8 Pioneering Afro-Latinx People Who Shaped US Politics And Activism

Latinx Heritage Month, or National Hispanic Heritage Month, concludes on Tuesday. This month-long celebration, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, honors the history, culture and contributions of people of Latin American descent. It also emphasizes the significant impact that Latinx individuals have made on U.S. society in various fields, including politics, the arts, education, business and civil rights. According to a 2022 Pew Research report, approximately 6 million U.S. adults identify as Afro-Latino, representing about 2% of the U.S. adult population and 12% of the adult Latino population. Notably, about 1 in 7 Afro-Latinos — approximately 800,000 adults — do not identify as Hispanic. However, some unapologetically embrace their Blackness. This year’s celebration would be incomplete without recognizing eight pioneering Afro-Latinos who proudly embraced their African roots and significantly shaped politics and activism for Black and brown communities in the U.S. and Latin America. Victoria Santa Cruz Victoria Santa Cruz, born on Oct. 27, 1922, in Lima, Peru, was an influential Afro Peruvian choreographer, composer, activist and poet. Inspired by her culturally rich upbringing, she fought against racial and cultural marginalization through her performances and teachings. Her renowned 1978 poem “Me Gritaron ‘¡Negra!’” (“They Yelled at Me, Black!”) reflected her...