Art Exhibit Celebrates Afro-Latinidad Culture at Diamante Arts & Cultural Center

Last night, the Diamante Arts & Cultural Center welcomed the public to Afrolatinidad: An Art Exhibition with artists Jose Manuel Cruz and Miguel Brown. The exhibit was the first of four events, over the next month, celebrating Afrolatinidad.

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What is meant by the term, Afrolatinidad?

We get a sense of perspective in this excerpt from the 2016 article Afro-Latino: A deeply rooted identity among U.S. Hispanics, by Ana Gonzalez-Barrera, senior researcher at Pew Research Center:

“Identity for U.S. Hispanics is multidimensional and multifaceted. For example, many Hispanics tie their identity to their ancestral countries of origin – Mexico, Cuba, Peru or the Dominican Republic. They may also look to their indigenous roots. Among the many ways Hispanics see their identity is their racial background. Afro-Latinos are one of these Latino identity groups. They are characterized by their diverse views of racial identity, reflecting the complex and varied nature of race and identity among Latinos. A Pew Research Center survey of Latino adults shows that one-quarter of all U.S. Latinos self-identify as Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean or of African descent with roots in Latin America. This is the first time a nationally representative survey in the U.S. has asked the Latino population directly whether they considered themselves Afro-Latino.

In the U.S., Latinos with Caribbean roots are more likely to identify as Afro-Latino or Afro-Caribbean than those with roots elsewhere (34% versus 22%, respectively). Those who identify as Afro-Latino are more concentrated on the East Coast and in the South than other Latinos (65% of Afro-Latinos live in these regions vs. 48% of other Latinos). They are also more likely than other Latinos to be foreign born (70% vs. 52%), less likely to have some college education (24% vs. 37%), and more likely to have lower family incomes. About six-in-ten Afro-Latinos reported family incomes below $30,000 in 2013, compared with about half of those who did not identify as Afro-Latino (62% vs. 47%).

Afro-Latinos’ views of race are also unique. When asked directly about their race, only 18% of Afro-Latinos identified their race or one of their races as black. In fact, higher shares of Afro-Latinos identified as white alone or white in combination with another race (39%) or volunteered that their race or one of their races was Hispanic (24%). Only 9% identified as mixed race. These findings reflect the complexity of identity and race among Latinos.”

More sources for Afrolatinidad cultural understanding:

• Black Staff Caucus - Harvard University

• Here’s what it means to be Afro-Latino in America - from CNN

• What it means to be Afro-Latino - from NYC and Co.

• The Scholar Who Chronicled the Afro-Latino Experience - from The New Yorker

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About the artists:

• Miguel Brown is a Dominican visual and graphic artist. He has exhibited in the United State and Spain. Mr. Brown is a graduate of Altos de Chavon La Escuela de Diseño in Communication Arts

• Jose Manuel Cruz is a Puerto Rican/Colombian Latino Artist. He has a unique style and loves working with color and all mediums. Mr. Cruz has BA in Fine Arts and is a certified teacher in Art. For 38 years he has exhibited his works in the United States and abroad.

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Photos from Last Night’s Exhibit

As part of the month long series, coinciding with Black History Month, three more events are scheduled at Diamante Arts & Cultural Center, celebrating and educating the community about Afrolatinidad art and culture. To view information about the upcoming events, click on the images below:

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Diamante Arts & Cultural Center is located at:

5104 Western Blvd., Suite B

Raleigh, NC 27606

www.diamanteACC.org

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