Although, I am of African American descent, The lines "I know I come from stolen gold" and "The children of slaves and slave masters" stand out to me because it tells my own story. This poem is so powerful. I can listen to this over and over.
Yes, I feel the same. I am African American too. One thing I wish I could relate to is the clear connection to our lineage. My family doesn't have a direct link to a specific country, a common language, cultural traditions passed down for generations, native dress, or recipes from our home country. It brings me joy to be with my friends from Central America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean when they have family gatherings and celebrations because I can experience that connection vicariously. However, it's kind of bittersweet because of the emptiness I feel; my family doesn't know our origins and we will never have that relationship with our ancestors. This was absolutely beautiful and I will watch it again and again.
I love the line about being a "beautifully tragic mixture" because descending from both oppressors and the victims of oppression, while still being oppressed now is really confusing sometimes. It's also really relatable when she talks about rejecting your culture and straightening your hair to try to assimilate because when you're young you don't always realize the value and beauty of your culture and you just want to fit in with your white peers but as you get older you realize that you don't have to
I really loved 'beautifully tragic mixture'. She does a wonderful job highlighting the difficult past that comes along with being Afro-Latina. She manages to celebrate while acknowledging centuries of pain, which is really impressive.
When she said that she felt embarrassed and ashamed of her culture, I resonated with that so much. All throughout my time in school I have felt the same way. There was this need to be one way in school and a completely different way at home. I was scared to be labeled a certain way just because of what people may see on the outside and I still am. But, her story and her confidence has inspired me undeniably me hasta la muerte.
I found it powerful how the poet declares that Afro-Latinx "bodies are bridges." Instead of emphasizing the divide that hyphenated identities often breed, she chooses to emphasize the unity and empowerment that can come from inhabiting a multi-cultural identity.
@@culturedmaniac2415cuál irrespetuoso tú. En la sociedad latina siempre han existido identidades no binarias. Sólo voltea la mirada a los oaxaqueños que consideran existen personas con ambos espíritus (femenino y masculino). Tú eres el irrespetuoso por no considerar las raíces de nuestra cultura. Que tú quieras negar esa existencia es otro rollo.
I love the utilization of both Spanish and English and even the culture; it really demonstrates her identity without any exclusions. This poem has a genuine message that resonates with many and is delivered so eloquently. Personally, my first language was also Spanish and over the years I had started to lose it. It was not until my Spanish high school classes that I felt I was reclaiming it. However I still worried of the perception of others that I did not speak enough Spanish or was a "no sabo kid". Pero sí sé que es una parte fundamental mía. I've learned to embrace my culture and claim it with pride because it is indeed beautiful and to not be embarrassed of "my grandmother's colorful skirts or my mother's broken English." When Acevedo mentions erased history it leads me to think of latinidad and how although it allows for connections it does in a way shine more on similarities than on differences and ignores each country's history. I know that many, like myself take pride in being latino, but I sometimes wonder if the common question are you hispanic/latino? is a way to just check off a box and label us with a broad term? Additionally, I love how the poem ends on positive note with reclaiming the history and the present as well and how prideful she sounds. "Viviremos para siempre."
I'm only nine and I can understand all of this.my mommy said I WILL do this poem. And what can I say every poem i did was first place three times because of her 😃.
Her voice is so powerful. My eyes watered when she said "the children of slaves and slave masters. A beautifully tragic mixture, a sancocho of erased history". When I think of the abuse, the (still on going) colonization my ancestors faced, and the history of my island, Puerto Rico, it brings such a bittersweet feeling. I feel proud of my culture and my community but the sad truth is that the only reason my culture exists is due to all the abuse and forced assimilation my ancestors faced which makes this the beautiful "tragic mixture" Acevedo says. Finally, I loved how she put into words the following: "my memory can't seem to escape the thought of lost lives and indigenous rape, a bitter sweet bitterness of feeling, the soul of a people past present and fate, our stories cannot be checked into boxes." Our history is so complex as well as our identity and culture. In Puerto Rico, our culture is a mix of all communities that formed part of our history which is what makes it unique. Nevertheless, as we appreciate our culture it is important to acknowledge our history and its on going effects.
I thought it was interesting how she mentioned that as a child she would try to get rid of her culture by rejecting traditional food, changing the appearance of her hair, and by trying to get her mother to improve her English. I think it’s very powerful for her to name all of the historic communities that Afro-Latinos come from. It makes the listener really think about the history of Afro-Latinos and how their ancestors trace back to native tribes like the Aztecs, Mayans, the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors. Her description of how she comes from a mixture of slaves and slave masters puts into perspective what kind of a history Afro-Latinos have had. I really enjoyed her use of the word ’sancocho’ to describe the complex mixture of her ancestors. The poem comes full circle when at the very end she shows how proud she is to be Afro-Latina and she goes to say that they will live on forever. This statement shows how much she has grown considering she used to be ashamed of her ancestry and now she is prideful and protective over it.
Have watched this over and over again and every time I can't keep myself together. This is so powerful on so many levels. It sums up the history of our nation and the lies we tell ourselves by denying who we are. Shit I'm crying just typing this. Nothing but love. Gracias Elizabeth!!
Researching the struggle of growing up Afro-latina for a character I'm creating in a story. I want to breath life into my character and this poetry is amazingly benefitial to hear and watch.
Acevedo’s poem was extremely compelling and moved me. Not only the words she wrote, but also the way she said it was filled with so much power and passion and it was so relatable as well. Her line “Our stories cannot be checked into boxes” was the perfect way of demonstrating how Latinos come from so many different backgrounds and we all have different stories to share. She encapsulated what growing up in America with parents from another country is like so accurately. I really enjoyed this poem.
Her words were moving. It shows that we are “bridges” of different worlds. Yes our history is sad, and has cost a lot of pain throughout. But we have to embrace what was made out of it because even through the pain we have built an amazing culture. We can’t change what happened but we can learn to embrace all sides that has made us a whole .
