Unanimo Deportes celebrates Black History Month

For a second year, Unanimo Deportes is taking an inclusive approach to celebrating Black History Month, by telling stories about Afro-Latino athletes and their unique experiences of being black and Latino.

“Afro-Latinos are often not heard and their rich stories rarely told” said Lino García, President and Founder of Unanimo Deportes. “For example, that of Alfonso Teofilo Brown known as ‘Panama’ Al Brown, who was the first Latino world boxing champion in any weight class, regarded as one of the greatest bantamweights in the history, and an openly gay athlete back in the 1930s and 40s. At the time, such revelations were extremely bold and dangerous. Panama Al Brown even tap danced in Josephine Bakers’ Paris Revue, adding to his colorful story”.

This need for the Afro-Latin experience to be shared, led Unanimo to use its radio network, sports portal, and multiple platforms last year to relay numerous bios and conduct interviews with athletes to discuss the unique experience of being black and Latino in the United States, and as immigrants needing to learn a new language, and adopt a new culture.

“With Black History Month: Herencia, Unanimo Deportes goes beyond to further tell the stories of these and other black Latino athletes who bring together two cultures and two languages in celebration of a more complete and inclusive Black History Month,” Garcia said.