14 People Afro-Latinos Meet in the United States

That waitress at the Spanish-food restaurant who speaks to you in English even though you are ordering in Spanish (she continues to speak to everyone else in Spanish)

 

That Afro Latino who refuses to say he’s black

 

That light-skinned friend who everyone thinks is Latina while they totally ignore you (and she’s not Hispanic)

 

That relative who can’t wait to  show you how to straighten your beautiful baby’s nose before it’s too late

 

That “Birther” who when you tell him your Hispanic, begins to interrogate you: Where were you born? Are both your parents Latinos?

 

The guy who jumps to conclusions and immediately guesses wrong: Panama or Honduras!!!

 

Those socially conscious friends who always want you to pick a side: What set you from homey: Black or Spanish?

 

Your inner “Elaine” who is the only one dancing to Reggaeton at the hip-hop club

 

The Latinos who want you to pass a language skills test: “Speak Spanish”

 

That coworker who is shocked to see that your lunch looks like this

 

Your Hispanic friends who say something derogatory about black people, you do a double-take, but no one else blinks

 

Your African-American friends who say something derogatory about Hispanics, you do a double-take, but no one else blinks

 

Your black male friend who says he loves Latinas, you smile and shake your head because you know he’s not talking about women who look like you

 

Your inner magazine editor who would rather read Essence than Latina Magazine