Spanish is a language that offers numerous opportunities to explore cultural intersectionalities, allowing teachers to recognize and uplift diverse student populations. Whether delving into history, music, geography, laws, or linguistics, cultural intersectionality within the products, practices, and perspectives is abundant. This is particularly evident when it comes to Afro-Latinos, distinguished by an intersection of race and ethnicity. Afro-Latinos have made and continue to make significant contributions to the cultural fabric of the Americas, yet they are often not explicitly taught about in grade school. In this blog post, I’ll share my personal journey, the driving force behind my passion, and introduce you to a few remarkable Afro-Latinos perfect for Black History Month and beyond. Plus, I’ll provide links to free resources!

✊🏽 My Why: How I Got Here

Several years ago, I was a grad student at Middlebury College in La Escuela de Español. Each class was a treasure trove of knowledge, and I eagerly absorbed every lesson that would later enrich both my academic and professional life. During my time at Middlebury, I focused my personal studies on Afro-Latinidad and social justice causes. Courses on Vanguardian poetry, for example, led me to explore the works of Nicolás Guillén, an Afro-Cuban poet (1902-1989). My Advanced Academic Writing course allowed me to examine themes of discrimination portrayed in modern-day media, such as novelas like “Celia,” recounting the life of Celia Cruz. I was wholly committed.

While at Middlebury, I had the privilege of learning from Professors Aída Bueno Sarduy and Armin Schwegler, both experts in Afro-Latino-related themes. Their courses were enlightening, broadening my understanding of Afrolatinidad and Afrodescendientes. My Master’s thesis work came directly from what I learned in their courses: researching the impact of Africans on Latin America and the enduring legacy of Afrodescendientes of the cultural patrimony of the Americas.   In this blog post, you can read more about my upbringing and how it influenced my love of Afrolatinidad.

❤️ Honoring Afro-Latinos in the Spanish Classroom

Inspired by my coursework and life experiences, I decided to create resources that would educate grade-level students about Afro-Latinos and Afrodescendientes—their contributions, history, and ongoing legacy. I opened a Teachers Pay Teachers shop and posted a research project that allows students to choose from over 60 Afro-Latinos to learn more about and present on. These Afro-Latinos are grouped by field, career, or theme, ensuring that students can select someone with whom they resonate. The project requires students to write an essay, create a poster, develop a class presentation, and include an artifact to bring their chosen Afro-Latino to life. This project employs many of the Social Justice World Language Standards outlined in the Teaching for Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework.

I launched this resource mentioned below in 2020, updating it every year, and it has since garnered widespread interest, with several hundred copies sold.

➡️ Heritage Project: This resource will change your students’ worldview 🌍

Here are some of my favorite jewels in the crown of this project along with cherished photos from past years. If you’re keen to learn more about this project, I have included some useful links and audio just for you below!

Student Samples: A Voyage Through Photos

✨ The following trailblazers are part of my 60+ famous Afro-Latinos Heritage Project! Listen to the audio for my commentary.

1. Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

Play audio for my commentary!

2. Ilia Calderón

Play audio for my commentary!

3. Ibrahim Ferrer

Play audio for my commentary!

4. Carolina Contreras

Play audio for my commentary!

5. Gaspar Yanga

Play audio for my commentary!

6. Sophina DeJesus

Play audio for my commentary!

---

Want to Bring This Impact Into Your Classroom?

💃🏽 Looking to uplevel your culture in your classroom? Check out my latest mini-course,​ Celebrating Afro-Latino Heritage in the Spanish Classroom.​ You’ll learn everything you need to teach with more confidence and the tools you to make flexible lessons–no matter how much time you have. So what are you waiting for? ​Join me and it will be my privilege to coach you! ​​

Let’s create classrooms where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered—one lesson at a time.