The current chapter will explore relevant history of Afrodescendientes, its impact on their psychological wellbeing, and the research and clinical implications. Lastly, this chapter will discuss Afrodescendientes' resistance and the importance of continued liberation. This chapter is an amalgamation of interdisciplinary research, including history, sociology, and psychology, and is intended for the individual who works with Afro-Descent people of Latin America. Specifically, it is for the individual who wants to grow in their understanding of the Afrodescendiente story.
TopAn Introduction To Afro-Descent People From Latin America
“Las caras lindas
De mi gente negra
Son un desfile
De melaza en flor
Que cuando pasan
Frente a mi se alegra
De su negrura todo el corazón
Las caras lindas
De mi raza prieta
Tienen de llanto
De pena y dolor
Son las verdades
Que la vida reta
Pero que llevan
Dentro mucho amor”- Susana Baca, Caras Negras1
The story of Afrodescendientes2 is one that is rooted in a history of forced extraction, displacement, colonization, and capitalism (Morner, 1967; Jimenez Roman & Flores, 2010). History has informed and maintained current-day socio-cultural norms for these people, including invisibility and anti-Blackness within the Latinx community. The consequences of a history of oppression have led to unique psychological and health disparities for Afrodescendientes. However, amidst their tragic history, many Afrodescendientes held on to their African roots and engaged in resistance. The current chapter will explore the relevant history of Afrodescendientes, its impact on their psychological wellbeing, and the research and clinical implications. Lastly, this chapter will discuss Afrodescendientes’ resistance and the importance of continued liberation. This chapter is an amalgamation of interdisciplinary research including history, sociology, and psychology, and is intended for the individual who works with Afro-Descent people of Latin America and wants to grow in their understanding of their story.
The authors of this chapter are representative of the diversity of the African diaspora. Ammy Sena is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, raised in Providence, Rhode Island. She identifies as an aspiring psychologist, researcher, hermana grande3, and outdoors fanatic. She grew up vacillating between American, Dominican, and the greater Latinx spaces. She identifies as a Black Latina of light skin privilege. Given the complex history of race in Latin America, precisely that of the Dominican Republic which has maintain anti-Black sentiment (Mayes, 2014), Ammy has challenged herself to grow in her Black racial identity development. This awareness has galvanized her to pursue a career that centers on the wellness and cultural strengths of Afrodescendientes.
Amanda Shannon was raised throughout most of her childhood in Montana and North Dakota, spending her adolescent and young adult years in North Carolina. Since then, she has lived in the southern region of the United States. She has also spent a significant amount of time throughout her life in Illinois, where she has close family ties. Amanda identifies as a Black Multiracial woman of African American, Indigenous Native American, and French European ancestry. The 8th and youngest child in a nuclear family of 10, she was raised with a large, close-knit, culturally diverse immediate and extended family. Throughout her life, she has been heavily influenced by growing up immersed in African American, Indigenous, and Latinx cultures. These experiences fostered a passion for advocating for health equity and celebrating the diversity of Afrodescendientes.
It is through these lenses that we both navigate the world and encourage us to make visible the counter-narratives of the African Diaspora. Our social identities are foundational in this chapter and provide the unique understandings needed to write this text. We have limitations as we assess the diversity of Afro-Descent people in Latin America and the United States (U.S.) as we do not embody all identities and thus may have unintentionally overlooked related topics. However, we hope this chapter provides you with the tools needed to understand and work with Afrodescendientes.