Afro-Latino Identity and Racism: A Frank Conversation

Studies show that one out of four Latinos is of African descent, yet this reality is not accurately reflected among leaders, media images, or conversation in the Latino community. For Latinos who identify as Afro-Latino, the impacts of racism and anti-Blackness can be even more profound and felt from members of their own Latino community. Join us for a panel of Afro-Latino leaders who will engage in an honest and frank conversation about their experience and how we can build more inclusivity in the Latino community, and collectively advance justice and equity for all.

[@nizzotheartist]

Wake up we are all black around the world . Fight for your rights

[@bobby12348]

We have nothing in in common

[@bobby12348]

Well they don't think so or want to be black. I really don't care at all.

[@anthonyosburn3786]

We must admit it was the consciousness of African Americans that is waking up are extended family the afro latino and African Americans are proud to see afro latinos starting to love themselves.

[@Garaystone]

I am a black Puerto Rican. My father told us about our history. I agree with the young women in from Columbian as well as the Dominican gentlemen. 1% was and is the law.

[@barringtonbrown7152]

That includes all the people in Spain. The indigenous people of Spain were the Grimaldi from Africa. Then there is Carthage and the Moors. Andalusia was after the Roman empire.

[@tonyperez-perry1906]

Much respect to your father because many Puerto Ricans of Afro descent help perpetuate the "Adelante la raza" mentality either willing or unwilling I will never understand. I am thankful for my abuela who never hid the truth about who we are and instilled pride in all of us.

[@urbancommute5239]

this video should be shown throughout both black and Hispanic communities worldwide!!!

[@claymalone7777]

I'm fba and we been telling yall this for years. Darn it took a while.

[@roberthenderson4347]

This topic is a long time coming. I am African American of "Latino decent " . Being born in America, and being bilingual has been a curse and a blessing. All of this stems from white supremacy. Which I hate. Thank you all, you all are so highly ahead of the game. The dismantling of colonialism still continues it needs to be destroyed and stamped out in the brain 🧠😑 for all people of color. I have so much to say. Ultimately people of wonder African decent in the US and Latin America . The sister who works as an anchor on Univision channel, is correct, people in leadership roles, should spear head this change, and others will follow. I am bilingual. I have worked in professional positions, however, because I am black, I am the last hired, or not hired at all. The bottom line , we as people of African decent , we need to keep pushing and creating our own story. Having our own business and buying all things Black. Afro Latino or Afro American. I wish I was on this panel. Having said that, I have found a group of individuals who are ready to open doors and awareness about who we are,, where we come from,, and where we are going.. Job well done.

[@purplegirl8036]

Yes being bilingual can be a blessing and a curse. I’m not even Afro Latino but my school required we learned an additional language. I’m fluent enough for you to not want to talk ish in front of me but not enough for you to want to speak Spanish with me.

[@albertogutierrez8653]

So what are you?

[@purplegirl8036]

@@albertogutierrez8653 African American

[@albertogutierrez8653]

@@purplegirl8036 What is that?

[@chapatiism]

The conversation here is deeply authentic. You may like it.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2SphZ2qirCipLc

[@wraithx7]

This was a great discussion and very informative and educational. I'm African American and I have said many of the things that the panel has said.

[@boundlessdigital4055]

I am an Afro-Latino and a Black American. In addition, I have studied both world history and the history of Africans in the new world, at the University level. I've traveled throughout the Latin world, Europe, and North and Eastern Africa. That being said, this conversation is critical to ensuring the privileges that many immigrants of color now enjoy. Here is the problem from my POV. I believe the challenge is that many Latinos, embrace neo-colonial ideals of identity, and lean on micronationalism, to isolate themselves at will, from the greater black community. We seem not to understand how blackness is leveraged as a unifying force in the US, and how that unification has resulted in our ability to identify a common foe, regardless of class. Oddly this unified blackness was the reason black activists lobbied for the entrance of immigrants of color, specifically Afro-Latinos and Afro-Caribbeans. Also, European colonists, plantation owners, and overseers are seen with romanticism, and slavery is rarely spoken about as a holocaust. As Afro-Latinos, it's our responsibility to teach our cousins that we are also family and we must add to the table which was set by the African American community, before our arrival.

[@morrisrichardson1603]

Badly needed.

[@roberth2627]

With the controversy about the film In The Heights a month ago & the lack of Afro Latinos in key representation in the film hopefully will be the spark to help deepen the awareness & conversation in the LatinX community & African American community ..This was a most insightful & honest discussion.. Thank You..!

[@DaRunningMan]

That "controversy" is nothing but pure lies. Blacks are the most represented nonwhite group in Hollywood. In The Heights was the ONLY Hollywood movie last year that had an almost all Latino cast (while still having one of the leads black) while ALSO actually having a Latin American romantic couple since almost all the time a Latin woman is in a movie her romantic lead is a white guy. The fact that you don't know that shows how ignorant you are and how much people can be misinformed because of liars on twitter and elsewhere. Your ignorance and push for this only ends up erasing other nonwhite people. Disgusting.

