In The Community
Afro-Latinos have left a mark on music
Photo by Ardian Lumi on UnsplashDid you know that many of the Latino music genres you probably enjoy have Afro-Latino roots? Afro-Latino music is an eclectic mix that includes genres like salsa, merengue, samba, and reggaeton. Take salsa, for instance—it originated from Cuban son music, which is heavily influenced by African rhythms and percussion. If you’re looking for something more traditional, listen to the beats of Afro-Cuban rumba or the lively sounds of Brazilian samba. Afro-Latinos have blessed the music world in many ways, no matter how hard the industry tries to hide their influence.
Afro-Latinos have made great contributions to art
Photo by Andres Perez on UnsplashThe art produced by Afro-Latino communities is as diverse as it is vibrant. From the colorful murals of Brazilian favelas to the intricate beadwork in Afro-Colombian crafts, the creativity and storytelling of the art pieces Afro-Latinos offer to the world are deeply rooted in cultural identity and history. Artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, who had Puerto Rican and Haitian roots, have made significant contributions to the art world, blending their Afro-Latino heritage with contemporary themes. With contemporary Afro-Latino artists like Tiffany Alfonseca, with pieces that celebrate Afro-Latino and Black culture, there’s no corner of the art world that isn’t touched and improved by the Afro-Latino influence.
Afro-Latinos have contributed greatly to sports
Photo by Pixabay
There’s no denying that Afro-Latinos have made incredible contributions to the world of sports. Baseball stars like Roberto Clemente from Puerto Rico and soccer legends like Pelé from Brazil are celebrated for their extraordinary talents and achievements, marking a before and after. Their legacies go beyond sports, inspiring generations, and advocating for racial equality and social justice. Today, Afro-Latino athletes continue to break barriers and set records, including Afro-Latinas like Catarina Macario, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Yulimar Rojas, and more.
Afro-Latinos have left their mark in the literary world
Photo by Prasanna Kumar on UnsplashAfro-Latino writers have made significant contributions to literature, highlighting the complexities of identity, race, and heritage. Authors like Nicolás Guillén from Cuba and Piri Thomas from Puerto Rico have explored Afro-Latino experiences through their powerful poetry and prose. Their works offer insight into the struggles and triumphs of living at the intersection of African and Latin American cultures, amplifying Afro-Latino experiences. Afro-Latina authors like Ariana Brown, Elizabeth Acevedo, Melania Luisa Marte, and more have been empowering readers and the Afro-Latino community with their impactful stories.
The Afro-Latino cultural impact is a testament to the creativity of its people and the richness of their experiences. By learning about and celebrating their influence in art, music, literature, cuisine, and more, as well as uplifting that influence and supporting their contributions, we can lend a hand in the fight against erasure.
Afro-Latinos have birthed rich spiritual traditions
Photo by James Emery on Flickr
Many Afro-Latinos practice religions that blend African spiritual traditions with Catholicism, such as Santería in Cuba, Candomblé in Brazil, and Voodoo in Haiti. These religions incorporate African deities, rituals, and ceremonies, providing a unique and profound spiritual experience. The way Afro-Latinos approach spirituality and religion is a fascinating mix of ancestral worship, nature reverence, and community celebration.
Domingo also became the second openly gay man to be nominated for playing an openly gay character. In addition to his Oscar nomination, he was also nominated for Best Actor at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), Golden Globes Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, African-American Film Critics Association Awards, and Satellite Awards.
As an Afro-Latino of Belizean and Guatemalan heritage, Domingo’s nomination is a huge win for the Afro-Latino community. Especially in Hollywood. Afro-Latinos around the world are underrepresented and deeply misunderstood. This is clearly reflected in the entertainment industry, where most of the Latin stars most people know are racially white, white-passing, or lighter shades of brown. Names like Sofia Vergara, Salma Hayek, Pedro Pascal, and Oscar Isaac come to mind.
This is the work of the industry’s gatekeepers, who perpetuate a very specific, stereotyped, and narrow image of what Latinos look like. Afro-Latinos don’t fit that mold, so they’re consistently left out. When they are cast, they’re stripped of their Afro-Latinidad. Rather than playing Latino or Afro-Latino characters, they end up playing Black or mixed-race characters.
This has led to the erasure of Afro-Latino stories and representation in the entertainment industry. A study on Hispanic/Latino Representation in Film from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative sheds light on this very issue. The study looked into 1,600 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2022, and it found that Latino representation hasn’t improved.
When Latinos are given prominent roles, they’re stereotyped as low-income immigrants, criminals, angry and temperamental people, and they’re also sexualized. The study also shows that Afro-Latinos are particularly ignored. It was found that among the top 100 movies of 2022, only one role was portrayed by an Afro-Latina. From 2007 to 2022, only 8 Afro-Latino actors had leading or co-leading roles. So, in 16 years, only 1% of roles went to Afro-Latinos.
The lack of stories that center on Latinos is staggering, and the lack of stories that center on Afro-Latinos is abysmal. This is not due to a lack of available Afro-Latino talent, but rather to a reluctance from the powers that be to invest in developing those stories or to allow the representation of Afro-Latinidad. This begs a change, and while that’s easier said than done, progress is being made.
A big part of that progress is creating consciousness and clarity around Afro-Latinidad in the industry. The pan-label “Latino” isn’t a race. The label attempts to encompass a wide range of races, ethnicities, and cultures and Afro-Latinos are a significant part of the Latino community. As this continues to be more widely understood, Afro-Latino actors and actresses continue to encourage this awareness and clarity by having important conversations about their identity and their experience in the industry.
While there’s still a lot of work to be done, the wave of Afro-Latino talent is rising, not just in television, but also in film. Afro-Latinos have always been there, making contributions to the industry. The issue is that they haven’t been allowed to claim those contributions, but the tides are changing. As such, the fact that the Afro-Latino community is finally showing up in the entertainment industry is worth celebrating.
Supporting and raising awareness for projects that represent Afro-Latino stories is just as important as supporting and celebrating Afro-Latino actors and actresses, even if their roles don’t exactly showcase Afro-Latinidad just yet. Stars like Colman Domingo, Zoe Saldaña, Gina Torres, MJ Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Rosario Dawson, and Alfred Enoch, among others, deserve to hold space in the industry.
Colman Domingo’s historic Oscar nomination is an encouraging sign of how the Afro-Latino community is making strides toward more visibility and building a larger stage for future generations to showcase Latinidad in all its unique shades.
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