The Braid Blog

A literary billet-doux to the African world.

Hi! Kedu ka i mere! I’m Joy, a 26-year-old Nigerian-American literati with a B.A. & M.A. in English Language and Literature. I’ve always had a passion for reading, writing, and research. As a Louisiana native, my interests encompass all facets of the Black/African experience. Feel free to look around and read what speaks to you, leave a comment, share a post with your mutuals, contact me even. Connect with me on my various socials below, too. I’m excited to be your new blogger bestie!

Tag: afro-latinx

  • Bailamos!: Exploring AfroLatinx Music

    ¡Vamos a bailar! Dive into the vibrant world of AfroLatinx music–from samba and rumba to salsa, merengue, mambo, cumbia, reggaeton, and Son Cubano. Discover how African, Spanish, and Indigenous traditions shaped each genre, fueling dance, storytelling, and rhythmic evolution that shaped Latin music history and continues to inspire dance floors worldwide.

  • Read, Rinse, Repeat: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

    Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by diving into Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X, a searing novel-in-verse that captures the Afro-Latinx experience with raw honesty. Xiomara’s voice shatters silence, reclaiming space for girls told they are too much and not enough—all at once. A must-read for identity, faith, and freedom.

  • Read, Rinse, Repeat: American Negra by Natasha S. Alford

    Natasha S. Alford, an acclaimed author and journalist of Puerto Rican and African American descent, explores her multiethnic identity in her memoir, “The American Negra.” Through her personal journey, she addresses the complexities of belonging and the challenges faced by Afro-Latinxs, advocating for greater recognition and acceptance of their diverse heritage.