Should the term—African American be used exclusively by U.S. born blacks or should the term include AfroLatinos? This was just one of the many questions I asked a group of students at Yale University when I presented Afro-Latinos: The Untaught Story. Some Latino students were concerned that using the term might mean they would have to give up being Latino. The black students were honest about some resentmentthey felt in sharing the term with these “new blacks” and them taking advantage of the opportunities that the “original blacks” have paved the way for. The conversation is a small part of a larger movement that is happening right now—the introduction and inclusion of the AfroLatinoa as part of the African Diaspora.
AfroLatinos are the descendants of the enslaved Africans forcibly taken from their land and dispersed throughout Latin America. Afro-Latinos: The Untaught Story (www.AfroLatinos.tv) is a documentary television series independently produced by Creador Pictures, LLC. The film will be a seven part series covering segments such as: History, Language, Religion, Food, Identity, Art, Music and Social Issues. It is the story of the estimated 200 million Afro-descendants throughout Latin America; who for the most part have no political or economic power. Afro-Latinos: The Untaught Story will take you on a journey to meet Afro- Latinos throughout Spanish and Portuguese speaking nations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. It is the story of a shared history not found in textbooks. This film gives a voice to communities who have been invisible—until now.
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How do we unite these two cultures? In the United States we hear that some African Americans are resentful towards these other groups of people—these “new blacks” arguing that, “THEY have been the minority, the ones who built this country, the most oppressed, the ones who fought for civil rights—and here we have this NEW group fighting for our place at the table!” What benefits would a unified African based population have in this society? What benefits have been seen in encouraging this separation? It will come down to what people individually, personally and collectively choose to identify with. This project aims to provide a community of marginalized AfroLatinos throughout Latin America with information that affirms their rightful place in the African Diaspora. We must recognize that black and white is not just a social construct that exists solely in this country—racism and discrimination is a global discussion. Unity must come from respect of the many different cultures that are within the African Diaspora—the slave experience did not only happen in the United States. A unified front would mean the reeducation of ALL of the Americas. We hope you will GET INVOLVED and join us on this movement.
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