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Tips,  travel,  viva la lengua

8 Afro-Latinas Inspiring Us To Get Back To Our Roots

As travelers crave a deeper connection to their roots, heritage trips are becoming increasingly popular. A heritage trip combines adventure, leisure, language, and history lessons about the places your family came from.

Speaking and teaching Spanish is one of the ways I celebrate my Afro-Latininad, stay connected to my heritage, and help others do the same. From Afro-Mexican to Afro-Dominicans, here are 8 Afro-Latinas that are also sharing their culture through their work, inspiring us to get back to our roots.

Natasha Alford

Natasha Alford (@Natashasalford) is a Puerto Rican powerhouse digital journalist, on-camera host, producer and media entrepreneur. As Deputy Editor of theGrio, she reports on the most critical news and issues shaping society and culture with a lens on criminal justice reform, education, politics and entertainment.

Bianca Kathryn

Bianca Kathryn (@biancakathryn_)  is the Afro-Mexican creator of Yo Soy Afro Latina, an online community that highlights the people, experiences, and the culture of Afro Latinas.

Did You Know:  In 2015, for the first time ever, Mexico allowed people to identify as black or Afro-Mexican? According to Pew Research, “about 1.4 million Mexicans (or 1.2% of the population) self-identified as black or of African descent based on their culture, history or customs, according to Mexico’s chief statistical agency.”

Janelle Martinez

Janel Martinez (@janelm) is an Afro-Hundurian entrepreneur and multimedia journalist. She’s a staunch advocate for Afro-Latinidad, founding the award-winning blog, Ain’t I Latina?, an online destination celebrating Afro-Latinas.

Dash Harris

Dash Harris (@Diasporadash) is the Afro-Panamanian co-founder of Afro Latino Travel, a travel group and online collection of Afro-Latinos’ global adventures. She also created the docu-series ‘Negro’ that highlights topics about identity, colonization, colorism, racism, media and stereotypes in Latin America.

Nydia Simone

Also Afro-Panamanian, Nydia Simone (@Nydiasimone) is the founder of Blactina, an online community that amplifies Afro-Latinx and Caribbean voices. The community has been featured in publications like The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and People Chica.

Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo (@acevedowrites) is a Dominican-American poet and author. She is the author of a young adult novel, The Poet X, a New York Times Bestseller and National Book Award Finalist.

Santana Caress Benítez

Santana Caress Benítez (@Santanacaress) is a Afro-Boricua chef and Food Network ‘Chopped’ champion. She’s cooking up flavor inspired by her culture, which is evident in her catering business, For The Culture Catering. She also plays LuLu on Spike Lee’s Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have it!

Danyeli Rodriguez Del Orbe

Danyelli (@afrodominicanxthings) is a Dominican born, Bronx raised, and LA living poet. She advocates and writes about love, resilience, and Afro-Latinidad. She’s been featured in publications like People Chica, The Crooked Media, and Jubilee Media.

How do you stay connected to your heritage?

If you’re interested in learning or brushing up on your Spanish to get back to your roots, get in touch. And, if you’re especially interested in learning practicing your Spanish in Havana, sign up for the upcoming VIVA LA LENGUA: HAVANA course, a 4-week online course that includes a 5- day trip to Cuba!


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