Virtual Afrolatine Museum Exhibit Visit

CSUSB Anthropology Museum Staff, 2023-2024

In 2023-2024, the California State University, San Bernardino Anthropology Museum hosted an exhibition called Afróntalo. The exhibit focused on combating the erasure of Afrolatines. The exhibit is divided into two main sections – Afromexico and Afrolatine California. 

• The Afromexico section has five subsections – a broad introduction to the history of Afrodescendants in Mexico, and four areas curated by representatives of Afrodescendant communities (Costa Chica, Coyolillo, Tamiahua, and the Negros Mascogos). 

• The Afrolatine California section provides a short history of the participation of Afrolatines in the founding of the state of California, and 20 original portraits and biographical stories of Afrolatines living in California (see Afrolatine Biographies Learning Unit). 

The exhibit is preserved as a virtual 360 tour in both English and Spanish. “Visiting” the virtual exhibit can provide an accessible introduction to Afrolatinidad – standing on its own, or in combination with other Afrolatine-centered learning resources. 

Visit the Afróntalo exhibit 360 tour and have students complete one of the following activities:

1. English tour

2. Spanish tour

Scavenger Hunt

There are two scavenger hunts, one designed for elementary school students, and one for middle school students. The pdf can be edited to serve the needs of your learners, or you can use the blank form to create your own scavenger hunt directives.

• Elementary Student Scavenger Hunt

• Middle School Student Scavenger Hunt

• Blank Scavenger Hunt

If your students are completing the “bonus” activity of indicating the source of their answers on the exhibit map, you can use these to help them:

• Exhibition map (English)

• Exhibition map (Spanish)

Students are asked to follow a link included in the exhibit. List of all links.

Crossword Puzzle

There are four crossword puzzles (2 versions of each, to help prevent students from copying from one another). These are perhaps best for middle school or high school learners. An answer key is provided for each.

• Crossword Puzzle 1A (Answer Key) Crossword Puzzle 1B (Answer Key)

• Crossword Puzzle 2A (Answer Key) Crossword Puzzle 2B (Answer Key)

• Crossword Puzzle 3A (Answer Key) Crossword Puzzle 3B (Answer Key)

• Crossword Puzzle 4A (Answer Key) Crossword Puzzle 4B (Answer Key)

• Teach young students about museums using Kids.Britannica “Museum” and National Geographic “Behind the Scenes at the Museum.” Older students might instead enjoy The Art Assignment “The Case for Museums” (PBS). To emphasize critical thinking and the role of imperialism, racism, and colonialism in the foundation of modern museums, consider The Origin of Everything “The Problem with Museums” (PBS).

• Use the “Introduction” of the Afromexico section of the exhibition to supplement teaching about colonialism in Latin America.

• Use the Afrolatine California section of the exhibition to supplement teaching about the history of California (missions, land grants, founding of Los Angeles)

• Use the Afrolatine California section of the exhibition to supplement teaching about the history of the US (California enters the union as a non-slave state, but slavery is still allowed in certain circumstances), complicating simplistic notions of slave / non-slave

• Use the Costa Chica section of the exhibition to teach about music and dance

• Use the Tamiahua section of the exhibition to teach about the African diaspora in Latin America

• Use the Negros Mascogos section of the exhibition to supplement teaching about self-emancipation and the Trail of Tears

• Use the Coyolillo section to teach about arts and social justice