Hidden in plain sight – assessing the impact of targeted modules on Afro-Latinx visibility in the Spanish classroom

Abstract

Afro-Latinx communities have historically been marginalized in educational curricula. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the impact of Afro-Latinx modules in a college-level Spanish class. The study asks: (1) How does the implementation of Afro-Latinx modules influence the visibility and representation of Afro-Latinx individuals and communities in the Spanish language curriculum? (2) How do students perceive the effectiveness of Afro-Latinx modules in creating a more inclusive and accurate understanding of Afro-Latinx identities? Grounded in Critical Race Theory, Critical Language Awareness, and Raciolinguistics, the study analyzes pre- and post-assessment data and reflective journals from 50 intermediate Spanish college students. Findings indicate that the modules improved representation by enhancing the understanding of Afro-Latinx identities, their contributions, and the awareness of colorism in Latinx societies. Moreover, students perceived the intervention as effective in creating representation and advocacy, understanding Latinx heritage, and creating empathy.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Multilingual Research Journal, 2026 · DOI ↗