Students and staff come together to celebrate intersectional identity at Afro-Latinidad

In honor of Black History Month, El Centro de la Promesa Azul and the Office of Equity and Inclusion hosted “Afro-Latinidad: Celebrating Intersectional Identity” on Feb. 29. 

Elizabeth Quirarte, HSI Wellness Case Manager, presented about Afro-Latinx identities and intersectionality. She aimed to celebrate intersectionality in light of both Black History Month and the center’s goal of supporting Hispanic, Latinx, commuter, first-generation students, and students of color. 

“I wanted to create a program event where we could celebrate something for Black Heritage Month but also talk about that racial identity of being both racially black but also ethnically Hispanic/Latinx, and maybe talk about that intersection during this month to center our Hispanic students … but also celebrate Black History Month,” Quirarte explained. 

She highlighted Afro-Latinx celebrities (Elizabeth Acevedo, Cardi B, Celia Cruz, Coleman Domingo, Francisco Lindor, and Miles Morales), defined Afro-Latinx identities, and defined intersectionality, basing the term on Kimberlé Crenshaw’s original definition. She also acknowledges that the definition has broadened and impacts all of us in various ways and to various degrees. 

Additionally, she discussed the role of Blackness in shaping economic outcomes for Afro-descendant groups, shared a video of Afro-Latinx people talking about their experiences and struggles living between the intersection of both identities, discussed how racism and colorism impact Latinx groups, and opened the floor for discussion. 

Quirarte explained that while many believe that Black and Latinx identities are mutually exclusive, Latinx is an ethnic identity and Black is a racial identity, so identifying as Afro-Latinx allows people to embrace both identities at the same time.

Senior Gabriel Galindo, staff writer for The Leader, felt drawn to the opportunity to learn about Afro-Latinx identity and get to know a different voice within his culture. 

“If there’s one thing that I learned throughout my time at Elmhurst and from interactions that I’ve had, it’s that Latin American identity is very diverse in terms of ethnic identity, racial identity, and legislature. Getting to know a different voice within my identity and my culture just drew me to understand it better,” Galindo said. 

Junior Giselle Palomar also highlighted the fact that this event was a unique opportunity to learn about Afro-Latinx culture. 

“What brought me to the event was the fact that we don’t have many conversations about Afro- Latinos and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the topic,” Palomar wrote in an email to The Leader. 

Kwadwo Oppong-Wadie, Assistant Professor of Education, was happy to hear the group discussion and hear the young women in the video speak about their frustrations, hopes, and desires as Afro-Latinos. He also spoke to the fact that this lecture highlighted the diversity within Latin American and Hispanic cultures. 

“I think with the development of the university as a Hispanic Serving Institution, I think that it is a great opportunity for us to explore and also engage the diversity that exists within the Latin American and Hispanic culture, so I think that what the center has done is setting us up on the right path, and it is my hope that this continues,” Oppong-Wadie said. 

Galindo found the event to be perspective-shifting in terms of how he thinks about unity within Latin American cultures. 

“Every time we speak about Latin America we always say unity, Latinidad, Hispanidad, make sure we’re all united, but the fact that I was able to hear the videos and topics that Elizabeth sent out about how Latinos feel excluded or get placed in this void divide based on the color of their skin and their culture and heritage, it makes me rethink how we try to recognize our unity and how we try to empathize,” Galindo said. 

He continued, “We can be inclusive but at the same time you have to recognize that we as individuals have struggles and roadblocks that need to be addressed. They need to be recognized.”

Palomar took away that looks don’t necessarily correlate with race or ethnicity, and vice versa. 

“My main takeaway from this presentation is that just because someone looks like you don’t mean you guys share the same culture or ethnicity and just because someone doesn’t look like you don’t mean they don’t share the same culture or ethnicity as you do,” Palomar wrote. 

Quirarte hopes students walked away feeling welcomed.

“I hope students will take away that El Centro is a place where students can show up as their authentic selves, find community, create a sense of belonging,” Quirarte said. “I want students to know that they can come to us to have these conversations that center around race, ethnicity, intersectional identities and not be afraid to share with us their experiences and what they need and want on campus to further magnify that sense of belonging and community.”