She is so powerful and moving. I love the line "Our palms tell the stories of muchas tierras." She is of mixed background and has been discriminated against by many different people. I also love how she expresses it
I am unfamiliar with Acevedo's work, but this makes me want to go down a rabbit hole of her poems, spoken word pieces, and any other content she has in the world. The way she speaks to a beat, almost as if she is backed by a room full of drums, filling the space with her words and thoughts and voice. Her mix of Spanish and english is so artfully done and fits perfectly. The references to food and dance show the expanse of the culture represented and her use of literary devices and lists is so impactful. Her final lines in particular stood out to me, as she conveyed the importance of the Afro-Latin peoples across the world and their impact on history.
What a beautiful presentation. That in 2 minutes managed to capture a great deal of what it is to be an Afro-Latina, their struggles and the duality of belonging to such a group. Awesome!
La verdad, esto se me puso la piel de gallina. Aunque no sea afro-latino yo, me llegó profundamente al corazón el mensaje de pertenecer a todo y a nada a la vez, de querer pertenecer a algo al 100% para poder tener una parte de tu identidad completa. Me da penita pensar en mis ancestros andinos, quienes tuvieron que dejar la cultura de sus ancestros para poder sobrevivir en el nuevo mundo español. Y con el tiempo, sus memorias también se murieron a medida que sus raíces se iban muriendo también. Por eso trato de aferrarme bien fuerte a las causas indígenas de Chile, aunque no sea un miembro cercano de la comunidad. Siento que es mi deber tener orgullo de mis raíces nativas, porque ellos estuvieron ahí hace mucho más tiempo que los españoles. Elizabeth Acevedo me inspiró este mensaje, y por eso me siento muy feliz.
Afro Latina Camina conmigo Tanto estilo por donde vaya La negra tiene tumbao Azúcar Baila al ritmo Toca los tambores de mi piel Descendiente afro, el ritmo por dentro El primer idioma que hable fue el español, aprendido de canciones de cuna susurados en mi oido La lengua de mis padres era un presente que yo olvidé rápidamente al darme cuenta de que mis amigos no lo entendían No me entendían a mi Por eso rachaze habichuelas y mangú Preferiendo los happy meals y big macs (**De McDonalds**) Planchando mi cabello, una imitación de Barbie Estaba avergonzado de las faldas coloridas de mi abuela y el inglés roto de mi madre ....
When she spoke of her heritage she did it so proudly and passionately. Her word choice made her poem profound, allowing me to decipher the meaning of the poem just through her words alone. Her poem was beautifully written about something so special and dear to her so the readers feel the poems weight. The gravity of her words stick with you and being latina I find myself resonating with her and her love for her cultural background and everything that comes with it. Even as I finish the video I have goosebumps the power of her 2 minute poem is long lasting and leaves impact. I believe her tone is what delivers this feeling and I would like to keep listening to her poems.
Este poema es verdaderamente poderoso. Admiro cómo ella incorpora ambos idiomas para celebrar la esencia de la identidad afro-latina. Ser latino trasciende la mera terminología; encarna mucha historia y una riqueza de cultura en la que deberíamos enorgullecernos. Siento que este poema hizo un gran trabajo en concientizar las diferentes experiencias de latinos y que a pesar de las dificultades debemos celebrar lo diversos que somos.
roger8654 ¡ay caramba! You misunderstood the ENTIRE point of the piece. She even SAID it in the VERY beginning...she FORGOT her Latino side in exchange for being just BLACK. So how is she embracing only ONE side, if she was LIVING it??? La gente no escucha....sfmh. Y ignorancia no es una dicha 🙄😒
Creo que necesitamos más personas como Acevedo para compartir sus experiencias. Identifico con muchas cosas que ella dijo especialmente sobre la acento de su madre. La conexión interna que tengo con mi identidad nunca se traduce en categorías sociales como ella dijo marcando casillas. Ella ya está inspirando a otros a compartir sus experiencias en los comentarios. Espero que con nuestras voces fuertes como la de ella podamos compartir nuestras historias.
I am so impressed with the way she talks about her tragic history yet the beauty that comes with being Afro-Latina. The line, "a bittersweet bitterness. A feeling innate", really captures the feeling. She feels proud of her race and ethnicity, but is also incredibly aware of the trauma and continued oppression that she faces in our society today. Her confidence and powerful voice are such an inspiration, and really make others feel proud as well after listening to it!
“a bittersweet bitterness” is such a good way to describe how mixed latino struggles with their identity and what side they “belong” to. “they are in the forgotten” perfectly describes how it feels to be left out of one side of the family’s cultural heritage.
Every word held so much power that I was constantly engaged. She expressed feelings through her powerful words and body language, which highlighted the strength she has. Despite being a 3 minute poem, she beautifully encompassed the history of Latino and their history. She brought assimilation through her own experience of straightening her hair and forgetting spanish to fit in. One phrase that stood out to me was ‘beautifully tragic mixture’ which represents that in spite of the rich, culture-heavy, and beautiful nature of the Latin culture, individuals from the community face oppression in many ways such as personal, societal, or from a community. Moreover, she stressed on the importance and empowerment that having a multicultural identity can have.
"My parents' tongue was a gift which I quickly forgot after realizing my peers did not understand it" this part stood out to me because I feel that there was a time when I was younger when I began to forget some Spanish all because everyone around me only spoke English so I also only spoke in English. It makes me feel that I was erasing a part of my identity and to this day I feel regretful when I can't figure out some words in Spanish. Overall a great poem that likely resonates with a lot of Latinos since for decades we've had to hide our culture to fit into a country that isn't always welcoming to us. I hope this can reach younger Latinos and inspire them to always embrace their culture.
Creo que este poema fue muy poderoso y muestra ambos lados del término “latinidad” que discutimos en clase. Por un lado, muestra que está inmensamente orgullosa de su origen latino, diciendo que era el idioma con el que creció hablando, contando historias de su madre que le contaba historias en español cuando ella era niña. Por otro lado, muestra la generalidad del término, la alteridad que sentía que no necesariamente encajaba perfectamente en la definición socialmente normalizada de latinidad, y el orgullo que ahora siente al darse cuenta de que su subcultura es un hermoso grupo de personas que comparten su pasado y merecen ser reconocidos.
