Nathy Peluso

Why Latinidad Must Be Rethought: The Anti-Black Roots of Mestizaje and the Erasure of Afro-Latinos

Latinidad, long celebrated as a unifying identity, has deep roots in anti-Blackness and erasure. From the myth of mestizaje to modern-day media exclusion, Afro-Latinos have been systematically pushed to the margins. This critique explores the harms of Latinidad’s whitewashed foundations, citing voices like Janel Martinez, Rosa Clemente, Alan Pelaez Lopez, and Zahira Kelly who demand accountability and visibility for Black Latinxs.