BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH ALIANZA CENTER

IEAFRO Joins Orlando Community to Celebrate Black History Month and Afro-Venezuelan Identity

KISSIMMEE, FL 02/06/2023 — The Institute of African Diaspora Studies (IEAFRO) is proud to announce its participation in the Orlando Black History Month celebrations, marked by a significant collaboration between our Executive Director, Francisco Tovar, and Melanie Propa, Director of the Alianza Center. This engagement highlights the shared mission of honoring the legacy of African descendants across the Americas and strengthening the bonds within the Orlando community.

During the event, in his capacity as international guest, Francisco Tovar delivered a compelling lecture focused on the history and contemporary reality of Afro-Venezuelans. The presentation explored the "Black Resistance" inherent in the Afro-Venezuelan experience, detailing the transition from the abolition of slavery to the modern fight for social and economic reparations. Tovar emphasized that Venezuela is fundamentally an Afro-descendant nation, and his lecture served to bridge the gap between South American African history and the broader African Diaspora narratives celebrated in the United States. By addressing themes of internalized racism and the necessity for ethno-education, the lecture provided a vital international perspective to Orlando’s month-long commemoration.

As we reflect on the success of last year’s collaboration with the Alianza Center, IEAFRO looks forward to joining the Orlando community once again this year to continue the essential work of documenting and celebrating the contributions of the African Diaspora. For further information on our research and upcoming initiatives, please visit the IEAFRO website.