Blaxicans of L.A. is an Instagram account that evolved into a show at Los Angeles’ Avenue 50 Studio during Black History Month. The exhibit features portraits with captions that chronicle personal histories and experiences regarding colorism and self-identity.
Maria says she identifies as Afro-Mexicana. Her portrait is accompanied by a photo of her parents.“My dad was an MTA bus driver. My mom would always catch the bus at one of his stops, and slowly but surely, they began to talk. My dad learned some Spanish phrases just so that he could communicate with her during his bus route. They eventually got together and had me,” Maria said of her parents.Richard says he ethnically identifies as Afro-Mexican, but racially, “I embrace my blackness as here in L.A., that is typically how I am read.” Identifying as Afro-Mexican acknowledges his African roots as well as his hometown of Los Angeles, which indigenous Mexicans occupied until American colonization. “My mom has always spoken about our family proudly in these terms. It’s what I’d like to continue to promote.”Richard traces his Afro-Mexican on both sides of his family to Nogales, a city on the U.S.-Mexico border that’s home to Afro-Mexicans descended from the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Calvary Regiment. The community was so tight that many of them stayed in touch after moving away. “When my grandmothers moved west to Los Angeles, they built their families around each other. It was no surprise when my mother, Alva, and father, Pancho, found each other. In fact, it may have been the intention of my grandmas from the start.”Maggie says she grew believing she was full Mexican, until she was 13. “As soon as I found out I was mixed, it opened up my mind, and I guess I was finally able to be me,” she said.Growing up as “the little dark Mexican” in her family, Maggie says, she struggled to prove that she was Hispanic. “But once my mom told me I was black, I started to hang out with more black people, and I stopped chasing the idea of proving to everyone that I was Hispanic.”The exhibit features subjects with varied heritage. As the descendant of black slaves from the rural southern United States and indigenous farmers from El Salvador, “I’m proud of the fact that both of my cultures come from circumstances that people don’t often live through,” Antonio said. “They rose above it, and they are still trying to make sense of who they are. I’m just proud to envelop both cultures and feel everything flowing through me.”Antonio says his parents split when he was 4 years old. Growing up, he felt as though they were “trying to root for me to succeed because they couldn’t succeed as parents.” The family reunited for his high school graduation. “But during this photo, for one moment, any grudge, bitterness, it all went away, and that’s something that I will cherish forever.”
If you’re interested in learning more about how identity impacts individuals and communities, consider exploring subjects on race and culture, which provide insights into personal narratives and societal challenges.
