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Hi! I’m Joy, a Louisiana-born, Nigerian-American writer who’s obsessed with literature, research, and the untold histories of Africa and the Black diaspora. The Braid Blog is where I weave it all together: memory, literature, culture, and the quiet power in our everyday lives. Think of this space as part archive, part altar–always an offering.
I’d love to connect! Feel free to visit my socials below or send me an email xo.
Tag: hispanic heritage month
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¡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.
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring Esmeralda Santiago’s When I Was Puerto Rican. This powerful memoir traces girlhood, identity, and assimilation, following a first-generation Puerto Rican daughter navigating rural roots and Brooklyn life. A vital read for understanding Hispanic voices, culture, and resilience across generations.
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This Hispanic Heritage Month, discover the untold story of 2LT Esteban Hotesse—the only Dominican Tuskegee Airman. From Moca, DR to the Freeman Field Mutiny, his courage helped pave the way for desegregation in the U.S. military. His legacy shines light on Hispanic involvement in shaping history as we know it.
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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.
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From Taíno roots to the Haitian Revolution, Hispaniola’s story is one of survival, rebellion, and resilience. This island birthed the world’s first free Black republic, endured brutal colonial debts, and shaped the fates of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Journey through its history this Hispanic Heritage Month.
