Q&A with 2022-2023 Fellow Celine Ayala
Tell us about your work and how your work contributes to contemporary Afro-Latinx studies.
My work focuses on the Afro- in Afrolatinidad by using what I call an Afrolatin Critical Theory of race (ACTR) to understand Afrolatin experiences of Blackness. ACTR is a theoretical perspective that rests on the intellectual manifestations of everyday Black and Afrolatinx thinkers, creators, poets, and artists to critically understand Afrolatinx experiences of Blackness by emphasizing decolonial knowledge production, diasporic intersectional theorization, and the centering and privileging of Black and Afrolatin histories, biographies, and perspectives. There is a good amount of work on Afrolatinidad that are written in a way to expand the knowledge of the racial diversity of the Latinx community, there is nothing wrong with this, but what seems to be missing, or at least not heavily focused on are discussions of the diversity of the Black diaspora with an emphasis on Afrolatinx blackness. My work contributes to contemporary Afro-Latinx studies through the introduction of ACTR which provides a tool to allow for a critical analysis of Afrolatinx racialized experiences. ACTR radically calls for an emphasis on Blackness and the use of Black and Afrolatinx theories and perspectives created by Black and Afrolatinx individuals to understand Afrolatinx racialized experiences and combat anti-Blackness. So, by focusing on Afrolatinx experiences of Blackness I am adding a renewed emphasis on the black diaspora within contemporary Afrolatinx studies.
What ideas do you have to enrich the NYU community?
Education has always been something that was important to me both inside and outside of school. I used to take a lot of notes in school just so I could bring the information back to friends, family and kids in my neighborhoods who were not in the types of classes I was in. With that being said, I am looking forward to being able to have the opportunity to teach students and community members both inside and outside of NYU about Afrolatinx Blackness and Afrolatin histories through academic and non-academic sources. I am also looking forward to the possibility of building community with Afrolatin poets, artists, musicians and, or story tellers and bringing their knowledge and experience to the classroom and surrounding communities.
What does being named this year’s TLP Fellow mean to you?
When I received notice that I was going to be invited out to New York to share my work with the community as a fellow through The Latinx Project at NYU I was overrun with emotions. I felt excitement and joy for the opportunity to be in a city with so many other Afrolatin folk that I can be in community with. I felt sad because I wished I could share the news with my late father who I know would have been excited to know that I am finishing off a portion of my dissertation work in my Abuela’s old stomping grounds. Finally, I felt honored to be working with an organization that has provided a visible platform for many Afrolatinx folk allowing me to walk in the amazing footsteps of Dr. Zamora and Dr. Oro as well as continue the legacy of my father who inspired my work, of my advisor Dr. Nancy Lopez who constantly affirms the importance of my work, and of the legacy of the many unnamed others whose stories were forced to stop and whose contributions go unnoticed.
Celine Maria Ayala is a queer Afro-Puerto Rican doctoral candidate in the department of Sociology and Criminology at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Her current work examines Afrolatinx experiences of Blackness framed within an Afrolatin Critical Theory of Race to investigate how Afrolatinx folk are racialized through a transnational history of colonization, imperialism, and antiblackness. Her work is inspired by her late father’s stories of his transition from Carolina Puerto Rico to the mainland. Celine is the current representative and founder of the Afrolatinx Caucus within MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social) as well as one of the newest members of the Black Latinas Know Collective Network, and a former TEDx Talk speaker. When not working on her dissertation, she is working on her craft as a musician (bass, trumpet and, Vocals) and poet.