LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and The Practice of Freedom Conversation Series: Absolutamente Negro/a/x – Absolutely Black host one of a series of 10 conversations taking place in cities across the United States and in Puerto Rico, from November 2023 through the end of 2024.  

This conversation will focus on racism and colorism in Latinidad, especially in Los Angeles. The controversial comments made by LA City Council members in October 2022 sparked the idea for the series as issues of racism and colorism within the spaces of educational institutions and the arts will be explored in the Plática. Guest speakers include author, novelist and journalist Hector Tobar; clinical social work/therapist, Davis Rodriguez Melendez, director of Afro-Latino Education and Arts Collective (ALEAC) cultural educator and activist, Shay Cruz, and documentarian Ebony Bailey.