Resolution: An Afro-Latin@ Plan for Action
As part of the global struggle for human rights and social justice and in commemoration of the United Nations Declaration of 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent, the participants at “Afro-Latin@s Now!: Strategies for Visibility and Action,” affirm our commitment to promoting real and positive change in the daily livesof afrodescendientes throughout the Americas.
Convened by the Afrolatin@ Forum, this first transnational conference focused on the Afro-Latin@ experience in the United States, and gathered together more than 500 people for three days of dialogue and exchange. From the conversations among educators, community activists, scholars, artists, and youth in attendance, what emerged were the following recommendations for future actions. Continue reading the resolution here.
What people are saying about "Afro-Latin@s Now! Strategies for Visibility and Action"
“The conference definitely garnered momentum for people to contribute to what I would say is a movement. There's an awakening offline and online. People are looking for ways to get involved, to affirm themselves and to share that knowledge. I can't say enough what this conference has done for me and friends of mine who also attended. This conference has been one of the major highlights in my life and I'm confident to say others share that sentiment.” - Violeta Donawa, Detroit, MI
"The conference concept of conversations spurred in me personal memories and stories I too seldom reflect upon that have shaped much of my personal, professional, and political-activist life. The results were well worth the effort. And, I have no doubt that many positive reverberations will flow in and outside the U.S." - James Early, Washington, DC
“Having this kind of forum for us to come together, share expertise, share experiences and just meet face to face is key to our future work and to our hopes of the potential we have to accomplish much as we move forward. More importantly, it truly helped to fill and feed my soul. I look forward to seeing you and working with you and many others I met during that wonderful weekend. Pa’lante!” - Iván Román, Silver Springs, MD
View conference photographs here.
"The conference concept of conversations spurred in me personal memories and stories I too seldom reflect upon that have shaped much of my personal, professional, and political-activist life. The results were well worth the effort. And, I have no doubt that many positive reverberations will flow in and outside the U.S." - James Early, Washington, DC
“Having this kind of forum for us to come together, share expertise, share experiences and just meet face to face is key to our future work and to our hopes of the potential we have to accomplish much as we move forward. More importantly, it truly helped to fill and feed my soul. I look forward to seeing you and working with you and many others I met during that wonderful weekend. Pa’lante!” - Iván Román, Silver Springs, MD
View conference photographs here.
 
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The Afro-Latin@ Forum is pleased to host “Afro-Latin@s Now! Strategies for Visibility and Action,” a three-day international conference that will gather scholars, community leaders and artists to advance a dialogue on issues of importance to Black Latin@s in the United States as well as foster positive relations between Latin@s, African Americans and other peoples of color. Among our institutional partners in this endeavor are the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The Center for the Humanities of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, El Museo del Barrio, and the W.E.B.Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.
In keeping with the UN resolution (A/RES/64/169) declaring 2011 as the International Year of People of African Descent, this conference will be held on November 3-5, 2011 in New York City. Participants will lead panels and workshops addressing a range of issues such as representation, media, youth, education and the performing arts to promote awareness and social engagement across Afro-Latin@ communities in the United States and throughout the Americas. The goal of the conference will be to promote dialogue and mutual understanding amongst and between Afro-Latin@s, the broader Latin@ and African American populations, and the general public including other peoples of color. We aim to expand and solidify the widening network of educators and activists working on related themes, and to begin defining the key educational and policy issues that bear on the recognition and empowerment of this largely overlooked and underserved population. Invited participants will be educators, community activists, cultural workers and policy advocates from different parts of the country, and leaders from Afro-Descendant movements in Latin America and the Caribbean. The venues for the conference will be the Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and El Museo del Barrio. A planning committee comprised of several working groups is already busy organizing the conference and seeking institutional and financial support. Designated panel topics include racial identity, youth and education, invisibility and misrepresentation in the media, intra-racial dialogues, and practices of cultural expression. The planned schedule will call for a plenary welcoming round table on Thursday evening November 3rd, a full day of panels on Friday November 4th, and family and youth programming on Saturday November 5. The afrolatin@ forum works to build and strengthen research and activist networks among Latin@s of African descent in the United States. Our focus is on Black Latin@s in the United States and their relationships with other communities of color. This emphasis is guided by a transnational perspective that recognizes the centrality of race in understanding today's global reality and the struggle for social justice. |