices.
Hennessy G., @hennessyg_
Wow. I mean, we are stronger together than we are divided, that’s a given. We are all rich in culture. Let’s capitalize off of our own gifts, talents, and resources, instead of allowing other people to profit from them. Let’s educate one another on our native languages so that we are bilingual and trilingual, making us more marketable in the workforce. Lets love on one another so that our children can become adults that look at people who are hurting and empathize with their pain, because they are human. Not because they are “their kind”.
Sully G., @sullyg_
Resources
It’s important as members of the Afro-Latinx community, or any community to actively contribute to the Black Lives Matter movement, seeking equality and justice for Black people. Here are some ways you can do that.
Educate
- Tap this graphic to shop these books and more Afro-Latinx reading material
- Share any information or resources you come across on social media with your followers!
- Don’t be afraid to educate your elders, family and friends via open and honest conversations that may be tough but are important to have
Donate
- Click here to donate to a multitude of reputable charities and causes going towards the Black Lives Matter movement. Any amount makes a difference!
Petition
- Click here for a list of important petitions to sign such as the re-opening of unjustly closed cases and to ban the use of rubber bullets, amongst others. It only takes a minute!
Advocate
- Use hashtags to find & share valuable resources on social media: #BlackLivesMatter #DefundthePolice #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #SayHerName
- Click here for a mass Google doc containing a plethora of updates, resources, petitions to sign, numbers to call and advocate plus more!
Stay plugged in on updates in the Black Lives Matter movement at BlackLivesMatter.com!