Afro-Latinas made headlines in 2015. While Afro-Latinas, or Black Latinas, have been changing the game through activism, art, business and entertainment, among other spheres, for decades, there’s something about 2015 that resulted in greater visibility and awareness for our community globally. Between stereotype-smashing hashtags like #LatinasAreNot, #SomosMas and #Afrolatina, which gave many the platform to educate the masses online, and historic moments like Puerto Rican actress and singer Jeimy Osorio becoming the first Afro-Latina to cover Vanidades, a popular women’s magazine, our narratives are reaching new heights.
With the year nearly over, it’s only right we celebrate how Afro-Latinas did it big in ’15:
2. Vlogger Monica Veloz, widely known as MonicaStyleMuse, released a powerful YouTube video, “I Am Too Dark to Be Dominican.” “We need to stop thinking people look a specific way,” says Veloz in the video. “I don’t have to sit here and speak Spanish to you so you know I’m Dominican.”
3. TV series Celia debuted on Telemundo. It’s based on the life of legendary cantante cubana Celia Cruz, la Reina de la Salsa.
(Image: Now.Telemundo.com)
4. Jeimy Osorio, who plays the young Celia in Celia, became the first Afro-Latina cover girl for Vanidades.
(Image: Twitter)
5. Part Mexican, part Panamanian actress Tessa Thompson shined as actor Michael B. Jordan’s love interest, Bianca, in Creed.
(Image: Zimbio.com)
6. Graciela Dixon became the first woman of African descent to serve as Panama’s Chief Justice.
(Image: Stjonesenterprises.com)
7. Cuba holds its first natural hair competition in Havana. Hosted by performance artist Susana Delahante, the two-hour competition brought over 70 contestants in an effort to celebrate the beauty of the Afro-Cuban community.
(Image: theodysseyonline.com)
8. Thousands of Afro-Brazilians gather in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil for the first ever Natural Hair Empowerment March (Marcha do Empoderamento Crespo). The march was organized by Lorena Lacerda, Andrea and Naiara Souza Gouveia.The historic march took place on November 7, which is exactly 41 years after the historic first march that marked the start of the Black Power movement in Bahia in 1974.
(Image: www.lipstickalley.com)
9. Blogger and image activist Carolina “Miss Rizos” Contreras opens first natural hair salon in the Dominican Republic. Contreras and her salon were recently featured in the New York Times.
(Image: MissRizos.com)
10. Brown University student Jo’Nella Queen Cabrera Ellerbe and fellow students released “Eminence,” a photo project that shows Black women reclaiming their bodies.
Jo’Nella Queen Ellerbe: “I’m the queen and no one can take that away from me.” (Image: Taylor Michael)
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