Collage by Alan López for Remezcla
The stories of women of color (and of those belonging to marginalized communities) are often invisible. And while we’ve seen mainstream media cover these stories with more regularity in recent years, we still have a lot of work to do. (Media is still overwhelmingly white, after all.) But as we wait for the world to catch up, several have taken to Instagram to build platforms that shine a light on the women in our communities. Through their posts, we learn about women who look like us, who have similar stories as us, or who come from the same backgrounds – in short, they could be us.
With Women’s History Month taking place this month, we’ve seen more woman-centered stories. But for many of these platforms, uplifting women is a year-round task.
Below, check out 15 Instagram accounts that empower Latinas and other women of color.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br0IOylh7qm/
Women of color have been shut out of many industries, including the art world. But with the Brown Girls Museum Blog, Ravon Ruffin and Amanda Figueroa have tried to bring our voices to the forefront. On Instagram, the pair shows us how they take space in a mostly white, male-dominated field, while also putting us onto many talented woman creatives of color.
Nalgona Positivity Pride is a body-positive and eating disorder awareness project. While there are plenty of platforms meant to empower these groups of women, they don’t always look at the role race and culture can play. But NPP does.
Even based on the name, it’s easy to see that Grow Mija is all about positivity. Run by artist Iliana, this Instagram account features images of women of all races and shapes to show that we all deserve to thrive.
Jenay Wright, the founder of #IAmEnough, dedicates her time to bringing the stories of AfroLatinas to light. On Instagram, she celebrates Afro-Latinas’ accomplishments – past and present – as well as that of other women across the African diaspora.
Started by Ilian Panameño and Mu-Chieh Yun, We, Ceremony is a visual platform that regularly posts the stories womxn and femmes of color. Drop by and you’ll probably find a new hero or two.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcXVx9rgjYY/
Despite greater acceptance of natural hair, there are some who still believe that “pelo malo” exists. Rizos Dominicanos is there to show that every hair should be valued through beautiful images of curls of all kinds.
While Central American Art & Beauty uses Instagram (and Twitter) to highlight people from Panama, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, founder Zaira Miluska is very committed to telling the stories of womxn from the isthmus.
Jevas is succinct about its mission. It wants to draw attention to “mujeres que meten.” And it does, with each post showing us a woman who has made her mark on the island.
The Mujerista is all about showing the strength of the women in our communities.
Mujeristas Collective is a space to celebrate and discuss Latinas and women of color.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuwDl9tAGXq/
Necia Media Collective describes itself as a “womxn of color critically conscious arts and multimedia network.” Through nearly 800 posts, Necia has shown women the barriers that exist and given them the encouragement to keep fighting.
Nubia Willman, the lawyer behind Latinas Uprising, shares her wisdom and encouraging words with women who are (or are interested) in the legal field, a profession where we are woefully underrepresented.
Editor’s Note: Nubia Willman writes a column, Ask an Immigration Lawyer, for Remezcla.