I had never realized the privilege that it was growing up in Puerto Rico where I got to benefit from the power and opportunities that come with being fluent in the English language and being an American citizen all the while leaning back on the comfort and embrace that I was always encompassed by living in a Latin-Caribbean island. My parents never needed to be fluent in English because they could always speak Spanish. My favorite line here is when she says: "a sancocho of erased history". I think this prose is so beautiful and accurate to what Latin culture is made up of: often overlooked tragedy. I also love her use of the word sancocho because it's an incredibly creative way to picture the mixture of cultures of Latinxs. As she said, our cultures don't go around checking off boxes in a compare and contrast exercise, but within our intertwine roots of origin, we often share cultural aspects like dishes, holidays, identity struggles and recognizing the value of our sublime heritage.
Wow, this was truly touching. I’m astonished that you could encompass so much of Latinos culture, our complexities, traditions, history, and differences in such a short amount of time. This poem felt far longer than 3 minutes, with every word holding so much meaning and power; I felt as if I had just read an information-filled essay or a full-on documentary; no word was wasted or repeated, each stanza and phrase as powerful as the prior and the next. I particularly appreciated and related to your description of Latin ancestry as a “Beautifully Tragic Mixture.” I’ve always wrestled with the fact that my entire creation, my genetic makeup, and the culture I love so dearly is only here due to such a tragic past, where my ancestors killed and raped my other ancestors, eventually leading to my creation.
Acevedo's words are truly touching, relatable, and tear-inducing. Being "embarrassed by my mothers broken English cracked my pride when she spoke so shit I would poke fun of her myself hoping to lessen the humiliation". I never made fun of my mother for her broken English, but I often did tease her for it, never really helping her understand the correct way of saying something despite saying I would. Hearing these words swelled my eyes with tears as I was thinking about the times my mother would simply be trying to communicate with me and I would only tease her for it. Truly heartbreaking and eye-opening.
Esto fue tan poderoso!!!! Realmente me gustó como ella incluyó todos los partes de su identidad en este discurso. Ser afro-latino en los EEUU es mirar su cultura siendo borrado, por personas que no se entienden, y la forma en que ella luchó contra esa idea, incluyendo todos los partes de su identidad, hasta los que a ella no le gustan, y de que ella no está necesariamente orgullosa sobre. Que poder 💗
"a bittersweet bitterness" is so powerful because it resonates with so many mixed Afro-Latinos who struggle with their identity and learning about their indigenous or Black history. She also says towards the end, "we are the unforeseen children... el destino de mi gente" which I thought was so beautiful.
Apart from this being poem being so beautifully performed and created, I resonated when she said that she was ashamed of her culture. When I was younger I believed that in order to fit in into this new American society I had to let go of my roots in order to due that. And because I did that at such a young age I questioned the Dominican side of myself. "I'm I too Dominican to be American?" or "I'm I too gringa for my Dominican family/friends?" are some of the questions I asked myself growing up due to myself not knowing my identity, so as a questioned here and there I decided to embrace my American side. Due to my naiveness , young me thought that in order to fit into American society I needed to be just as Americanized as the environment I was in. But that changed when I got older and became aware of my mistake and reconnected with my Dominican culture.
"Straightening my hair in imitation of Barbie" ‼I didn't start wearing my curly hair out until I got to middle school. I was so obsessed with having beachy waves and heatless curls like the white girls on Pinterest that I flat ironed my natural curls away. I didn't know the gravity of what I was doing then. All I knew was that I wanted to have "good" hair like the other girls in my school. Now I can appreciate the beauty in my curls and the effort it takes to perfect them every time that i wash my hair.
I love the way she shows the different parts of her identity through the mix of Spanish and English. The melding of the different languages and their cultural ties and differences are shown throughout the poem. Bringing in the history of slaves, indigenous rape, and stollen gold and coco adds the element of hurt and burden to a whole peoples. Adding "our stories cannot be put into boxes."
Muy bien escrito y ejecutado. Sirve como un recordatorio para no olvidar ni sentirme avergonzada de ser una latina en los Estados Unidos. Nada podría impedirme apreciar y practicar mi cultura!
I am blown away and empowered. Is there a place where I can find these lyrics. I would love to print out and hang up in my office. Truly inspiring, poder de las mujeres, el poder latino.
"Que con sus manos built a mundo nunca imaginado."- it's spanglish, common with Dominicans raised between English and Spanish environments. Like me! :)
wow, in my 18 years of living I've never been moved as much as this poem. The power her voice and message has tells a beautiful truth. As a Latina I can connect to forgotten your native language and trying so hard to fit into a nation ashamed of our culture. Like she said as we grow older we realize we can't let go of our past and have to express the tainos culture within us. We all sadly fall in love with someone else's culture forgetting to embrace our own. Just like the poet says "our palm tells the stories of muchas Tierras". Im proud of my culture, past and ancestors because it makes me who I am TODAY. "WE ARE THE SONS and daughter and AFRO LATINO hasta la muerte !!!!!"
Latino here .. And to me that poem it’s the definition of what a Latino is .. we are a beautiful combination of all colors and flavors from all over the world ., and we are lucky to have all that … beautiful poem !!
"A sancocho of erased history" ¡WOW! Sin duda alguna excelente presentación de la intérprete. Refleja la verdadera historia de como la cultura Afro-Latina desvanece al poner pie a los Estados Unidos. Siento que la cultura Afro-Latina no se le da el puesto que se merece en la historia y sería una pena que una cultura tan rica se eche a perder. Verdaderamente inspirador.
Coming to the U.S. with a family from a different background grows that sense of adaptability. My family and I struggled with perfecting the English language and I can relate to that sensation of shame when we couldn't hide our thick accents. Well said.
This was incredibly powerful, saying "our stories cannot fit into boxes" was what I felt summed it up best. It highlights the rich nature of the Latino culture, which unfortunately derives from a history of colonialism and slavery. A culture so complex that sadly leads to many being excluded for the comfort of others. When people fail to recognize the Afro-Latino community and anyone who doesn't check a certain box of what a Latino should look or act like, they are simultaneously invalidating the experiences of many around the world and causing a divide between our people and culture.
