I LOVE this article on the MiamiHerald.com website about race relations, identity, and culture among Afro-Latin Americans. The site is extensive with photography, articles, video and an interactive map that shows the paths which tie Africa to the Americas. The articles are broken up into five different parts each featuring a different Latin America country: Brazil, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Nicaragua. My favorite is Part 2 which covers "Black Denial" in the Dominican Republic. In this section, they touch on Black Dominican women straightening their hair because of the belief that natural curly hair is ugly. Last year I had an awful experience when I went into a Dominican hair salon to have my hair blown out (which I do every now and then for a change of style), this article made me see why they were looking at me crazy when I walked in with my head full of tight curls.
I definitely think everyone should check out this wonderful package of information and beautiful imagery, it's a wonderful way to learn and be inspired. Thanks Brian, for the link.
