Not to be rude, but I just want to understand why it is that people say afro Latino when growing up we learn that Latino already means you have black in you. So why the extra distinction?
Here’s the thing, “Latino” does not indicate an individual racial marker or racial identity not in Latin America, and not in the USA. Even Though the term Latino has been often used (incorrectly imo) as a race, we have to remember that folks are treated differently based on their actual racial makeup/background/phenotype.
Latinxs / Latin Americans of African descent have always, ALWAYS had terms to refer to themselves under the context of being African descendants. Currently the term we’re using is Afro Latino/ Latinx/ Latine.
We use the term(s) as a recognition of our African ancestry, especially when that very ancestry dictates our daily lived experiences. We use the term both as a cultural reference, and as a political tool to connect with black/ African Descendant peoples of other countries, regions, or continents.
We use the term to reinforce our desire to embrace our African heritage, especially in combat against the anti-black teachings of the globe. We don’t want our African heritage to be an implied part of who we are, when it is an overt part of our daily existence. It’s what people see when they look at us, it’s in the way we speak, the way we worship, the way our family’s have had to navigate institutionalized forms of racism etc. It’s intentional, and it’s useful as well as it being part of a long lasting trend of black identity categorizations of Latin Americans.