Esto es la historia de mi familia, mi gente. Es la realidad de como yo crecí y lo que yo pensaba en lo que estaba en la escuela, viviendo alrededor de personas blancas, morenas, y latinas. Después de llegar a mi propio mundo de realización, ahi fue cuando me entro mi sensación de quien yo soy. Orgullo Boricuaaa
Al escuchar me puse a pensar como nosotros mismos escondemos nuestras culturas para el beneficío de los demas. Aunque estas diferenicas nos hacen las personas que somos, empezamos a creer que si deberiamos esconder y olvidar quien realmente somos. La linea, yo misma me puse a criticar a mi madre fue una linea que me causo mucha tristeza. Por las influencias de los demas y la incomidad de los demas al no aceptar nuestras diferencias, nos apenamos de donde somos y la persona que somos. Muy bien escrito de la realidad que se vive tratando de aceptarnos.
Me encanto el poema. Las palabras y su voz era muy poderosa y captura la realidad para muchas Afro-Latinas viviendo en los Estados Unidos. Nuestra comunidad Latina y también los que no son Latinos necesitan educarse y entender que venimos de diferentes orígenes. Ojalá que en el futuro, no tantas personas se sientan como que necesitan esconder su cultura o raza.
I like how she highlights being embarrassed of who she was when she had to learn being American. I think thats a common, shared experience among many Latinx folk. Many have to learn a whole new world and it results in a denial of the culture they were brought up in which is unfortunate. But I'm glad she was eventually able to find her way and acknowledge her roots, all the way back to the beginning.
That multifaceted identify of Latinx is fascinating. I am the sum of all my parts. Nicaraguan American to me mean unity. My DNA tells the story and my skin is that representation. Her poem said what I've been feeling my entire life. Thank you.
Este video me puso la piel de gallina, muy bien dicho. Este discurso es tan poderoso y da voz a todos los que se sienten extraños en su propia comunidad. Gracias por estas increíbles palabras.
"Our bodies are bridges", fue unas de mis lineas favoritas. Ser Latina no es ser de una manera, pero viene en muchas formas, de como es nuestro cabello a nuestro color de piel. Somos mezclas de todos lugares, y por eso, somos estos 'bridges'. Bridges a varias historias, culturas y paises. Y yo siento que esto es unas de las muchas bellezas de ser Latina. Venimos de todos lugares y aunque nos vemos diferentes, somos unidos en ser Latinos.
I love the changes of tones to express her emotions while finding her identity. Her strong dictions of "beat the drums of my skin" emphasizes her patriotic and proud voice while the "my mother's broken english which cracked my pride" shows her embarrassment and humilitation while blending into the American society. Her expressions while describing the dark history of her ancestors: Tainos of the Rio, the Aztec, and the Mayan shows the bitter sweet bitterness of the history. Furthermore, expressing uncomfortability while appreciating the her origin's history. Finally her use of words, "el destino de me gente black brown beautiful vivid ramos para siempre afro latinos hasta la muerete" translate and highlights her proud representation of afrrolatinos while the society not accepting them as neither spanish or black.
Elizabeth nos recuerda lo importante que es entender el origen de nuestras culturas. Aunque haya partes negativas en la historia, tambien las hay buenas y hay muchas razones para sentirse orgulloso de quien eres y de donde vienes. Aunque la cultura americana sea mas "trendy", todas las culturas tienen la misma importancia y se merecen el mismo respeto.
Her speech was full of passion and power. I could feel her cultural confidence and pride in being Afro-Latina, and she no longer felt ashamed and confused by it. While being infected by her, I couldn't help but think that I, as an Asian, should also be proud of my skin color, culture, and language, no longer care about what others think, and live confidently as a new generation.
Este poema es una gran forma de, en pocos minutos, describir la experiencia de pertenecer a varias culturas y a ninguna a la vez. Me pareció una muy buena adición el mencionar varias culturas latinas y el mencionar lo que considero nos hace latinos como el sancocho y la cumbia.
"The children from slaves and slave masters, a beautifully tragic mixture" ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽 the bittersweet truth
Ali Polaris Raping West African slaves was tragic. Its the tragic in the beautifully tragic mixture. The beauty is the product, not the events.
jimmy duran 🙌🏾🙏🏾✊🏾💯
Brought tears to my eyes, so proud to be a Latina 🇵🇷
Lilyyy 🙌🏾🙏🏾✊🏾💯
What stood out to you in her reflection?
Stfu😑
ruclips.net/video/7hghJRgvhh0/видео.html
Fake flags
Although, I am of African American descent, The lines "I know I come from stolen gold" and "The children of slaves and slave masters" stand out to me because it tells my own story. This poem is so powerful. I can listen to this over and over.
Yes, I feel the same. I am African American too. One thing I wish I could relate to is the clear connection to our lineage. My family doesn't have a direct link to a specific country, a common language, cultural traditions passed down for generations, native dress, or recipes from our home country.
It brings me joy to be with my friends from Central America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean when they have family gatherings and celebrations because I can experience that connection vicariously. However, it's kind of bittersweet because of the emptiness I feel; my family doesn't know our origins and we will never have that relationship with our ancestors.
This was absolutely beautiful and I will watch it again and again.
I’m so proud to be Afro-Latina 🥺❤️🇩🇴
Yo tambien
Yo también. Panama in the house. Blessing everyone
I love the line about being a "beautifully tragic mixture" because descending from both oppressors and the victims of oppression, while still being oppressed now is really confusing sometimes. It's also really relatable when she talks about rejecting your culture and straightening your hair to try to assimilate because when you're young you don't always realize the value and beauty of your culture and you just want to fit in with your white peers but as you get older you realize that you don't have to
This turned into one of the single best records ever recorded. Afro-Latina is a phenomenal poem and song.
I really loved 'beautifully tragic mixture'. She does a wonderful job highlighting the difficult past that comes along with being Afro-Latina. She manages to celebrate while acknowledging centuries of pain, which is really impressive.
AFRO-LATINOS!! 🇨🇺🙌🏾🙌🏾
Ayyyyyy 🇩🇴
🙌🏾🙏🏾✊🏾💯🇩🇴
🇭🇹❤🖤💚
No there is no such thing is Afro Latino I’m Mexican period
@@alfredoalcantar8691 yeah you might not be one cuzzo. How does that mean we don't exist?🤔
When she said that she felt embarrassed and ashamed of her culture, I resonated with that so much. All throughout my time in school I have felt the same way. There was this need to be one way in school and a completely different way at home. I was scared to be labeled a certain way just because of what people may see on the outside and I still am. But, her story and her confidence has inspired me undeniably me hasta la muerte.
