Afro-Latino Studies
The term Afro-Latino is relatively new in academia. It was adopted as a response to the invisibility of Black people while discussing issues of Latinidad ethnicity. Other terms used to describe the Afro-Latino community are Afro-Hispanic or Black Hispanic, however, it is important to note that Latin and Hispanic, while often used interchangeably, are not synonymous terms.
When searching for books or articles consider the following terms to find materials in your topic:
- Afro-Latino, Afro-Latina, Afro-Latine, Afro-Latinx
- Black Latino, Black Latina, Black Latine
- Afro-Caribbean or Black Caribbean
- AfroLatinidad or Black Latinidad
- Afro-Latin American or Black Latin American
- Afro-Hispanic American or Black Hispanic American
- Afro-Chicano
- Afro or Black [ethnic/national group]
- Black Puerto Rican
- Afro-Cuban
Intersectionality: Understanding Black Ethnic Identities
- “Latinx” is growing in popularity. I made a comic to help you understand why. The gender-neutral term that’s supposed to be for everyone, well, isn’t.Author, illustrator, and comic maker, Terry Blas, breaks down the new buzzword 'Latinx' and explains why it hasn't gained traction among Spanish-speaking communities.
- I’m Latino. I’m Hispanic. And they’re different, so I drew a comic to explain.Author, illustrator, and comic-maker, Terry Blas, breaks down the differences between the terms Latino and Hispanic, which are often conflated with one another.
- Chicano Meaning: The Difference Between Chicano vs LatinoBrandon Loran Maxwell describes the cultural and historical overlaps and intersections between the Chicano and Latin-American communities.
Books about Afro-Latinos
Black Puerto Rican Identity and Religious Experience by ISBN: 0813029244Publication Date: 2006-04-23Based on twelve months of fieldwork, this study shows how believers experience their religion in its various dimensions. Writing as a native ethnographer, the author offers the personal religious histories of many of Loiza’s residents, some of whom she follows northward to the United States as they re-create regional and political boundaries.
Neither Enemies nor Friends by ISBN: 1403965676Publication Date: 2005-04-02In this collection of essays, leading scholars focus on the contemporary meanings and diverse experiences of blackness in specific countries of the hemisphere, including the United States. The anthology introduces new perspectives on comparative forms of racialization in the Americas and presents its implications both for Latin American societies, and for Latinos' relations with African Americans in the U.S.
Additional Resources
- The Global Afro Latino and Caribbean Initiative (GALCI)The Global Afro Latino and Caribbean Initiative (GALCI) was creative by non-governmental organizations from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States of America dedicated to correcting the persisting inequities that have had devastating impact on the lives of African descendants in the Americas.
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black CultureFor over 80 years the Center has collected, preserved, and provided access to materials documenting Black life, and promoted the study and interpretation of the history and culture of peoples of African descent.
- Digital SchomburgSome collections from the Schomburg are available online.
