The Symbolism of Hair in Pursuit of Self-Acceptance in Afro-Latina Identity In the intricate history of Afro-Latina identity, hair emerges as a dominant symbol, reflecting a journey of rebellion, pride, and emotional expression. Across generations and geographies, Afro-Latinas navigate their identity shaped by enduring discrimination, cultural influences, and the quest for self-acceptance. Rooted in familial teachings and societal pressures, the perception of hair among Afro-Latina girls often veers towards one of discomfort and shame, perpetuating a cycle of internalized bias. Amidst challenges of societal straight hair norms in Latin America recalling histories of colonization and slavery, Afro-Latina women use their hair as a canvas for…show more content… La Negra is a Dominican-American singer, best known for her role on Love & Hip-Hop: Miami. In an interview with NPR’s Code Switch team, La Negra shares her experience of being an Afro-Latina, and how she has learned to embrace herself: “Performing is what I was born to do. But it hasn't always been easy. You're too black to be Latina, or, you're too Latina to be black. Or, your hair is too nappy. You know, you need to be more petite, more skinny, more slim. Long legs, skinny - a must. Don't do it - it's your accent. It's everything.” La Negra explains everything about what it is to be a woman–but also what it’s like to be a woman who has two very different races that are a part of her identity, struggling to find the means between both. As we know, childhood discrimination was an enormous enabler for many Afro-Latinas who grew up not loving their hair. La Negra expresses how she was exposed to this as a child actor who was usually the only dark-skinned child: “I was getting my hair done backstage, and the hairstylist told my mom, you need to perm her hair. You need to do something about her hair because her hair is unmanageable. We cannot deal with