I found it powerful how the poet declares that Afro-Latinx "bodies are bridges." Instead of emphasizing the divide that hyphenated identities often breed, she chooses to emphasize the unity and empowerment that can come from inhabiting a multi-cultural identity.
Latinx is disrespectful. Callate gringa
@@culturedmaniac2415cuál irrespetuoso tú. En la sociedad latina siempre han existido identidades no binarias. Sólo voltea la mirada a los oaxaqueños que consideran existen personas con ambos espíritus (femenino y masculino). Tú eres el irrespetuoso por no considerar las raíces de nuestra cultura. Que tú quieras negar esa existencia es otro rollo.
I love the utilization of both Spanish and English and even the culture; it really demonstrates her identity without any exclusions. This poem has a genuine message that resonates with many and is delivered so eloquently. Personally, my first language was also Spanish and over the years I had started to lose it. It was not until my Spanish high school classes that I felt I was reclaiming it. However I still worried of the perception of others that I did not speak enough Spanish or was a "no sabo kid". Pero sí sé que es una parte fundamental mía. I've learned to embrace my culture and claim it with pride because it is indeed beautiful and to not be embarrassed of "my grandmother's colorful skirts or my mother's broken English." When Acevedo mentions erased history it leads me to think of latinidad and how although it allows for connections it does in a way shine more on similarities than on differences and ignores each country's history. I know that many, like myself take pride in being latino, but I sometimes wonder if the common question are you hispanic/latino? is a way to just check off a box and label us with a broad term? Additionally, I love how the poem ends on positive note with reclaiming the history and the present as well and how prideful she sounds. "Viviremos para siempre."
I'm only nine and I can understand all of this.my mommy said I WILL do this poem. And what can I say every poem i did was first place three times because of her 😃.
Her voice is so powerful. My eyes watered when she said "the children of slaves and slave masters. A beautifully tragic mixture, a sancocho of erased history". When I think of the abuse, the (still on going) colonization my ancestors faced, and the history of my island, Puerto Rico, it brings such a bittersweet feeling. I feel proud of my culture and my community but the sad truth is that the only reason my culture exists is due to all the abuse and forced assimilation my ancestors faced which makes this the beautiful "tragic mixture" Acevedo says. Finally, I loved how she put into words the following: "my memory can't seem to escape the thought of lost lives and indigenous rape, a bitter sweet bitterness of feeling, the soul of a people past present and fate, our stories cannot be checked into boxes." Our history is so complex as well as our identity and culture. In Puerto Rico, our culture is a mix of all communities that formed part of our history which is what makes it unique. Nevertheless, as we appreciate our culture it is important to acknowledge our history and its on going effects.
I teared up a little 😍😢 beautiful.
Me too!
Same
Makes me happy to understand both languages :D
Respect 💪💪
I thought it was interesting how she mentioned that as a child she would try to get rid of her culture by rejecting traditional food, changing the appearance of her hair, and by trying to get her mother to improve her English. I think it’s very powerful for her to name all of the historic communities that Afro-Latinos come from. It makes the listener really think about the history of Afro-Latinos and how their ancestors trace back to native tribes like the Aztecs, Mayans, the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors. Her description of how she comes from a mixture of slaves and slave masters puts into perspective what kind of a history Afro-Latinos have had. I really enjoyed her use of the word ’sancocho’ to describe the complex mixture of her ancestors. The poem comes full circle when at the very end she shows how proud she is to be Afro-Latina and she goes to say that they will live on forever. This statement shows how much she has grown considering she used to be ashamed of her ancestry and now she is prideful and protective over it.
Have watched this over and over again and every time I can't keep myself together. This is so powerful on so many levels. It sums up the history of our nation and the lies we tell ourselves by denying who we are. Shit I'm crying just typing this. Nothing but love. Gracias Elizabeth!!
Researching the struggle of growing up Afro-latina for a character I'm creating in a story. I want to breath life into my character and this poetry is amazingly benefitial to hear and watch.
Love her! I could listen to her poetry all day.
Acevedo’s poem was extremely compelling and moved me. Not only the words she wrote, but also the way she said it was filled with so much power and passion and it was so relatable as well. Her line “Our stories cannot be checked into boxes” was the perfect way of demonstrating how Latinos come from so many different backgrounds and we all have different stories to share. She encapsulated what growing up in America with parents from another country is like so accurately. I really enjoyed this poem.
This piece is off the chain !!! I am an African American & Puerto Rican woman and I was in tears of joy, hearing this message. ALL I CAN SAY IS AMEN.
Proud Afro Latina 🇭🇹
Nou la ❤🖤💚🇭🇹
🇭🇹❤️🇭🇹❤️🇭🇹❤️🇭🇹
Wow, how man times am I gonna watch this?
Who's doing this for school -------->
Bro me
yup
me rn🧍🏽♀️
Me🤦🏻♀️
yeah…
Her words were moving. It shows that we are “bridges” of different worlds. Yes our history is sad, and has cost a lot of pain throughout. But we have to embrace what was made out of it because even through the pain we have built an amazing culture. We can’t change what happened but we can learn to embrace all sides that has made us a whole .
She is so powerful and moving. I love the line "Our palms tell the stories of muchas tierras." She is of mixed background and has been discriminated against by many different people. I also love how she expresses it
I am unfamiliar with Acevedo's work, but this makes me want to go down a rabbit hole of her poems, spoken word pieces, and any other content she has in the world. The way she speaks to a beat, almost as if she is backed by a room full of drums, filling the space with her words and thoughts and voice. Her mix of Spanish and english is so artfully done and fits perfectly. The references to food and dance show the expanse of the culture represented and her use of literary devices and lists is so impactful. Her final lines in particular stood out to me, as she conveyed the importance of the Afro-Latin peoples across the world and their impact on history.
Where's the love button on this?
Amazing!
What a beautiful presentation. That in 2 minutes managed to capture a great deal of what it is to be an Afro-Latina, their struggles and the duality of belonging to such a group. Awesome!
