Gina Torres and the Red Carpet Incident: A Wake-Up Call on Anti-Blackness in Latino Media
On the red carpet at the 2019 Alma Awards, an uncomfortable moment unfolded that spoke volumes about the deeply rooted anti-Blackness within Latino culture. Actress Gina Torres, a proud Afro-Latina of Cuban descent, was approached by a Telemundo reporter who addressed her in English—despite speaking in Spanish to every other Latinx celebrity that evening. The implication was subtle but unmistakable: because Torres is Black, she couldn’t possibly be Latina, let alone speak Spanish.
This incident wasn’t just a one-off misstep. It’s a reflection of a long-standing issue within the Latinx community—one that prioritizes whiteness and erases the diverse realities of Afro-Latinos. Gina Torres, who has never hidden her heritage and has long championed inclusive representation, handled the moment with grace. Still, the microaggression did not go unnoticed by many who were watching. Online, Afro-Latino viewers voiced their frustration and pain, calling out how often they, too, are questioned, doubted, or erased based solely on the color of their skin.
Anti-Blackness in Latino culture is a legacy born out of colonialism, slavery, and the centuries-long privileging of European features and norms in Latin American societies. Despite the fact that millions of Afro-descendants exist throughout the Caribbean, Central, and South America, media and pop culture in Spanish-speaking countries have overwhelmingly centered mestizo or white-presenting figures. Afro-Latino artists are often sidelined, pigeonholed, or erased entirely, and many are forced to work twice as hard to prove both their cultural authenticity and their artistic legitimacy.
The Telemundo incident was a high-profile reminder that Afro-Latinidad is still not fully accepted or understood in mainstream Latino spaces. And while conversations about Blackness and identity have evolved significantly in recent years—especially through social media activism—the work is far from over. Afro-Latinos still face exclusion, colorism, and the expectation to “prove” their Latinidad through language or appearance.
In Gina Torres’s case, this wasn’t just a disrespectful moment—it was a public invalidation of her identity by a network that should have known better. It also served as a reminder that, even when Afro-Latinos attain the highest levels of success and visibility, they are not immune from being treated as outsiders within their own culture.
This needs to stop. Representation isn’t just about visibility—it’s about recognition, accuracy, and respect. Media outlets, especially those that claim to represent Latino audiences, have a responsibility to be culturally competent and inclusive of all Latinidad. That includes hiring diverse staff, engaging in anti-racism training, and holding themselves accountable when these kinds of missteps occur.
More importantly, it’s on all of us—Latinos of all backgrounds—to challenge the ingrained anti-Blackness in our communities. That means speaking up when these moments happen, supporting Afro-Latino artists not only when they go viral, but consistently, and making space for the full spectrum of our identities.
Gina Torres is not an anomaly. She is one of many. And until the Latino world makes room for all of us, we cannot claim unity or progress.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.