Inside: Teaching about Martin Luther King Jr. in Spanish class and celebrating Black History Month in Spanish class with a focus on Afro-Latinxs. Embrace the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world with your students with a focus on social justice. Lesson plans and Afro-Latinx Resources for all year in Spanish classes.
Author – Allison Wienhold
originally posted 1.13.19 by most recently updated 1.12.26
**Note this should not be the only time of year in your Spanish curriculum to discuss diverse voices in Spanish class. But, it is a great opportunity to spend time highlighting the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world as well as focus on social justice.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Spanish Class
First, in January the perfect thing to talk about is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States. Typically my Spanish 2 class spends February reading the novel Felipe Alou, which ties into the civil rights movement and MLK. Also, there is an MLK slideshow in the teacher guide that I typically use. Additionally, to honor his legacy your classes could participate in a day of service. Finally, below are other resources to celebrate the life and legacy of MLK.
- Celebrate MLK in Spanish Class– Fun for Spanish Teachers
- Teaching Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Slideshow in basic Spanish – Sara Broussard
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – resources for Spanish class – Zambombazo Zachary Jones
Teach for Justice in Spanish Class
Also, more than ever there is a need to teach with a social justice focus. A great way to tie in current events with your Spanish students. Here are a couple of Free resources from others for Spanish class. It is also worth noting that February 2nd is the start of Black Lives Matter Week of Action at School Week in 2026.
- Viva la Causa – Free César Chávez film unit & DVD from Learning for Justice
- Spanish Social Justice Word Study – La Secundaria
- Spanish For Social Justice
- 10 Social Justice Spanish Websites
Black History Month in Spanish Class
As well as incorporating diverse voices all year long, the month of February is the perfect time to specifically celebrate Afro-Latinxs during Black History Month. I know that BHM technically is celebrating famous African Americans. But, as a Spanish teacher, I try to expose my students to a variety of ethnicities of Spanish-speaking countries in the Spanish-speaking world.
Students should know there are many black people and people of African descent that speak Spanish. Afro-latino means a person of African descent living in or coming from Latin America. Afro-latino identity can be represented in different ways. There is a complex connection between African heritage, African history, African influence, along with Native Americans in Latin American countries
It’s beyond just knowing names of famous Afro-Latinos. It’s about critical thinking of middle school & high school students and authentic representation of Spanish speakers with dark skin. For example immersing students in Black culture of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Central America and more.
Spanish Class Music for Black History Month
- NEW Read Afro-Latino Music in Spanish Class for more information & 40 Afro-Latino artists to check out.
One of my favorite ways to introduce culture is always with music, so I created a Google Slides slideshow to show and celebrate Afro-Latinx musical artists. The 1st version had classics like Celia Cruz and Susana Baca, mixed with current hitmakers like Choquibtown and Tego Calderon.
Plus, there is 2nd version with 22 more songs, including many recent hits & a 3rd version & now a version 4 Also, there is a Bundle option as well for the best deal.
I have a new Afro-Latinx music slides that are now completely new for 2026. They include 22 new songs, plus the original 22 song as a bonus.
Update: You can now get Afro-Latinx music in Spanish from The Mis Clases Locas shop. Afro-Latino Music Bell Ringers 2026 & Afro-Latino Music BUNDLE
NEW Afro-Latino Music Bell Ringers 2026
Afro-Latino Music BUNDLE
Learn more
Resources for Afro-Latinx representation for Black History Month & Beyond
- Incorporating Afro-Latino Culture in Spanish Classrooms– Facebook Group from Afro-Latina Teacher Jenniffer Whyte
- How to Incorporate Afro-Latino Culture in the Spanish Classroom– La Secundaria Jade Greene
- Spanish Black History Month Resources – Spanish Playground
- 20 Free Afro-Mexica Resources – Afro-Latina Teacher
- Latinx History is Black History – Webinar for teachers to watch from Learning for Justice
Afro-Latinx Interpretive Reading Resources
- Las Voces Diversas de la Diásporafrom Kia London & A.C. Quintero
- El mensaje– comprehensible reader from A.C. Quintero
- Lectura de Afro-Latinos (free) – Holy Frijoles
- Puzzle: Qué significa afrolatino – Free Black History Month Wordoku– Comprehensible Classroom
Afro-Latinx Interpretive Listening Resources
>>Read Black History Month Movies in Spanish
- WISH The new Disney film Wish. The lead is an Afro-Latina teen with braids! I have a new Wish movie guide as well.
- VIVO – The Film Vivo & Vivo movie guide. (such a cute animated film with positive Afro-Latinx representation). Plus, now you can get the same Vivo Movie Guide in my website store.
- PELOTERO – The Documentary Pelotero with my movie guide or the same Pelotero Movie Guide from my website store. + Guantes de cartόn activity
- ENCANTO – The film Encanto & Encanto Movie Guide
- Videos below as well
A Cute short poem in Spanglish
Spanglish spoken word from Elizabeth Acevedo
What Afro-Latinos Want You To Know – Spanglish
Longer video in English – Afro Latinos
El pelo afro NO SE TOCA – Video in Spanish
Finally, here are other ideas for this time of year
- 1st Day After Winter Break for Spanish
- Carnaval in Spanish Class
- Valentine’s Day in Spanish class
- 10 Spanish Class Love Songs
- February in Spanish class
- lista lunes: March in Spanish class
- mania musical de marzo – March Music Madness in Spanish class
- Spring Break Chat in Spanish Class
- Teach Bad Bunny in Spanish Class for the SuperBowl!
Other Resources to diversify Spanish Class
- Asian Pacific Heritage Month Asian-Latinx Resources
- Indigenous Peoples in Spanish class
- Pride in Spanish class
What resources do you have as well? Please share links!
Want to Teach About the Culture in the Film Encanto?
Teach about the diverse Afro-Colombians in the cute film Encanto. Grab these free slides below with authentic Colombian culture.
