Caras Lindas Manuel Mendez, Gyselle Garcia

This week, we discuss global blackness, Panama and meaning of what Afrolatinidad means with Natasha Rodriguez. Natasha is a mother, travel addict, educator, DEI advocate, and storyteller. She was born and raised in Washington, DC, yet identifies as a global citizen. Growing up in an immigrant household, Natasha realized at a young age how big the world was after traveling to her family’s native country, Panama, at the age of seven. Being raised in a multicultural home shaped her identity over the years, indirectly shaping her life’s work in diversity.

This week, we discus Jean Marie Butler, 72, a classical and jazz piano teacher who performed as Maria Rodriguez with Latin groups in Washington, DC with Pepe Gonzalez . Pepe started his music career playing the electric bass in his late teens, when he formed one of the first integrated bands (between African-Americans and Hispanics) in the Washington, DC area. The band, ZAPATA, opened for many great bands such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, Weather Report, Rashan Roland Kirk, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Isley Brothers. In celebration of Women's History Month we honor Maria Rodriguez. She was a arranger, accompanist and composer, working with groups that included La Jazz and Maria Rodriguez Y Sus Magnificos. Maria Rodriguez performed for the Charlin Jazz Society and at D.C. Jazz Festivals, Blues Alley, a Smithsonian conference on Afro-Latin music and other places. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Today we talk with Dr. Johanna Fernandez the author of The Young Lords: A Radical History (UNC Press, February 2020), a history of the Puerto Rican counterpart of the Black Panther Party. She teaches 20th Century U.S. history and the history of social movements in the Department of History at Baruch College (CUNY). Episode track: "Abrecamino" by Leo Rua. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

La Luchita means “the hustle.” When asking a Cuban about their day it’s common to hear “aquí, en la luchita” (here, in the hustle). Calling this project "La Luchita" is a way of honoring organizers and their hustle to build a better world for all.Marley Pulido is an Afro-Habanero based in the D.C. area. He has organized programming and logistics for over 20 trips to Cuba including a Congressional Delegation. He’s in a struggle to decolonize himself through Afro-Cuban traditional knowledge. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

This week we speak with Itzbeth Menjívar founder of BridgePeople LLC, a consulting firm that helps strengthen leadership teams through cultural competencies and dialogue. Originally from Panamá, Itzbeth has been building bridges through dialogue and human connection with people for over 20 years. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

“Love is profoundly political. Our deepest revolution will come when we understand this truth.” bell hooks, Salvation: Black People and Love
On this week’s show, we dive deep in what Black love means to us. What important challenges we face and how it impacts the African Diaspora? What is Amor Negrxs? This week we speak with Rosalyn Lake an AfroDominica, a Taekwondo champion, a scholar and an educator. We discuss our love for an African centered approach to positive youth and our activism in the African Diaspora. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.