Women Warriors of the Afro-Latina Diaspora

Women Warriors of the Afro-Latina Diaspora

â‚¬Å“My housewife mother turned into a raging warrior woman when the principal of my elementary school questioned whether her daughter and the children of my public school had the intelligence to pass a citywide test,â‚¬Â Marta Moreno Vega writes in her essay. She knew then she was loved and valued, and she learned that to be an Afro-Puerto Rican woman meant activism was her birth right.

Hers is one of eleven essays and four poems included in this volume in which Latina women of African descent share their stories. The authors included are from all over Latin Americaâ‚¬"Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuelaâ‚¬"and they write about the African diaspora and issues such as colonialism, oppression and disenfranchisement. Diva Moreira, a black Brazilian, writes that she experienced racism and humiliation at a very young age. The worst experience, she remembers, was when her motherâ‚¬s bosses told her she didnâ‚¬t need to go to school after the fourth grade, â‚¬Å“because blacks donâ‚¬t need to study more than that.â‚¬Â

The contributors span a range of professions, from artists to grass-roots activists, scholars and elected officials. Each is deeply engaged in her community, and they all use their positions to advocate for justice, racial equality and cultural equity. In their introduction, the editors write that these stories provide insight into the conditions that have led Afro-Latinas to challenge systems of inequality, including the machismo that is still prominent in Spanish-speaking cultures.

A fascinating look at the legacy of more than 400 years of African enslavement in the Americas, this collection of personal stories is a must-read for anyone interested in the African diaspora and issues of inequality and racism.
Country USA
Manufacturer Arte Público Press
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2012-04-30
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Arte Público Press
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2012-04-30
Format	Kindle eBook

Women Warriors of the Afro-Latina Diaspora

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