Blacktinidad Celebrates Black History Month: Embracing Afro-Latinidad

On the latest episode of Blacktinidad, hosts Eliana, Nadia, and Kyo sat down for a moving conversation about embracing the Afro side of their Latino culture. Through open discussion and insightful experiences, they explored the hardships of identity and the important need for representation within the Afro-Latino community.

Eliana set the tone for the episode by saying, “I don’t want my black ancestors and African roots to be erased.” Her words mirrored a sentiment shared by a plethora of individuals who understand the importance of embracing their heritage. Nadia added to the conversation by sharing her own personal experience with the tensions she has seen between African Americans and Afro-Latinos, a dynamic that often left her feeling baffled. Kyo contributed his opinion, discussing his journey towards embracing his blackness, which had been rooted within him because of his community and upbringing.

The hosts soon dove into the topic of anti-blackness within the Latino community that is a ever present problem that many face in the Latino community. The group read shocking social media comments that exposed people’s true colors and the ignorance being spewed online. They group also talked about the issue of colorism, acknowledging its roots in generational and systemic ignorance. Although  these are the many challenges individuals have to deal with, Eliana emphasized the importance of determination, urging Latinos continued efforts to uplift and support each other. “We have to keep doing the work and uplifting each other.”

The episode continued as Nadia and Eliana welcomed actor Laz Alonso to the episode. Laz, known for his embrace of his Afro-Latino roots, shared a glimpse into his journey in the entertainment industry as an Afro Latino actor and discussed the opportunities he sees to pave the way for others in the industry. He talked about the value that Afro-Latinos bring both in front of and behind the camera, saying, “We have value in front of the camera but we also have value as consumers.”

Reminiscing about on his own path, Laz talked about his transition from having a career on Wall Street after graduating Howard University with a degree in marketing and finance, to pursuing acting in New York and Los Angeles soon after. Inspired by actors like Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Laurence Fishburne, Laz is continually driven by a desire to bring representation to those who look ike him, striving to bring inspiration to the next generation. He acknowledged the many times as an actor he was rejected in the industry, stating, “You’re going to get a lot more no’s than yeses.” but he stressed the importance of hard work and perseverance.

The episode concluded with the “Storytellers” segment, featuring Laz Alonso himself discussing what storytelling means to him. “Storytelling to me is the opportunity to share an experience,” he shared. For Laz, the opportunity to be in the limelight and share his experiences holds great significance as he believes he is just now hitting his stride—a stride that will allow him and his story to influence the masses.