La verdad, esto se me puso la piel de gallina. Aunque no sea afro-latino yo, me llegó profundamente al corazón el mensaje de pertenecer a todo y a nada a la vez, de querer pertenecer a algo al 100% para poder tener una parte de tu identidad completa. Me da penita pensar en mis ancestros andinos, quienes tuvieron que dejar la cultura de sus ancestros para poder sobrevivir en el nuevo mundo español. Y con el tiempo, sus memorias también se murieron a medida que sus raíces se iban muriendo también. Por eso trato de aferrarme bien fuerte a las causas indígenas de Chile, aunque no sea un miembro cercano de la comunidad. Siento que es mi deber tener orgullo de mis raíces nativas, porque ellos estuvieron ahí hace mucho más tiempo que los españoles. Elizabeth Acevedo me inspiró este mensaje, y por eso me siento muy feliz.
Hola Elizabeth, la versión en español para las afrolatinas que no sabemos ingles, sería bueno que lo tradujeran así llega a mas personas
Maira Torres estoy de acuerdo,pero Ella habla mas Spanglish que espanol.
Afro Latina
Camina conmigo
Tanto estilo por donde vaya
La negra tiene tumbao
Azúcar
Baila al ritmo
Toca los tambores de mi piel
Descendiente afro, el ritmo por dentro
El primer idioma que hable fue el español, aprendido de canciones de cuna susurados en mi oido
La lengua de mis padres era un presente que yo olvidé rápidamente al darme cuenta de que mis amigos no lo entendían
No me entendían a mi
Por eso rachaze habichuelas y mangú
Preferiendo los happy meals y big macs (**De McDonalds**)
Planchando mi cabello, una imitación de Barbie
Estaba avergonzado de las faldas coloridas de mi abuela y el inglés roto de mi madre
....
When she spoke of her heritage she did it so proudly and passionately. Her word choice made her poem profound, allowing me to decipher the meaning of the poem just through her words alone. Her poem was beautifully written about something so special and dear to her so the readers feel the poems weight. The gravity of her words stick with you and being latina I find myself resonating with her and her love for her cultural background and everything that comes with it. Even as I finish the video I have goosebumps the power of her 2 minute poem is long lasting and leaves impact. I believe her tone is what delivers this feeling and I would like to keep listening to her poems.
This had so much fire in it I'm officially burned LOL! LOOOOVE my Afro Latina sisters! POWERFUL
Este poema es verdaderamente poderoso. Admiro cómo ella incorpora ambos idiomas para celebrar la esencia de la identidad afro-latina. Ser latino trasciende la mera terminología; encarna mucha historia y una riqueza de cultura en la que deberíamos enorgullecernos. Siento que este poema hizo un gran trabajo en concientizar las diferentes experiencias de latinos y que a pesar de las dificultades debemos celebrar lo diversos que somos.
This woman's soul is sexy and beautiful. No shame in her game in embracing both of her cultures.
James Trail shes only embracing one culture. She is a black latina woman
roger8654 ¡ay caramba! You misunderstood the ENTIRE point of the piece. She even SAID it in the VERY beginning...she FORGOT her Latino side in exchange for being just BLACK. So how is she embracing only ONE side, if she was LIVING it??? La gente no escucha....sfmh. Y ignorancia no es una dicha 🙄😒
Dope poetry Cool good Listen wow powerful poet
Most high bless our Sisters. We are all waking up from this deep sleep and the scattered will be together again as foretold.
Creo que necesitamos más personas como Acevedo para compartir sus experiencias. Identifico con muchas cosas que ella dijo especialmente sobre la acento de su madre. La conexión interna que tengo con mi identidad nunca se traduce en categorías sociales como ella dijo marcando casillas. Ella ya está inspirando a otros a compartir sus experiencias en los comentarios. Espero que con nuestras voces fuertes como la de ella podamos compartir nuestras historias.
I am so impressed with the way she talks about her tragic history yet the beauty that comes with being Afro-Latina. The line, "a bittersweet bitterness. A feeling innate", really captures the feeling. She feels proud of her race and ethnicity, but is also incredibly aware of the trauma and continued oppression that she faces in our society today. Her confidence and powerful voice are such an inspiration, and really make others feel proud as well after listening to it!
“a bittersweet bitterness” is such a good way to describe how mixed latino struggles with their identity and what side they “belong” to. “they are in the forgotten” perfectly describes how it feels to be left out of one side of the family’s cultural heritage.
I love how she incorporates latinx music into her poetry and emphasizes the importance that music plays in being latinx
Every word held so much power that I was constantly engaged. She expressed feelings through her powerful words and body language, which highlighted the strength she has. Despite being a 3 minute poem, she beautifully encompassed the history of Latino and their history. She brought assimilation through her own experience of straightening her hair and forgetting spanish to fit in. One phrase that stood out to me was ‘beautifully tragic mixture’ which represents that in spite of the rich, culture-heavy, and beautiful nature of the Latin culture, individuals from the community face oppression in many ways such as personal, societal, or from a community. Moreover, she stressed on the importance and empowerment that having a multicultural identity can have.
I LOVE THIS! I'm so proud to be afro latina!
#yosoyboricua #paquetulosepas
Same here! BORICUA hasta en la 🌒
😂
"My parents' tongue was a gift which I quickly forgot after realizing my peers did not understand it" this part stood out to me because I feel that there was a time when I was younger when I began to forget some Spanish all because everyone around me only spoke English so I also only spoke in English. It makes me feel that I was erasing a part of my identity and to this day I feel regretful when I can't figure out some words in Spanish. Overall a great poem that likely resonates with a lot of Latinos since for decades we've had to hide our culture to fit into a country that isn't always welcoming to us. I hope this can reach younger Latinos and inspire them to always embrace their culture.
Creo que este poema fue muy poderoso y muestra ambos lados del término “latinidad” que discutimos en clase. Por un lado, muestra que está inmensamente orgullosa de su origen latino, diciendo que era el idioma con el que creció hablando, contando historias de su madre que le contaba historias en español cuando ella era niña. Por otro lado, muestra la generalidad del término, la alteridad que sentía que no necesariamente encajaba perfectamente en la definición socialmente normalizada de latinidad, y el orgullo que ahora siente al darse cuenta de que su subcultura es un hermoso grupo de personas que comparten su pasado y merecen ser reconocidos.
