Emilie Gonzalez | Contributing Writer
Afro-Latino culture was celebrated and honored in a panel hosted by the Latin Student Union on Friday, Oct. 6, to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month occurs every year from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15– a time where people come together to recognize aspects of Hispanic and Latino culture.
People that identify with Afro-Latino culture refer to those that are both of Latin and African descent. The Latin Student Union and the Centers for Student Engagement joined forces to host this engaging panel in the Graham Center.
This event was open to all and featured students, faculty, and non-affiliated FIU parties to talk about their experiences, culture, and identity. The panelists were offered a series of questions to answer, and the audience was encouraged to ask their own questions and share their personal experiences.
The panelists were each from a diverse and culturally rich background ranging from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Ecuador, and many more.
Engaged audience at the Afro-Latino panel | Emilie Gonzalez, PantherNow
Victoria Figueroa, the vice president of LSU and fourth year international relations student, offered her view on why this was such an important and special event.
“The point of this event is to make people feel that they have a community and can relate. At FIU, we have all of these cultural clubs because people feel the need to belong and all these clubs give people that space to belong wherever they feel comfortable. We are all minorities and need to link together with other cultures within our community to make up a majority.”
The event offered free food and a safe space for those to talk about both good and bad experiences surrounding their identity. People were also offered the opportunity to join in and listen to the panel through Zoom.
LSU made it a point for everyone’s thoughts to be heard and for all five panelists to touch upon any question or topic that the audience brought to the conversation.
“In California, I was just mixed with black and white. When I came to Miami, I was able to embrace both my Afro and Latino culture. I didn’t know if I was Hispanic enough or black enough. My identity is what I make out of it” said Agatha Caraballo, a Ph.D. holder in public affairs and professor of public policy and administration.
She is not only a professor, but also a mother. As was another panelist, Crystal Peña. Many students also brought their family members to attend the panel.
A large part about being a part of a culture and having that community is being able to share your experiences with your family. Many people were able to connect with each other because of the sharing of their experiences amongst family and others.
“I consider myself Afro-Latino, and being born in the United States does not change my roots. Learning more about where my family comes from has helped shape my identity” said Crystal Peña, a business owner and mother.
“I loved hearing the experiences that everyone in the panel was sharing, and felt that I was really able to connect on a deeper level with everyone present. Coming from a Latin background, it was so nice to hear similar experiences and new perspectives” said Vicky Conroy, a third year multimedia student.
Laughter and tears were shared throughout that panel room in the Graham Center. As the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month approaches its end, many more events like this can be found around campus and throughout the school year hosted by LSU.
Hispanic Heritage Month banner outside the Graham Center | Emilie Gonzalez, PantherNow
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