DOMINI-ATlien, AFROLATINA

I am gold hoops and Dominican rum.

Platano con salami y queso frito, and hair rollers that dry in the Caribbean sun.

I am gold teeth, candy paint, and spinning rims. 

Soul food and pretty girls love trap music.

I am reggaeton and hip-hop blasting through your highway speakers.

Afro picked, coco-butter down, and fluent Spanish to confuse them when I walk past.

Spicy Latina with a natural hip swing and southern sweet talk 

I am Big Boi and Daddy Yankee, Monica and Marc Anthony.

Santo Domingo. SpelHouse, and Fox Theatre.

I am Old Bay, Sazon Adobo, and Waffle House at 2am. 

Stew chicken, sancocho, and 10pchotlemonpepperwet. 

And don’t forget to mix my peach drink with errthangelse.

Yes, I am Black, 

And I am Brown.

Yes, both of my cultures are colorful, loud, and proud.

No, I won’t turn my music down.

No, I am not moving out your way.

No, you cannot touch my crown.

And yes… I am both the Afro and the Latina,

So, when they ask me what I am,

I tell them to read this again.

And say my name correctly.

LolaDarling, 2025.