La La Anthony
Anthony in 2010, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Alani Nicole Vázquez
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: June 25, 1979
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican [African, Spanish, possibly other]
La La Anthony, born Alani Nicole Vázquez, and also known as La La Vázquez, is an American radio and television personality, author, businessperson, producer, and actress.
La La was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, to Puerto Rican (Nuyorican) parents. She has described herself as a “Black-Puerto Rican,” and stated:
I embrace being a Black-Puerto Rican and think we are plentiful and do exist! I am more “black” than people think… Since I don’t look like J-Lo, it’s hard for me to get the Puerto Rican/Latin role in a movie. I speak fluent Spanish, but get cast as being black long before they put me as the Latino.
La La has a son, basketball player Kiyan Anthony, with her former husband, professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony, who is of Puerto Rican and African-American descent.
Anthony with husband Carmelo Anthony in 2011, Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com
correction; her eyes are blue/green and her hair is virtually black (noirette) I think it should be listed
La La is 100% Puerto Rican. Having African, Spanish, and indigenous ancestry is what makes up Puerto Ricans! Being African American and Hispanic are two completely different cultures. She is not half African American because she does not have an African American parent, both her parents are from Puerto rico and speak Spanish. Just cuz she came out with a darker skin tone does not mean everyone has to be like “oh, she African American”, with that said clearly she has African blood in her, good for her that she’s not denying it but I don’t like when people who are Hispanic are dark skinned= they are black or when they look white= they are mostly white, not true, the genes that express themselves do not reveal what ethnicity you mostly are
She’s Afro-Latin like me, but she is half African American, she’s not 100% Puerto Rican, she’s half and half.
She said on her show she was black. She also tried to encourage one of her friends to date more black women like herself. Who is putting this up, yall should look up more interviews to back up what yall saying.
She may have said that, but that’s all you wanted to hear–there’s more to the story. The following are her words exactly:
“A lot of people don’t realize that I’m Latina, which is fine. One thing about being Latina is that there isn’t one look that comes with the territory. I don’t expect people to know my cultural background just by glancing at me. I do, however, expect that when I tell people my family is from Puerto Rico, that I will be believed and not accused of trying to be something that I’m not. It usually goes something like this: a person having a conversation with me discovers one way or another that I’m Puerto Rican and fluent in Spanish. That person then expresses their shock over these realizations for any number of reasons—common responses are, “You don’t look Latina” and “I thought you were black!” I never said I wasn’t black. And since when does being black and being Latina have to be mutually exclusive?”
Good for her for saying that. She goes on:
“I’m not angry with anyone who doesn’t understand the complexities of race and culture. And I’m also not interested in having long, drawn out conversations about how it’s possible for me to look like this and speak Spanish. In fact, sometimes I make it a point not to mention my parents’ birthplace because I don’t always feel like having the inevitable discussion that follows. Instead, I let people look at me and come to their own conclusions. As I start to get my feet wet in Hollywood, I already know that there are certain parts I won’t even be considered for. The character can be Puerto Rican and speak Spanish just like me, but Hollywood defines Latina as Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara. As beautiful as they are, we’re not all one race in Latin America. But I don’t go to auditions so that I can give history lessons to film executives. I’d rather skip the entire process.”
…It’s a shame that there are too many ignorant Americans!
@exotiq
The blame isn’t all on the Americans.Latin American doesn’t help,they only seem to want to promote a certain look for Latinos.You have the Afro Latinos(no offense for the term),up here taking African American rolls in movies.You have LA LA stating herself,(I don’t go to auditions so that I can give history lessons to film executives. I’d rather skip the entire process.”).How are Americans suppose to learn the differences,if Latinos like her don’t step up.I see Laz Alonso doing things,but the man is going to need some help.You have some PR’s on this site,that don’t want to admit,black people were ever in the the country.
She did say that she was half African American on her show lala full court life
She’s Afro-Latin not half African American. I’m African American and people need to understand that there are black people in Latin countries due to the Atlantic Slave Trade, so she’s Afro-Latin. So basically she’s a latin of African descent and there are a lot of them check Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico etc… They’re black people that speak spanish and share spanish culture and they’re referred to as Afro-Latinos.
EXACTLY
She is an African American ! She has ties to an American country and she has STRONG African roots. So that makes her an African American with some Taino and Spanish heritages, but she herself says she considers her self an African American in the Latin magazines.
lol you sound so desperaate
Duh. Why get so technical. I was just repeating what she said. If you have a problem with that correct her not me.