Afros Unidos – Spanish for People of African Descent

By Aja Minor, BAJI Program Associate

Since our birth in 2006, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration has provided African Americans with a progressive analysis and framework on immigration, opportunities to network, dialogue and act in solidarity with immigrants of color.  Afros Unidos was created with this in mind.

Since May of this year, BAJI members and volunteers gathered to practice and develop their Spanish language skills.  The space is designed to provide members with resources to practice at their own pace.

So far we have covered grammar basics, vocabulary of relationships, people, and feelings and conversational basics.  Each participant is working toward their own personal language goals: writing a Spanish poem, connecting with Spanish speaking parents, and sharing BAJI’s mission in Espanol.  One Friday a month we will meet with Mujeres Unidas y Activas’ English Language students to practice and connect!

This is an exciting project, in its infancy.  We want it to be ongoing, and hopefully extend it to other languages from Africa and Latin America.

If you know fluent/native Spanish speakers who can volunteer in our class, or if you have any questions contact Aja at aja@blackalliance.org.