The Unique History Of Afro-Latinos In America

Every year, from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. But within that story is another rich and sometimes overlooked one: the history of Afro-Latinos.

Afro-Latino history stretches back centuries. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, European powers such as Spain and Portugal transported roughly 15 times more enslaved Africans to Latin America and the Caribbean than to mainland North America, according to the Pew Research Center.

That history helped shape the cultures, communities, music, food and traditions found throughout Latin America and the Caribbean today.

The History Of Afro-Latinos: So, How Many Afro-Latinos Are There in the U.S.?

A 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that about one-quarter of Latino adults in the United States identify as Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean or of African descent with roots in Latin America.

The survey was notable because it was the first nationally representative U.S. survey to directly ask Latino adults whether they considered themselves Afro-Latino.

Where people come from also appears to play a role in how they identify. Pew found that U.S. Latinos with Caribbean roots are more likely to identify as Afro-Latino or Afro-Caribbean than Latinos with roots elsewhere — 34% compared with 22%.

Afro-Latinos are also more geographically concentrated along the East Coast and in the South. About 65% of Afro-Latinos live in those regions, compared with 48% of other U.S. Latinos.

Read more about the history of Afro-Latinos on the next page.