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afro-latinx history

Culture

17 Books to Understand the Black History of Latin America

Sofía Aguilar
Black History Month coverage doesn’t always include Afro-Latinidad but that history (both in the U.S. and Latin America) is both important and deserving of attention. We may think we know the history of Latin America, or at least the specific...
Culture

14 Books to Read to Better Understand Our Latin History

Sofía Aguilar
Every year from September 15 to October 15, Latinx Heritage Month is a time for the entire community to celebrate and come together from all our different nations, heritages, cultures, and most importantly, our histories. In school, many of us...
Culture

10 Reasons Latinxs Should Celebrate Black History Month

Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Many of us grew up not knowing our full history especially that of our homeland and the diasporas and pre-colonization history. We identified as Latino—or Puerto Rican or Mexican or Dominican, etc. without fully grasping the evolution of those identities. We...
Culture

Everything You Should Know About Juneteenth & Why It’s Important

Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
The word “Juneteenth” is one that many of us had never even heard until a few years ago or even more just this year, but it’s one that every American and every person living in America should be familiar with....
Culture

The Significance of How Puerto Rico Honors Emancipation Day

Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Puerto Rico’s Emancipation Day which is celebrated on March 22 each year, is notable for a few reasons. The first thing that comes to mind though is that it’s celebrated at all. Emancipation Day in Puerto Rico is the commemoration...
Culture

Bomba & Plena Music Are Giving A New Voice to Afro-Latinx Communities

Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
The uniquely Puerto Rican musical styles of bomba and plena are deeply rooted in the island’s African roots. When most Boricuas hear the deep drum beats of bomba and plena, we can’t help but move our bodies. When we hear...
Culture Family

Why Latinx Moms Need to Know the Truth About Black History in America

Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
As a Latina mom who was born and raised in the United States and is now raising children in the same racism-plagued country, my eyes are open. They haven’t always been, at least not completely, though something was always there...
Family

10 Resources to Help You Teach Your Kids About Black History

Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
Most parents recognize the importance of Black History Month and understand why we should be putting in the extra effort to teach our kids more about historic Black figures as well as about the struggles, perspectives, accomplishments,  advancements and contributions...