Our Stories
"The “invisibility” of people of African descent in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean—and more specifically of those whose phenotype directly links them to Africa--- has served as a transnational linkage for most of the past century."
"There is nothing more inspirational for marginalized peoples than witnessing first-hand the reality of counterparts in other parts of the world."
"Though the Forum operates primarily within the United States, it works with various communities in the African Diaspora. Through this Exchange the Forum begins to position itself to be the conduit that meets the pressing needs of institutions and organizations that must operate transnationally to address the problems facing communities of African-descent throughout Latin America. "
"It already seems trite to say that we live in a very small world, but the truth of the matter is that black people live on a very small planet; consequently, the cultural and racial politics of black people in one nation can reverberate throughout the world."
"I … experienced a certain pride and determination that is special to the moment in which a community, cognizant of the legacies at play, has decided to determine their own fate and, ultimately, change the course of history…. To have people that could be considered family, phenotypically-speaking, consider me family based on our shared ancestry, in a country that I have never been to – one where I know absolutely no one – was an everlasting and indescribably significant experience. That the African diaspora is real, and that I saw its manifestation with my own eyes and shook its hand with my own, has been an inspiration."
"I felt we were one; there were no boundaries or countries that divided us. We are Black and we are fighting the same struggle perhaps in a different magnitude but Afrolatinos/as in the US suffer from being marginalized by having lack of resources in our community just like them and the common denominator is the color of our skin. … I firmly believe that the Afrolatin@ Forum can serve as a liaison or a hub to collect, disseminate information, resources, support not only of the Afrolatin@ experience in the United States but also from different organizations in the rest of the Americas. "
"Shared and disparate history and conditions forced me to conceive of the Afro-latino struggle in the United States differently. The Afro-latino population is large and quite diverse and that range is difficult to grasp at times. Visiting Afro-latino communities in Ecuador brought me to a better understanding of their realities and challenges, and consequently enhanced my understanding of my community’s challenges."
"There is nothing more inspirational for marginalized peoples than witnessing first-hand the reality of counterparts in other parts of the world."
"Though the Forum operates primarily within the United States, it works with various communities in the African Diaspora. Through this Exchange the Forum begins to position itself to be the conduit that meets the pressing needs of institutions and organizations that must operate transnationally to address the problems facing communities of African-descent throughout Latin America. "
"It already seems trite to say that we live in a very small world, but the truth of the matter is that black people live on a very small planet; consequently, the cultural and racial politics of black people in one nation can reverberate throughout the world."
"I … experienced a certain pride and determination that is special to the moment in which a community, cognizant of the legacies at play, has decided to determine their own fate and, ultimately, change the course of history…. To have people that could be considered family, phenotypically-speaking, consider me family based on our shared ancestry, in a country that I have never been to – one where I know absolutely no one – was an everlasting and indescribably significant experience. That the African diaspora is real, and that I saw its manifestation with my own eyes and shook its hand with my own, has been an inspiration."
"I felt we were one; there were no boundaries or countries that divided us. We are Black and we are fighting the same struggle perhaps in a different magnitude but Afrolatinos/as in the US suffer from being marginalized by having lack of resources in our community just like them and the common denominator is the color of our skin. … I firmly believe that the Afrolatin@ Forum can serve as a liaison or a hub to collect, disseminate information, resources, support not only of the Afrolatin@ experience in the United States but also from different organizations in the rest of the Americas. "
"Shared and disparate history and conditions forced me to conceive of the Afro-latino struggle in the United States differently. The Afro-latino population is large and quite diverse and that range is difficult to grasp at times. Visiting Afro-latino communities in Ecuador brought me to a better understanding of their realities and challenges, and consequently enhanced my understanding of my community’s challenges."
