My friend thinks she doesn't have African heritage.

[gs56ca]

So me and a friend were chatting on msn the other day. I mention the book, Right to Rock, to her, and then she tells me that she doesn't think she is 'black'. Now I concede in what she says, because I don't use the term 'black' to describe my ethnicity, though many people think that it accurately does describe it. To me, black is sort of a political term that has been used to describe people that have African-derived features. And usually, its used in America as opposed to Canada, where its more of a Carribean, African category. Now, she continues to explain her case by stating that her ancestry is composed of spanish, panamian, brazilian, ect. Me , knowing this, I tell her, there is no way or at least it was a mistake telling me that she had brazilian , or panamian relatives. Right there , that tells me she has African-ancestry, even based on her looks. Then I explain to her that white and the black relationship , is not the same in America as it is in Brazil. That people who term themselves white in Brazil or The carribean, can very well have AFrican-derived ancestors. She went ape-shit on me. Tell me. Do you think its possible not to have African ancestors but still look like your a full-blown black girl, and even have a parent that was born in Jamaica?

[NotSoPhotogenic]

I can understand not identifying as "black," but the reality is that if you come from anywhere in Latin America, there is a 90% chance that you have some West African ancestry. Many DNA studies have shed alot of light on this, and whether you come from Mexico (where the majority of people are thought to be a combination of European and Amerindian blood), Argentina (where the people are considered "white"), or anywhere in between (in Latin America), the chances are pretty damn high that you had a recent ancestor (by recent, I mean within the last 5 centuries) who was of African origin.

Of course, stereotypically, it is strongest in the Spanish Caribbean and Brazil, but "black traits" (or rather, West African features) are still detectable, often in subtle ways, among many "brown" Latinos of mixed heritage. Most people don't think I look like a "black man" or African American, but African heritage explains my broad nose, full lips, kinky facial hair, and mixed hair texture. And I see many of these kinds of traits among members of my own family as well as Latinos from all different Latin American backgrounds. Also, in my opinion, this is something Latinos should be proud of-- I'm certainly proud of my African roots. : )

[brotherkomrade]

This issue has been on mind lately - self hatred and race identification - especially among BLatinos (Blacks who live in Latin American/Caribbean countries). A friend of one of my assistants is Panamanian and refuses to see or claim African ancestry JUST because she has a Spaniard conqueror's last name and her nose isn't wide. meanwhile she HAS to throw creamy crack on the follicles which is what REAL Latinos/as of native American or Spaniard blood DON't have to do (hint). Anyway, I don't judge the self hatred of BLatinos to be any worse that the self-hated of all African-blooded people. It is a diasporic issue.

Gullah*Gotham*Glitter said:

I'm slightly confused because I think your friend is very confused. I agree with what you're saying, if she is Panamanian and Brazilian then the chances of her having no African heritage is slim to null. And the way that you physically describe her I don't understand how she can not have any African heritage. Girl sounds like she has some self hatred issues to be quite honest

[NotSoPhotogenic]

If what you say is true, that is just sad. But, I do have a question or two: does this person deny having African ancestry, or is it just that they don't identify as "black" Latino or "Afro-Latino?" The reason I ask this is because, while there are plenty of Latinos who deny African roots, there are also quite a few who are falsely accused of this simply because they do not identify PRIMARILY with their African heritage (no offense to you or anything, brotherkomrade).

Also, all Latinos, whether they are "black," "white," "brown," "red," "yellow," "blue," "green," etc, are REAL Latinos. We've had so many influences over the centuries that it is very difficult to draw an objective line between different "types" of Latinos. Not only this, but we've absorbed so many influences over the centuries that it is very difficult to determine any specific group that we're not related to.

[ayedee simmons]

sorry to say but yurr friend is wierd af
she looks juss like a african-american nd claims she is not
she is mentally challenged not in a dumb way.
she must be ashamed to be

[chelles]

yah, umm she's afro latin. tell her to research her heritage. or not, let her be ignorant.

[NotSoPhotogenic]

Once again, I ask: Does this person deny having African heritage? If so, then this person is definitely in denial. However, if this person does own up to African ancestry but simply rejects identifying specifically as "black" or "Afro-Latina," then she is in her right to do so. Personally, I don't identify singularly with any one "race," but I am openly of Amerindian, African, and European ancestry-- and I will deny none of it. While I'll be the first to admit that there is alot of "racial"/ancestral denial among persons of Latin American descent, many of us Latinos of mixed ancestry (probably the majority of Latinos) get falsely accused of "racial" denial simply because we reject mono-"racial" identities (or any strict, rigid "racial" classifications). I just want to verify if this is really a case of denial or not-- it certainly sounds like it to me, but many of these Latin-American "denial" scenarios turn out not to be denials at all.