Afro-Latinx Connection de UCLA Celebrates Afro-Latinx Culture 

In 2018, Afro-Latinx Connection (ALC) at UCLA was founded in response to the lack of a space where Afro-Latinx students could feel seen, heard, and protected. Since its founding, ALC has worked to execute its mission of “bridging the gap between the African Diaspora and Latinx communities,” educating others on the existence of Afro-Latinx people and creating events that exemplify the organization’s pillars of community, culture, and political education. 

Image credit: ALC Website 

I sat down with Isaiah Clark—ALC’s current treasurer and future president—to learn more about ALC’s work in the community. Clark describes that joining ALC on a whim has been one of the most “transformative experiences of [his] life.” His experience in ALC has allowed him to grow professionally and create impactful connections with fellow ALC members. 

Image credit: Isaiah Clark

ALC has put on a myriad of events that celebrate the diversity of Afro-Latinx cultures for both UCLA and the broader LA community. Clark describes a few of his favorite ALC events that the organization has put on, starting with an event from the summer of 2022—Azúcar: The Celebration of Afro-Salvadorans and Afro-Costa Ricans. “Azúcar” being an onomatopoeia, used by Afro-Cuban artist Celia Cruz, that represents the Afro-Latinx community. This event was the first of its kind and was spearheaded by ALC’s current co-president Reggie Myles. The celebration took place in Leimert Park and featured food, dance, singing, art and panels from the region, to curate a “beautiful time of celebration and connectedness.” 

On campus, ALC has hosted a series of “De-stress with Dance” events, including dance workshops with Afro-Brazilian dancer Vera Passos and Garifuna dance instructor and owner of GarifunaRobics Arnol Guity-Martinez. The Garifuna are an Afro-Indigenous group who currently reside in Central America, mainly in countries such as Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala. For Clark, these events have been a space for people to “move, dance, and express [themselves],” practice movement as medicine, and unwind from the stress of school and work. 

Image credit: @alcdeucla on Instagram

In a celebration of Afro-Mexican culture, ALC hosted Bocafloja, an Afro-Mexican multidisciplinary artist, to screen his documentary, “Bravado Magenta,” which “analyzes the historical intersection between colonialism and Black and Brown masculinities” and have a spoken word and Q&A session. Clark describes that the event facilitated an insightful platica (conversation) about Afro-Latinx masculinity “in the context of the colonial imagination,” highlighting ALC’s pillar of political education. 

Image credit: Isaiah Clark

As a culminating event of the academic year, ALC is excited to put on the first annual Afro-Latinx Culture Show at UCLA, “La Vida Es Un Carnaval/Life is a Carnaval.” The event is free, open to the public, and will take place on June 3rd, 2023 from 4-9pm in Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Clark explains that he’s excited to put on the event, as it was planned to take place in Spring of 2020 before it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just like all of ALC’s events, the culture show will be a place to celebrate Afro-Latinx culture and educate the broader UCLA community about its existence. The event will feature food and dance performances ranging from all around Afro-Latin America. This event exemplifies the work that Clark and all of ALC are doing to affirm the Afro-Latinx experience. 

Image credit: @alcdeucla on Instagram

You can support ALC by donating to support the costs of the culture show via their GoFundMe. RSVP to attend the culture show here! The event is free and open to everyone! 

Follow ALC on Instagram and check out their website!  

Image credit: Isaiah Clark