In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Latin X/O Affinity Group held its marquee event, Roots, Identity and Culture of Afro-Latinos, on September 13. Each year, the affinity group explores topics relevant to its members and strives to produce events that provide education and spark curiosity about Latin X culture’s complexities and multi-faceted identities. This year’s panel discussion focused on the intersectionality of the Black and Latino experiences.
This distinguished panel of thought leaders, academics, artists and voices took attendees on a journey deep-dived into the roots, history and cultural identities of Afro-Latinos in Latin American Culture. They underscored the marginalization and underrepresentation in historical events due to the complex racial dynamics not just in Latin and Central America and other Spanish-speaking countries but also in the United States.
The event opened with music featuring Afro-Latino artists, followed by a centering ceremony by community leaders from the First Nation. Then, it moved into a thought-provoking discussion with esteemed historians, advocates and activists. Attendees were offered insight into the unique perspectives and traditions of the Afro-Latino from the panelist’s point of view.
The event was moderated by Communications Director Tiffany Garcia and hosted by Chief Public Policy and Advocacy Officer Eva M. Terrazas with the help of the Latin X/O Affinity Group’s planning committee of Senior Vice President, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Angelica Cortez, Administrative Coordinator Karla Guardado, Communications Manager Roberta Jackson, Training and Learning Systems Coordinator Ricardo Mendez, Clinician Maria Ayala and Youth and Family Partner Supervisor Xiomara Seide.
For more information, below are resources shared by panelists during the discussion.
- A love letter to Black Indigenous
- LA Times Article about the Garifuna Museum of Los Angeles
- Garifuna/Black Caribs: Maroon Geographies of Indigenous Blackness
- Brooklyn Garifuna Heritage Month
- Centering Black Latinidad | Latino Policy & Politics Institute (ucla.edu)
- Report Shows Unique Labor Market Challenge for Afro-Latinx Workers
- Latino is Not a Race | Latino Policy & Politics Institute (ucla.edu)
- Webinar: Understanding Afro-Latinx Experiences through Data Disaggregation – YouTube