[@roberth2627]

@@DaRunningMan So the new West Side story that came out in Dec which had a controversy about not having no real Afro- Latino's in key roles was also made up?..Just last night on a news program when talking about the Golden Globe awards this controversy was mentioned. about West Side Story...The reasons that African Americans are represented in films is because they made noise about it going back to the film The Birth Of a Nation.. 1915..so instead of name calling ..learn more about our shared history as African Americans & Afro-Latino's or LatinX in the Americans..you might start by watching the PBS series Black In Latin America..which can be found here on Y.T.

[@roberth2627]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqfImKuaophogLc

[@DaRunningMan]

@@roberth2627 Spare me that link. I've seen that before. You're not pushing anything new. Some black people being in a place does not make the entire place black. You're pushing American racial politics which is all about the nonsensical one drop rule that having some African ancestry erases everything else and just makes them "black". "which had a controversy about not having no real Afro- Latino's in key roles was also made up?" I never heard about West Side Story getting hit with that also but even if there was, there is no such thing as an "afro latino". Latinos are people of Latin American ancestry/blood. White people and black people are not latinos. Some black people in Puerto Rico does not make Puerto Rico black. Also, it's funny you bring up West Side Story and ignore what I wrote before which was this "...while ALSO actually having a Latin American romantic couple since almost all the time a Latin woman is in a movie her romantic lead is a white guy. " Do you know the story of West Side Story? It's about a Latin American woman that falls in love with... guess what race of man? "learn more about our shared history as African Americans & Afro-Latino's or LatinX in the Americans" The fact that you are using the term "Latinx" shows that you have no idea what you are talking about. You're not in any business to be educating anyone on anything let alone about Latinos. Latinos are people of Latin American ancestry/blood. White people and black people are not latinos.

[@roberth2627]

@@DaRunningMan So full of knowledge ,yet so empty of real historical understanding ...I see what you are about ..And I'm not wasting my time or energy on vampires ...go back to your grave in Spain..!!

[@paulcastillo953]

If you're black or àfro Latinos there's no two-way looking at it ,don't fooled yourself if you're of the African race you ,ll can tell by your hair textures, wè black race people are the only race with that textures of hair because we're some special people with God our creator. Love your self you're special 💕

[@cowlico]

My dad said it best: "son we're still black, and while we speak Spanish and have a different culture; we're black. Yes, we come from a Latin-American country with all the traditions and cultures, we are black. That's where they get the AFRO part from, our African heritage. That African heritage embodies quite a bit of who we are as a people so!"

[@barringtonbrown7152]

The British say the people in Spain have a touch of the "Tar to Brush" , meaning that they of African Ancestry. Do away with skin color privilege. North Africans are Africans as much as West Africans.

[@antoniogutierrezjr7471]

I’m a white Mexican I face insults too

[@purplegirl8036]

Mmm mmm mmm “guest effect” smh

[@charliejackson6124]

Latino are making excuses for there racism toward African Americans Black Americans fight for everyone rights Latino like to play the race card / just give African Americans the credit as the race of people that fight for justice

[@rizzi_izzy421]

Is BLM not enough?? 🤔 yo soy méxicano born us speak both languages and girlfriend Is mexican

[@purplegirl8036]

BLM is not a group. It’s a statement. I’m still in shock that they took that statement a desperate plea and used it against us as a mockery.

[@blatina2424]

"LatinX" and "Afro-Latino" are 2 very bad words because they SEGREGATE dark-skinned Latinos from other Latinos, & gay Latinos away from the normal.ones.

[@purplegirl8036]

@@blatina2424 but they are already segregated…

[@bobby12348]

Who cares I don't

[@paulcastillo953]

Educate our selves is correct thing to do instead of you calling yourself something you it s tare not it seems to me that the Africans from the Caribbean are most çonfused ones though because the Garinagu of Honduras Belizean, Guatemalan and Nicaraguan blacks never have they been confused they are what they are Arawak natives the Carib natives of South America they're closer to Haitian they even speaks a language native to America and not spoken in Africa the Garifuna

[@LoveMafae]

No such thing as afro Latino

[@visionaerie]

You understand when you're online name is light skin lover and then when you say AfroLatino don't exist, youre making yourself look bad..... Why do you love your light skin so much?.... You think of yourself as white. And you don't want to claim anything else.

[@blatina2424]

There is NO SUCH THING as "Afro-Latino" ! "A Latino is a Latino!"

[@bobby12348]

Well it is they not white. They look black they will be considered black. I call them Latino they no nothing about black American.

[@tonyperez-perry1906]

Tell that to the white Latinos & American whites!

[@sergioramos7997]

hispanics we have no colors only one lenguage espanol