It’s about Afro-Latinas too!!!!

In case you didn’t know, there are Afro-Latinos out there (Hispanics of African descent). I stress this because many people don’t know that there are dark-skinned Hispanics out there (like come on!!!). I know that they are pushed to the side in novellas or not being casted by Univision or Telemundo at all which is bogus on their part. But, it still amazes me that people have no knowledge of them not only because we live in such a tech-savvy era, but also because in many Hispanic countries, you see the area where dark-skinned Hispanics thrive.  So when the class read my short story depicting an Afro-Latina’s experience at a Hispanic salon, I was disappointed in the feedback. For the most part, people thought the story was ok. I honestly told my friend beforehand, I think that they wouldn’t understand the whole gist of the story considering the majority of the class was white. Although the majority of the criticism was reasonable, my story’s purpose wasn’t illuminated by any of their voices. I tried conveying this Afro-latina’s tresses being a struggled by a beautician while she’s looking at a novella of fair-skinned Hispanic actors/actresses. She’s bummed out that darker skinned Hispanics aren’t represented. So as the class was giving their feedback, I felt like they missed the whole point even though it was clear enough in my eyes. I knew I would receive 2 possible reactions writing the story: people like it, or people don’t understand it. In a way, I’m not angry because the confusion was one of my expected reactions. However, it’s confusion based off of ignorance as to what they see in the media which makes me both angry and understanding. Like the beauty of being Afro-Latina isn’t played out at all, so how are people supposed to know about it. And when I say angry, I mean at the media and at the casting crew behind these novellas because it’s terrifying seeing a whole group of people being excluded. I wasn’t going to spend time educating the class as to the deeper meaning and about Afro-Latina message because there’s Google (I get tired of the educating argument). I rather expose how there are Afro-Latinos in the world through film, tv, books, etc which is the most prominent reason as to why I want to be a screenwriter-I want to give African Americans in general, and to the darker toned ones, a better chance because what we have is an igniting ignorance that becomes way too common. That’s why I feel so empowered by what Amara La Negra is doing because not only does it takes BALLS being proud in a world that is physically tearing you down, but she’s getting the recognition she deserves. She goes through slack with her hair and how she spreads her message and honestly not everyone gets it, just like how not everyone got my message. However, those who didn’t get her message nor mine or just ignorant (by being stubborn or just unaware) and at the end of the day, the best we got to do is just expose more Afro-Latinos and reveal to society that we can prosper just like any other person can. And if it takes time, let it take time. But, I know I will be part of that change whether I represent it or whether I give others that chance.