Why make the distinction between Latin@s and AfroLatin@s? Aren’t we all just Latin@s?

Identification as an “AfroLatin@” acknowledges the racial diversity among Latin Americans, Caribbeans and Latin@s and the historical, political, and social particularities that characterize the experiences of people of African descent throughout the Americas. By self-consciously identifying as AfroLatin@ we assert our cultural/ethnic origins AND our membership in the African diasporic community. “Black” and “Latin@” are not mutually exclusive identities - AfroLatin@s belong to both groups.

Why does the afrolatin@ forum use the “@” symbol in its name?

We use the @ sign in order to indicate gender inclusion. This practice originates with the Latin American feminist movement of the 1970s (long before e-mail!) and is used as a corrective to the gender specific character of the Spanish language. “AfroLatin@” is the equivalent to “AfroLatino and AfroLatina” or “AfroLatina/o.”

Where can I go to find out more information about AfroLatin@s?

The AfroLatin@ Forum is a great resource for discovering information regarding the history of afrolatinos. We are in the process of providing online resources for members including a bibliography and archival materials. However, you can visit our resources page for books, articles, links and other resources you can use to get more information about AfroLatin@s. However, a good place to start is The Afro-Latin@ Reader: History and Culture in the United States, edited by Miriam Jiménez Román and Juan Flores.

What’s the difference between Latin@ and Hispanic?

Hispanic usually refers to Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas and denotes a relationship to Spain. Latin@ refers to Latin-based romance languages of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal and geographically regional Latin American countries, which include Haiti and Brazil. The term 'Latin America' was pioneered by Napoleon as a way to declare French influence in the Americas. The 2010 U.S census classification: “Hispanic or Latino” refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.