Voices Unpacked Lesson Plan Afro-Hispanic Voices Unpacked
Foundations of Afro-Hispanic Literature
Lesson Plan
45 Minutes
Why This Lesson?
Understanding Afro-Hispanic literature enriches students' perspectives on global cultures, introduces them to diverse voices, and highlights the ongoing relevance of themes like identity and social justice in a literary context. This lesson provides a critical entry point into the African diaspora's impact on the Spanish-speaking world.
Learning Objective
Graduate students will design and facilitate a 45-minute interactive lesson introducing key themes, texts, and cultural context of Afro-Hispanic literature to their peers or undergraduate students.
Teacher Prep
• Review the Afro-Hispanic Literature Slide Deck and customize for your platform.
• Prepare digital/print copies of the Excerpts Handout.
• Select discussion questions most relevant to the chosen excerpts.
• Set up breakout rooms or small group spaces.
• Gather optional music/audio clips (e.g., Afro-Cuban percussion).
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Instructional Sequence
10 min
Introduction & Context
Begin with the Afro-Hispanic Literature Slide Deck to introduce historical/cultural background.
Facilitate a brief discussion using initial prompts from the Discussion Guide to gauge prior knowledge.
Set the stage: Define the African Diaspora in Latin America and the concept of mestizaje or cultural hybridity.
15 min
Close Reading Activity
Share the Excerpts Handout with small groups or breakout rooms.
Students identify key themes (identity, resistance), literary devices (rhythm, imagery), and personal reactions.
Encourage groups to discuss interpretations: How does the language reflect the Afro-Hispanic experience?
15 min
Thematic Discussion
Reconvene for a whole-class discussion using the Discussion Guide .
Groups share insights on themes like diaspora, race, and social justice.
Facilitator Tip: Connect the literature to contemporary social issues to ground the historical texts.
5 min
Wrap-up & Reflection
Closing "One Word" or "One Takeaway" from each student.
Assign a final reflective journal prompt if continuing the unit: "How does Afro-Hispanic literature challenge standard narratives of Latin American history?"
Slide Deck Excerpts Handout Discussion Guide
Designed for Undergraduate Education
Voices Unpacked Slides Unpacking Afro-Hispanic Voices
An Introduction to Afro-Hispanic Literature & Culture
A Rich History: Afro-Hispanic Roots
The African Diaspora in Latin America
Blending of cultures: African, Indigenous, and European influences
Context: Slavery, resistance, and cultural survival
What is Afro-Hispanic Literature?
"Literature written by authors of African descent in Spanish-speaking countries."
Explores unique experiences, perspectives, and challenges.
A powerful voice in Latin American and global literature.
Key Voices: Nicolás Guillén
Cuba (1902–1989)
Poet Laureate
Poesía Negra
Pioneer of Black Poetry, integrating Afro-Cuban speech patterns and rhythms.
Core Themes:
Rhythm & Music
Identity
Social Protest
Mestizaje
Key Voices: Nancy Morejón
Cuba (Born 1944)
"Mujer Negra"
Known for her iconic poem tracing the history of Black women in Cuba from slavery to revolution.
Explores Black female identity and resistance.
Award-winning poet, critic, and translator.
Deeply engaged with the Cuban Revolution.
Beyond Cuba: Diverse Voices
Colombia
Manuel Zapata Olivella
"Changó, el gran putas"
Epic narrative of the African Diaspora's struggle for freedom.
Dominican Republic
Blas Jiménez
"Caribe africano"
Focuses on the complexities of race and identity in the DR.
Close Reading Activity
In small groups, you will read selected excerpts from Afro-Hispanic authors.
Themes Devices Reactions
Discussion: Unpacking Themes
01
Identity & Selfhood
02
Resistance & Resilience
03
Cultural Hybridity
04
Social Inequality
Reflection & Takeaways
What is one new thing you learned or one idea that resonated with you today?
How does Afro-Hispanic literature connect to our world today?
Thank You!
"Keep exploring the rich tapestry of Afro-Hispanic culture and literature!"
Voices Unpacked Excerpts Handout Voices Unpacked: Literary Excerpts
Afro-Hispanic Literature & Identity
Name:
Date:
Instructions
As you read these excerpts, pay close attention to the rhythm of the language, the imagery of the landscape/body, and the themes of identity and history. Use the space provided for your annotations and initial reactions.
1. Nicolás Guillén (Cuba)
From "Balada de los dos abuelos" (1934)
Sombras que sólo yo veo,
Lanza con punta de hueso,
¡Qué de barcos, qué de barcos!
Annotations & Reactions
2. Nancy Morejón (Cuba)
From "Mujer Negra" (1975)
Todavía huelo la espuma del mar que me hicieron atravesar.
Me rebelé. Anduve.
Ésta es la tierra donde padecí azotes y humillaciones.
Annotations & Reactions
3. Manuel Zapata Olivella (Colombia)
From "Changó, el gran putas" (1983)
"...la sombra de los ancestros se proyecta sobre el mar, donde los barcos cargados de cadenas arrastran los gritos de quienes fueron arrancados de su tierra. Pero en el fondo de las bodegas, el latido del tambor no se apaga; es el pulso de Changó, la semilla de la resistencia que florecerá en el nuevo mundo."
Annotations & Reactions
Synthesis Question
Compare how these three authors treat the ocean or the crossing . Is it a place of ending, beginning, or something else?
Voices Unpacked Discussion Guide Discussion Guide
Voices Unpacked
Critical Questioning for Afro-Hispanic Literature
Part 1: Initial Prompts (10 Min)
How do we define "Afro-Hispanic" identity? Is it different from "Afro-Latino"?
What authors or historical figures come to mind when you think of the African Diaspora in the Spanish-speaking world?
In what ways can literature serve as a form of historical record for marginalized voices?
Part 2: Textual Analysis (15 Min)
Guillén & Morejón
Q: In Balada de los dos abuelos , how does Guillén use parallel structure to show the "white" and "black" ancestry as both separate and unified?
Q: In Mujer Negra , notice the transition from the first-person singular "I" to the plural "we". What does this shift signify for the speaker's identity?
Zapata Olivella
Q: What role does religion or spirituality (like the reference to Changó ) play in the literary resistance shown in these texts?
Q: How is the sea described? Is it a barrier, a bridge, or a graveyard? Use specific imagery from the handout.
Part 3: Thematic Synthesis (15 Min)
Resistance & Resilience
How does the act of writing in Spanish—the language of the colonizer—become an act of resistance for these Afro-Hispanic authors?
Identity & Hybridity
Discuss the concept of Mestizaje . Do these poems support the idea of a "racial democracy" in Latin America, or do they challenge it?
Contemporary Connection
How do the struggles and triumphs voiced by these 20th-century authors mirror contemporary social movements for racial justice in Latin America today?
Facilitator Note: Allow for silence after posing synthesis questions to encourage deep reflection.
© 2026 Afro-Hispanic Voices Unpacked
