Central High looks at Afro-Latino accomplishments

Central High students who take classes offered by the World Languages department celebrated Black History Month in their own unique way — highlighting the lives and contributions of Afro-Latin Americans. In Marisa Diaz y Diaz’s Spanish classes, students created a bulletin board featuring notable Afro Latin Americans. The board included household names like – Roberto Clemente and Celia Cruz – as well as other notable Afro-Latin figures such as Laz Alonso, Rosa Clemente, Naya Rivera, Andre Royo, Zoe Saldana, and many more. Students then discussed how each of these individuals influenced the United States and personally impacted them.

Diaz y Diaz noted that Afro-Latinos carry a nuanced racial and cultural identity that, in talking about Black History Month, “often gets overlooked.”

“…It is important to take the time to acknowledge the presence of a community that is not often widely recognized, showcase their contributions, and educate our students,” said Diaz y Diaz. “By doing so, it opens communication in the classroom for students to share their experiences with each other and take pride in their heritage.”

The bulletin board also displayed a map of Spanish-speaking countries, each with the population percentage of those that identify as Afro-Latino, as well as quotes from people expressing pride in their Afro-Latino heritage.