Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month: 11 Afro-Latino Celebrities You NEED To Know

Every year, National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept.15 through Oct. 15, offers an opportunity to recognize the rich cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities, including the many Afro-Latino voices that have helped shape them.

Afro-Latinidad is incredibly diverse, spanning generations, countries and cultures. From Hollywood heavyweights and chart-topping musicians to television stars and rising actors, Black Latinos are continuing to make their mark, all while challenging long-standing ideas about what Latino identity is supposed to look like.

The celebrities featured here come from different backgrounds and have taken very different paths to the spotlight. But they share a common thread: each has helped bring greater visibility to Afro-Latino identity and shown that there is no single way to be Latino, or Afro-Latino. 

Here are 12 Afro-Latino celebrities you need to know. 

1. Amara La Negra

If you’re talking about Afro-Latina representation in pop culture, Amara La Negra deserves a spot near the top of the list. The Dominican-American singer, actress, dancer and television personality became widely known through Love & Hip Hop: Miami, but she’s been performing since childhood.

Amara has never been afraid to talk about colorism, anti-Blackness and the challenges darker-skinned Afro-Latinas face in entertainment. She’s used her platform to proudly celebrate her Dominican and African heritage and push back against the idea that being Black and Latina are somehow separate identities.

Her visibility is particularly significant because darker-skinned Afro-Latinas have historically had fewer opportunities to see themselves represented in mainstream Latino media. 

Read more after the flip!

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