Soy Negra y Orgullosa: How Black Latinas Learned To Love The Skin They’re In - Youth To The People
From a young age, many Black Latinx people have been taught that beauty is determined by a person’s proximity to whiteness. We’ve been taught that soft, wavy hair, pale to olive skin, and slender figures with a hint of hips are the epitome of beauty. Latin America’s complex racial history—stemming from colonization, assimilation, and aggressive attempts to erase its Black roots and preserve whiteness—has played a key role in this twisted mentality.
When all you see are fair-skinned Latinas like Salma Hayek, Shakira, and J.Lo on billboards, adored on television, featured on the covers of editorial magazines, and deemed as the faces of the Latinx community, it’s a constant reminder and reflection of Latin America’s desire to preserve whiteness and erase the contributions of Black Latinas who deserve love, praise, and opportunities as well.
Read more at Youth To The People.
