🙋🏽👧🏿👱🏾👧🏻The Latinx Collective - Issue #18

THIS WEEK'S FIVE:

You can of course count on National Geographic for incredible photography and this particular picture story is beyond gorgeous - make sure you click through on this one! Recognizable by their colorful and elegant attire of multilayered skirts, embroidered shawls, and tiny bowler hats, cholitas are an expression of the indigenous renaissance taking hold in the Americas.

Most cholita wrestlers are Aymara, an indigenous nation residing in the high plains of South America. The group has faced ethnic oppression and exploitation since the Spanish colonization of the region. “And therein lies the essence, the reason why people enjoy watching and admiring the Cholitas fight, because it is the dramatization of the Chola Aymara woman from El Alto.”

P.S. The photos were done by Brazilian photographer Luisa Dör.

Here's a great (and shoppable) profile of Nathalie Molina Niño, proud daughter of Latinx immigrants and serial entrepreneur who started her first biz at 20 years old. By her mid-thirties, she'd already built 4 companies and now she's just published her first book. Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs, is a collection of 50 hacks for start-up founders who don’t have access to old-boys networks or Silicon Valley connections (aka women and especially women of color). I'm currently reading her book and can't wait to share my thoughts with you.

Whether it's the music, politics or intellectual traditions, Africans have long been at the forefront of Latinx culture. This roundup explores the history of Afro-Latino identity and its connection to the motherland. Go check out these amazing artists, and follow their work. Here's a teaser:

Vincent Toro's book Stereo.Island.Mosaic does not shy away from the brutal histories of empire as Toro explores and celebrates Puerto Rico. "This island is a bridge between the Orishas/and the astronauts./This island is a blender,/polychrome vortex stirring/the soot of the empire/with abrazos and batas."

The Latin Recording Academy has announced nominees for its 19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. This year an equal number of female and male acts are represented in the category of Best New Artists, as well as in both Record and Song of the Year. Leading the nominations is Colombian artist J Balvin, who is up for eight Latin Grammy awards, including songs “Mi Gente” (with Willy William) and “X” (feat. Nicky Jam) for Record of the Year, his 2018 full-length Vibras for Album of the Year, among many others. So, what do you think about the nominee list ??

If you went to school in the U.S., you've probably realized by now that our history books were whitewashed. That's why writer Marilyn La Jeunesse pulled together this article on historical Latinx figures that helped shape American history and should be featured in every U.S. history book, including: Dolores Huerta (women's rights advocate), Dr. Ellen Ochoa (the first Latinx astronaut),  Ralph Lazo (who voluntarily entered a Japanese internment camp in solidarity) and Roberto Clemente (the first Latino player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame).

SPOTLIGHT SERIES:

This is an ongoing series where I highlight Latinx-owned projects and businesses. Support this community however you can, whether that's buying their products, sharing what they're doing via social media, donating to their causes, or word of mouth. Also, please send over suggestions anytime.

An amazing directory just launched this week featuring Latinxs in the design industry. Their mission is to provide a space to find outstanding people to follow, allow people to look for a mentor, make new friends, or discover talented individuals to join your team. I was looking for a Latinx designer a few weeks ago, soI'm so glad this exists now! Check out their website to learn more and to browse freelancers, product designers, graphic designers, and more. You can also upvote them on Product Hunt.

Thanks for reading this week’s issue. Please continue to share your feedback and if you enjoy it, consider forwarding it to friends, coworkers, family and allies, and sharing it on your social channels. If you do share, tag us here and here.

💖Mil gracias to subscriber Audrey Galo (Founder, AG Voiced) for the kind words:

First issue, just joined and it's refreshing way to read and learn about our Latinx community. Thanks for doing this! Will recommend to others :)