Conversations about visibility and representation have been going on for a long time. Especially for those of us who live at the intersection of Blackness and Latinidad.
I always have mixed feelings when brands, businesses, creatives, etc. claim to be “diverse and inclusive” but I never see anyone who looks like me. And I’m not talking about just during Hispanic Heritage Month or Black history Month, I mean year-round. Afro-Latina women are hardly ever represented in popular culture because networks are still casting women who look like Jennifer Lopez or Shakira. I remember one particular show of a family of Cubans and not one Black primo/a.
What does it mean if you are Afro Latina?
Simply put it’s someone from a Latin American country with African roots. Black Latinos are Latin Americans of African descent. Growing up I never used this term because the term itself didn’t start being used until a few years ago. Most of my family is still in Panama and I know it’s not a term I’ve ever heard any of them use before.
What is it like to be Afro Latina in the United States
In the United States people feel it’s still socially acceptable to refer to all Black people as African Americans. When they find out you are Latino or that you speak Spanish (IF you speak Spanish) they assume you are from the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico. Growing up in Arkansas was a confusing time for me, I was struggling to find my identity. During that time there weren’t any other Black Latinas anywhere near us. If they were around, we never saw them in the Latino community we were in.
I honestly felt like I never belonged anywhere. I constantly had to explain what my identity was. The questions weren’t because they were genuinely trying to get to know us. We were an anomaly. People always wanted to know why we the little girl with curly hair had an accent. But then I had to further prove myself because there was just no way a person with skin color like mine could speak Spanish. At the time I hadn’t heard the term Afro-Latina so I never told anyone that being Black and Latino are not mutually exclusive.
Who is a famous Afro-Latina?
One of the main reasons no one knows Afro-Latina women (aside from not understanding the transatlantic slave trade) is because we are never represented in the media. As a young girl the only Latinas I saw on television had a specific look. And none of them had dark skin or looked like me. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I know we as Panamanians get excited whenever we find out our favorite actors, performers, athletes, etc. are Panamanian. People like Tessa Thompson and Tatyana Ali (from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.) But I also get so excited to see other famous Afro-Latinas like Gina Torres or Actor Ariana DeBose who made history as the first Afro-Latina and first openly queer woman of color to win an Academy Award. It’s like they are really representing for all of us! And with the internet being our main source of information now, we have started taking to social media for visibility. It wasn’t until I started looking for natural hair tutorials for Black women (which also was a learning experience!) that I started finding other Afro-Latina women. Women who had similar life experiences.
Finding Afro-Latina women online has allowed me to feel seen and heard in a society where we are often overlooked.
The more I looked for a safe space online for other afro latinos the more I started to feel connected to my culture. Even though I hadn’t met any of these young women I felt a kinship with them. For the first time I didn’t feel so alone. I felt seen. I came across sites like “Ain’t I Latina” an online space created by New York City native and journalist, Janel Martinez. “Hashtag I Am Enough” a digital storytelling platform created by fellow Panamanian Jenay Wright. I even learned how to start caring for my natural hair from curly influencers like Carolina Contreras of Miss Rizos salon. Being able to connect with other women of color with a similar ethnic background was so freeing.
When I had originally started blogging, I did it as an outlet to deal with postpartum depression. However, in the process I saw how important my voice is as a black woman. I have been able to share my own experiences as a black person in Latino communities, and the anti-blackness I have faced. But I’ve also been able to share so many great parts of my culture too. Parts that a lot of people don’t get to see like some of my favorite Panamanian dishes. My Christmas Ron Ponche recipe. Or even some of our superstitions like walking in the house backwards after midnight!
For so long Afro-Latinos have been overlooked by the media and entertainment industry.
Sharing my journey and evolution on my platforms has allowed me to connect with amazing members of the Afro-Latinx community. Finding my community has allowed me to amplify our stories and voices. I have been able to be contribute and increase visibility to spaces where Afro-Latino identity is being celebrated. I have been truly blessed to be a part of such an amazing circle.
[…] One thing about Panamanians, we always recognize our people as soon as we open our mouths. You don’t even have to see them. You just hear that distinct sound and you know it’s family. The same goes for when we find each other in these internet streets. If I see the Panama flag in that bio it’s an automatic follow. However, there’s something about being able to see, share and interact with people who share my culture that makes me feel a sense of belonging. […]