I had never realized the privilege that it was growing up in Puerto Rico where I got to benefit from the power and opportunities that come with being fluent in the English language and being an American citizen all the while leaning back on the comfort and embrace that I was always encompassed by living in a Latin-Caribbean island. My parents never needed to be fluent in English because they could always speak Spanish. My favorite line here is when she says: "a sancocho of erased history". I think this prose is so beautiful and accurate to what Latin culture is made up of: often overlooked tragedy. I also love her use of the word sancocho because it's an incredibly creative way to picture the mixture of cultures of Latinxs. As she said, our cultures don't go around checking off boxes in a compare and contrast exercise, but within our intertwine roots of origin, we often share cultural aspects like dishes, holidays, identity struggles and recognizing the value of our sublime heritage.
Never forget who you truly are.
Wow, this was truly touching. I’m astonished that you could encompass so much of Latinos culture, our complexities, traditions, history, and differences in such a short amount of time. This poem felt far longer than 3 minutes, with every word holding so much meaning and power; I felt as if I had just read an information-filled essay or a full-on documentary; no word was wasted or repeated, each stanza and phrase as powerful as the prior and the next. I particularly appreciated and related to your description of Latin ancestry as a “Beautifully Tragic Mixture.” I’ve always wrestled with the fact that my entire creation, my genetic makeup, and the culture I love so dearly is only here due to such a tragic past, where my ancestors killed and raped my other ancestors, eventually leading to my creation.
Acevedo's words are truly touching, relatable, and tear-inducing. Being "embarrassed by my mothers broken English cracked my pride when she spoke so shit I would poke fun of her myself hoping to lessen the humiliation". I never made fun of my mother for her broken English, but I often did tease her for it, never really helping her understand the correct way of saying something despite saying I would. Hearing these words swelled my eyes with tears as I was thinking about the times my mother would simply be trying to communicate with me and I would only tease her for it. Truly heartbreaking and eye-opening.
So powerful and so relatable. proud to be afro-latino. AFRO-LATINO HASTA LA MUERTE
Esto fue tan poderoso!!!! Realmente me gustó como ella incluyó todos los partes de su identidad en este discurso. Ser afro-latino en los EEUU es mirar su cultura siendo borrado, por personas que no se entienden, y la forma en que ella luchó contra esa idea, incluyendo todos los partes de su identidad, hasta los que a ella no le gustan, y de que ella no está necesariamente orgullosa sobre. Que poder 💗
"a bittersweet bitterness" is so powerful because it resonates with so many mixed Afro-Latinos who struggle with their identity and learning about their indigenous or Black history. She also says towards the end, "we are the unforeseen children... el destino de mi gente" which I thought was so beautiful.
So beautiful
Apart from this being poem being so beautifully performed and created, I resonated when she said that she was ashamed of her culture. When I was younger I believed that in order to fit in into this new American society I had to let go of my roots in order to due that. And because I did that at such a young age I questioned the Dominican side of myself. "I'm I too Dominican to be American?" or "I'm I too gringa for my Dominican family/friends?" are some of the questions I asked myself growing up due to myself not knowing my identity, so as a questioned here and there I decided to embrace my American side. Due to my naiveness , young me thought that in order to fit into American society I needed to be just as Americanized as the environment I was in. But that changed when I got older and became aware of my mistake and reconnected with my Dominican culture.
La escucho muchas veces pero me encanta cada vez más su energia. Beautiful!
"Straightening my hair in imitation of Barbie" ‼I didn't start wearing my curly hair out until I got to middle school. I was so obsessed with having beachy waves and heatless curls like the white girls on Pinterest that I flat ironed my natural curls away. I didn't know the gravity of what I was doing then. All I knew was that I wanted to have "good" hair like the other girls in my school. Now I can appreciate the beauty in my curls and the effort it takes to perfect them every time that i wash my hair.
She's so amazing
Had the chance to meet her today! One of the most amazing days of my life
I love the way she shows the different parts of her identity through the mix of Spanish and English. The melding of the different languages and their cultural ties and differences are shown throughout the poem. Bringing in the history of slaves, indigenous rape, and stollen gold and coco adds the element of hurt and burden to a whole peoples. Adding "our stories cannot be put into boxes."
damn latinos, back at it again slaying in everything!
this is so beutiful
Arlette Moya 🙌🏾🙏🏾✊🏾💯
its beautiful**
Latinas*
Afro Latinos
Muy bien escrito y ejecutado. Sirve como un recordatorio para no olvidar ni sentirme avergonzada de ser una latina en los Estados Unidos. Nada podría impedirme apreciar y practicar mi cultura!
Spectacular. Lovely. Gorgeous. Such lyricism, such beautiful melding of languages. And I say that as a (sometimes) crotchety old Irish-American guy.
I honestly have never related to poetry, as much as I have with this work of beautiful art. Much love Afro-latinos
I am blown away and empowered. Is there a place where I can find these lyrics. I would love to print out and hang up in my office. Truly inspiring, poder de las mujeres, el poder latino.
"Que con sus manos built a mundo nunca imaginado."- it's spanglish, common with Dominicans raised between English and Spanish environments. Like me! :)
@@samalpe what is she saying " los espanoles con sus …"?
wow, in my 18 years of living I've never been moved as much as this poem. The power her voice and message has tells a beautiful truth. As a Latina I can connect to forgotten your native language and trying so hard to fit into a nation ashamed of our culture. Like she said as we grow older we realize we can't let go of our past and have to express the tainos culture within us. We all sadly fall in love with someone else's culture forgetting to embrace our own. Just like the poet says "our palm tells the stories of muchas Tierras". Im proud of my culture, past and ancestors because it makes me who I am TODAY. "WE ARE THE SONS and daughter and AFRO LATINO hasta la muerte !!!!!"
wow this is just beautiful.
The rhythm when she speaks Spanish.
