It's Black History Month, and what better way to celebrate Black creators than to acknowledge Afro-Latinx actors in Hollywood finally getting the screen time and recognition they deserve? Thanks to actors and activists like Tessa Thompson, Jharrel Jerome, Rosario Dawson, and countless others speaking up about Afro-Latinx identity and representation on the screen — whether by using platforms such as social media, interviews, or award shows to do so — the industry has been making strides. This type of representation is important because these actors finally get to bring their full selves into the characters they embody. Hollywood gets to center other types of Latinx experiences, and viewers like me get to see ourselves reflected in media, having our lived experiences validated. Many people still can't believe that someone can be Black and Latinx, so when we have authentic representation that's executed well, this truly allows society to see us, especially when these roles don't play into negative stereotypes.
Recently, we've had Afro-Puerto Rican Ariana DeBose, who was cast to play an Afro-Puerto Rican in "West Side Story"; Julissa Calderon, who is Dominican and played a Dominicana in "Gentefied"; and newcomer Afro-Cuban Rome Flynn, who starred in "With Love" not only as an Afro-Cuban, but also as a love interest — something we rarely get to see. While we are excited to amplify these successful and long-awaited moments, it's also important to recognize that Black Latinx representation on television and in movies took ages to finally happen. And even though we've made significant progress, there's still so much work that needs to be done. Just last year, we witnessed the lack of Black representation in "In the Heights," which felt like such an insult and disservice to a community where many Afro-Latinxs live and create culture. This also speaks to the need for more Afro-Latinx writers, producers, directors, and casting directors in order for the industry to truly shift. In 2019, Gina Torres became the first Afro-Latina to star, create, and produce her own show for a major network. So yes, we'll celebrate these wins, but let's not forget that the #HollywoodSoWhite phenomenon continues, and it's up to us to keep demanding a seat at the table to affect real change.
Gina Torres is a Cuban American actress who has been on the scene since the '90s, scoring roles on TV series like "Xena: Warrior Princess," "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," "Angel," and "Hannibal," as well as movies like "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions." Even with her very successful career, the Afro-Latina faced many challenges, often having to choose between Black and Latinx identities to prove to producers that she was the best actor for the role. That's why after decades of fighting for representation on screen as her full self, she's finally playing an Afro-Latina, Tommy Vega, on "9-1-1: Lone Star," and it's resonating with so many of us.
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Colman Domingo
Image Source: Getty Images/Jamie McCarthy
Colman Domingo has been killing it recently on "Fear the Walking Dead" and "Euphoria." The gay Belizean-Guatemalan actor, director, and producer went to high school with Will Smith in Philadelphia and has been nominated for a Tony Award. Domingo has starred in films like "The Butler," "The Birth of a Nation," and "Candyman," and it was just announced that he'll play Mister in "The Color Purple" next year.
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Julissa Calderon
Image Source: Getty Images for Netflix/Tommaso Boddi
Julissa Calderon is definitely having a moment right now, and we couldn't be happier. The Dominican actress launched with a humble start, landing appearances on shows like "Revenge" and "Pero Like." But it wasn't until recently that her star really began to shine. She was cast in "Gentefied," where she got to play Yessika, an Afro-Dominicana, and in "With Love," where she also played an Afro-Latina. It's representation like this that makes the character that much more realistic because it's played by someone who has that lived experience.
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Rome Flynn
Image Source: Getty Images/Gregg DeGuire.
Rome Flynn has been acting for close to a decade, and the Afro-Cuban actor has secured some notable roles in movies like "Drumline: A New Beat," "A Madea Family Funeral," and "A Christmas Duet." His breakout role came on "The Bold and the Beautiful," and he also played Gabriel Maddox on Shonda Rhimes's "How to Get Away With Murder" from 2018 to 2020. Flynn even made a cameo in Chlöe's "Have Mercy" music video, and just this past fall he had us swooning over him in "With Love," where he got to play a Black Cuban on screen. You can catch him in "Raising Dion" on Netflix playing the hottie love interest, Tevin Wakefield.
Alycia Pascual-Peña started out modeling for brands like Neiman Marcus before she turned her sights to acting, getting her start on TV series like "Chase" and "The Plug." The Bronx native, who stars on "Saved by the Bell," actively talks about the importance of Afro-Latinx representation and completely stole the show in Netflix's "Moxie," where the Afro-Dominicana fought the patriarchy. Pascual-Peña is definitely one to watch, and we can't wait to see where she lands next.
Indya Moore is an actor, writer, director, model, and social activist. The Afro-Latinx was born in the Bronx and has Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Haitian roots. They've been cast in several movies and TV series over the years, like "A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting," "Queen & Slim," "Pose," and most recently "Escape Room: Tournament of Champions." We'll also see Moore next year in the forthcoming "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom."
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Chance Perdomo
Image Source: Getty Images/Ian Gavan
Chance Perdomo is a Guatemalan actor who hails from Los Angeles and has starred in "After We Fell" and "Killed by My Debt." He's most recently known for his role as Ambrose Spellman on "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina."
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Mj Rodriguez
Image Source: Getty Images/Frazer Harrison
Mj Rodriguez is the first openly trans woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. The Puerto Rican actress is best known for her role as Blanca Rodriguez on "Pose" and has starred in "Nurse Jackie," "The Carrie Diaries," "Tick, Tick… Boom!," and "Tarzana."
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Yaya DaCosta
Image Source: Getty Images/FOX
Yaya DaCosta hails from New York City and speaks not one but four languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. The Brazilian actress was the first runner-up on season three of "America's Next Top Model" and is known for roles in "Take the Lead," All My Children," "The Kids Are All Right," "Chicago P.D.," and "Chicago Fire." Most recently, she starred on "Our Kind of People."
