#power 105

This serves as Part 1 of a three-part post concerning colorism in the Latino/a community, inspired by a recent radio interview on the subject. *Note – Latinos are often referred to as male, while Latinas are considered female

Love & Hip Hop Miami cast member and Dominican recording artist Amara La Negra recently made headways with her interview on The Breakfast Club Power 105.1. In the interview, La Negra spoke on her issues being an Afro-Latina (i.e. a female from Latina America or the Caribbean who has significant African ancestry) and dealing with issues being accepted in the Latin music and entertainment industry. Specifically, La Negra, who is dark-skinned, mentioned that she has struggles with colorism, or discrimination based on skin color, in which individuals with darker skin complexions are often looked down upon. While trying to explain these issues, two of the radio station’s co-hosts, DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God, seemingly did not understand La Negra’s plight. During La Negra’s assertion that the Latin entertainment industry would most likely gravitate towards a Latina that favors singers such as Jennifer Lopez or Shakira, who both have a lighter complexion, Envy stated that he does not see that. Later in the interview, Charlamagne questioned La Negra’s stance on colorism in the Latin entertainment market, asking, “you sure it’s not in your mind?”

Many took to social media to express their attitudes towards La Negra’s interview and the line of questioning she received by Envy and Charlamagne. Featured in this post are some responses seen on both Instagram and Twitter. One individual stated, “Unfortunately, many Black people are unaware of the colorism Amara La Negra faces from both her community and MSM [mainstream media].” In all honesty, The Breakfast Club’s co-hosts did not seem to understand what the Dominican recording artist was trying to convey. Still, an argument can be made that Envy and Charlamagne’s questions towards La Negra were a bit insensitive. Snippets from this interview will be shown in Part 2 and Part 3 of this three-part post.

According to Chavez-Dueñas, Adames, and Organista (2014), Afro-Latino/as in the Americas today are negatively stereotyped, described in a derogatory “manner, and exoticized when represented in the media” (p. 10). Moreover, Afro-Latino/as are often blamed for struggles they face, and are repeatedly considered lazy and incompetent despite centuries of oppression, exclusion, and marginalization. Current practices of denial make it hard for Latino/as to engage in dialogue regarding colorism that is honest and self-critical.

Part 2 of this three-part post will briefly cover the history behind racial stratification and hierarchy in Latin America.

References

THREESIXTEEN - Meaning