What it means to be Afro-Latina has taken a front seat in recent years, with many proclaiming their heritage and the duality that comes with being Black and Latina in America.
The conversation has been fueled in the past month by popular Love & Hip Hop: Miami cast member Amara La Negra, who has faced backlash for embracing both of her roots and wearing natural hair in a world dominated by European beauty standards.
In this Kitchen Table Talk edition of ESSENCE Now — which aired Feb. 13 — panelists discuss all the buzz around the term “afro-latina” stemming from the viral scene from Love & Hip Hop: Miami in which a music producer, Young Hollywood asks La Negra if she’s “Afro Latina” simply because she wears an afro.
Panelists Jamila Asia Brown, Arlene Pitterson, Juliana Pache and Janel Martinez discuss La Negra’s cultural impact and share their personal experiences identifying as Afro-Latina.
Take a look at the important conversation above.