By Jan Peña-Davis –

Susana Baca from the University of Chicago archive

Blatinas, Hispanic women with obvious African roots (darker skin and kinkier hair), are few and far between in the entertainment industry, unless playing the maid in telenovelas or the espiritista or la mala.

In the Hollywood of my day, the only Latinas in film were Raquel Welch or Rita Hayworth who looked nothing like me.

And those who are more ‘colored’ often straighten and lighten their hair in order to assimilate into the dominate culture, i.e. Jennifer Lopez or don blond wigs like the incredible Cuban songstress, Celia Cruz.

Where oh where is the Blatina who is recognized for her talent and honors her history and culture?

Hollywood?

In Peru – Lima to be exact.

Many years ago while working as a research assistant in Lima, I stumbled across an ‘everyman’ sort of club where the music was ‘pumpin’ and the beer tasted like nectar from the gods. And I don’t like beer.

Standing on a very small stage was a diminutive woman with a short cropped afro and skin as brown as mine, seducing the audience with the most incredible voice that seemed to hold us all in a trance.

The fusion of traditional  African drumming blended with a mellow almost bossa nova beat brought me to my feet.

I knew that African slaves had touched Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, even the state of Veracruz in Mexico, but Peru? I was amazed.

Her name was Susana Baca.

Afro-Peruvian Baca was born in Chorrillos, a mostly black section on the outskirts of Lima.

Her father was against her musical inclinations, equating singing with prostitution. Although her mother wanted her to become a teacher, she supported her daughter’s career path.

Baca’s lando style of music is her trademark. It’s a mixture of Spanish and African rhythms with a slow, kind of mellow beat, yet still danceable.

“Combining the use of a special drum like instrument, her ballads very often tell the daily suffering of black working women with a contemporary flair,” wrote music critic Elisa Murray.

Translate: you can dance to it or make love!

And many of her songs invite the ‘call and response’ technique often heard today in black churches in the South.

Yet, 65-year old Baca, has been a driving force behind the revival of anything and everything Afro-Peruvian including folklore and has established an institute dedicated to Afro-Peruvian music and dance.

In addition, her music has been considered for film projects in Hollywood but those of us of color are still waiting.

In 2006, the University of Chicago invited her to present research on black music and dance. And although the U of C isn’t Hollywood, it certainly signals Baca’s increasing importance and influence in art, entertainment and Latina issues.

Music oftentimes seems to be colorblind.

And while in Chicago, she made a special trip to the Paseo Boricua for coffee and conversation at a gallery honoring Afro-Latinas, Afri-Caribe.

Is she an artist-translate-entertainer?

Without a doubt.

Has she bucked the stereotype?

For those who only think of Latinas as light skin and booty shaking, yes!

Is she a groundbreaker?

Absolutely, especially for those Afro-Latinas, or as I call them-Blatinas entering the arts.

But most of all she’s an entertainer who honors her history and culture.

You go sister girl! And watch out Hollywood!