Afro-Latinidades and the Diasporic Imaginary

The concept of Afro-Latinidad identity can challenge the essentialist & patriarchal nature of African-ness, American-ness, & Latinidad, & reveal hidden histories & knowledge of the subaltern. Afro-Latinidad as a world-historical field of identity & culture & its use as a category of difference are analyzed. The existing categories of Black, African, Latino, & Hispanic all bear the marks of racial classification based on racial capitalism & Western racism. Instead of this framework, the African diaspora perspectives based on theory & politics of translocation should be developed for use as a unit of analysis. The advantages & limitations on using an African diaspora perspective to reformulate Black & Latino studies are discussed. References. M. Pflum