Man idk what she saying but daaamnnn. I'd be lying if i said my soul doesnt dance a little when i hear it
OMGOSH! This poem is everything. 👏🏽👏🏽
Latino here .. And to me that poem it’s the definition of what a Latino is .. we are a beautiful combination of all colors and flavors from all over the world ., and we are lucky to have all that … beautiful poem !!
I love this poem ...my roots run deep proud latina
Brings tears to my eyes everytime
"A sancocho of erased history" ¡WOW! Sin duda alguna excelente presentación de la intérprete. Refleja la verdadera historia de como la cultura Afro-Latina desvanece al poner pie a los Estados Unidos. Siento que la cultura Afro-Latina no se le da el puesto que se merece en la historia y sería una pena que una cultura tan rica se eche a perder. Verdaderamente inspirador.
Coming to the U.S. with a family from a different background grows that sense of adaptability. My family and I struggled with perfecting the English language and I can relate to that sensation of shame when we couldn't hide our thick accents. Well said.
This was incredibly powerful, saying "our stories cannot fit into boxes" was what I felt summed it up best. It highlights the rich nature of the Latino culture, which unfortunately derives from a history of colonialism and slavery. A culture so complex that sadly leads to many being excluded for the comfort of others. When people fail to recognize the Afro-Latino community and anyone who doesn't check a certain box of what a Latino should look or act like, they are simultaneously invalidating the experiences of many around the world and causing a divide between our people and culture.
Goddess of spoken word for ever
Esto es la historia de mi familia, mi gente. Es la realidad de como yo crecí y lo que yo pensaba en lo que estaba en la escuela, viviendo alrededor de personas blancas, morenas, y latinas. Después de llegar a mi propio mundo de realización, ahi fue cuando me entro mi sensación de quien yo soy. Orgullo Boricuaaa
She is a pure beauty and her mind makes her all that much more overall attractive and special. Big ups to Elizabeth Acevedo.
Al escuchar me puse a pensar como nosotros mismos escondemos nuestras culturas para el beneficío de los demas. Aunque estas diferenicas nos hacen las personas que somos, empezamos a creer que si deberiamos esconder y olvidar quien realmente somos. La linea, yo misma me puse a criticar a mi madre fue una linea que me causo mucha tristeza. Por las influencias de los demas y la incomidad de los demas al no aceptar nuestras diferencias, nos apenamos de donde somos y la persona que somos. Muy bien escrito de la realidad que se vive tratando de aceptarnos.
Me encanto el poema. Las palabras y su voz era muy poderosa y captura la realidad para muchas Afro-Latinas viviendo en los Estados Unidos. Nuestra comunidad Latina y también los que no son Latinos necesitan educarse y entender que venimos de diferentes orígenes. Ojalá que en el futuro, no tantas personas se sientan como que necesitan esconder su cultura o raza.
I like how she highlights being embarrassed of who she was when she had to learn being American. I think thats a common, shared experience among many Latinx folk. Many have to learn a whole new world and it results in a denial of the culture they were brought up in which is unfortunate. But I'm glad she was eventually able to find her way and acknowledge her roots, all the way back to the beginning.
That was powerful!!
This is so powerful and amazing.
Soul woman you give me life! I am officially your new fan!!
She is so powerful and expressive in the way she delivers this message, it's such a shame that she was embarrassed of her culture when she was young
That multifaceted identify of Latinx is fascinating. I am the sum of all my parts. Nicaraguan American to me mean unity. My DNA tells the story and my skin is that representation. Her poem said what I've been feeling my entire life. Thank you.
I WAS THERE FOR THIS!!! THIS WAS AT NACA 2016!!!
I love Elizabeth Acevedo!! So proud to be a Dominican afro-latina.
Este video me puso la piel de gallina, muy bien dicho. Este discurso es tan poderoso y da voz a todos los que se sienten extraños en su propia comunidad. Gracias por estas increíbles palabras.
This is SO moving! SO right on! Muchísimas gracias por esto!
Goosebumps...so good
I love this woman so much
"Our bodies are bridges", fue unas de mis lineas favoritas. Ser Latina no es ser de una manera, pero viene en muchas formas, de como es nuestro cabello a nuestro color de piel. Somos mezclas de todos lugares, y por eso, somos estos 'bridges'. Bridges a varias historias, culturas y paises. Y yo siento que esto es unas de las muchas bellezas de ser Latina. Venimos de todos lugares y aunque nos vemos diferentes, somos unidos en ser Latinos.
I love you . you inspire me alot i love you! WE ARE LATINA HISPANIC !!!!!
Great poem and hair
Truly amazing! ❤❤🙌🏽🙌🏽
I love the changes of tones to express her emotions while finding her identity. Her strong dictions of "beat the drums of my skin" emphasizes her patriotic and proud voice while the "my mother's broken english which cracked my pride" shows her embarrassment and humilitation while blending into the American society. Her expressions while describing the dark history of her ancestors: Tainos of the Rio, the Aztec, and the Mayan shows the bitter sweet bitterness of the history. Furthermore, expressing uncomfortability while appreciating the her origin's history. Finally her use of words, "el destino de me gente black brown beautiful vivid ramos para siempre afro latinos hasta la muerete" translate and highlights her proud representation of afrrolatinos while the society not accepting them as neither spanish or black.
Gran manera de entonar las palabras y darle emocion al poema.
Elizabeth nos recuerda lo importante que es entender el origen de nuestras culturas. Aunque haya partes negativas en la historia, tambien las hay buenas y hay muchas razones para sentirse orgulloso de quien eres y de donde vienes. Aunque la cultura americana sea mas "trendy", todas las culturas tienen la misma importancia y se merecen el mismo respeto.
Her speech was full of passion and power. I could feel her cultural confidence and pride in being Afro-Latina, and she no longer felt ashamed and confused by it. While being infected by her, I couldn't help but think that I, as an Asian, should also be proud of my skin color, culture, and language, no longer care about what others think, and live confidently as a new generation.
Este poema es una gran forma de, en pocos minutos, describir la experiencia de pertenecer a varias culturas y a ninguna a la vez. Me pareció una muy buena adición el mencionar varias culturas latinas y el mencionar lo que considero nos hace latinos como el sancocho y la cumbia.
Wow!!!!!!! damn that was powerful 👏 coming to you from San juan puerto rico 🇵🇷 mi amor ❤