AfroLatino

Afro-Latino is a term used to describe people who are of African descent and have Latin American or Caribbean heritage. It is commonly used in the United States and other contexts to acknowledge both racial identity and regional culture. Some people prefer Afro-Latinx as a gender-inclusive form, while others use Afro-Latino or Afrodescendant Latino, reflecting different linguistic or personal preferences. The term encompasses a wide range of identities and experiences within diverse national and regional contexts.

Afro-descendant populations are present across Latin America and the Caribbean, with historically large communities in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Smaller but significant communities exist in Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, and parts of Central America. In the United States, many Afro-Latinos trace origins to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, illustrating the diaspora dimension of the identity.

Historically, Afro-Latinx communities formed through the Atlantic slave trade, including enslaved Africans, free people of color, and mixed-heritage groups who contributed to local cultures. Afro-Latinx identities have shaped language, music, religion, and social life, producing distinct cultural expressions that blend African, Indigenous, and European influences.

Cultural contributions include both traditional and contemporary forms of music, dance, and cuisine, such as samba, salsa, reggaeton, and Afro-Latinx artistic movements. Contemporary discussions around Afro-Latino identity address representation, race classification, and social equity, highlighting the diversity and lived experiences within Latin American populations.