Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet chairwoman Nicholson, the first Afro-Latina to lead Milwaukee County Board

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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) — Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing, and we’re learning the stories of some of our own Latino leaders in Milwaukee. It’s a racial identity that can sometimes be overlooked: Afro-Latinos are a vibrant force across the country and right here in Wisconsin.

Our Rodaris Richardson sat down with Marcelia Nicholson, the first Afro-Latina to lead the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors—a title she holds with pride. “My mother is Puerto Rican. My grandmother is from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico,” she said. “My father is a Black man from Alabama, but I proudly represent both heritages. My mom is 'Morena', so she would also be considered Afro-Latina. I’m very proud to be Boricua. It means going home often and feeling the soul of the island. It means representing my community.”

Nicholson explained, “Growing up was difficult because I grew up in north Milwaukee, which is primarily black. There’s also a large Puerto Rican population, but it’s still mainly Black. So, you assimilate into Black culture, but then you go south, where it’s Latino, and you’re not sure where you belong. Are you Black enough? Are you Latina enough? And I didn’t learn Spanish at home; I learned it at school. Sometimes that language barrier was very challenging and made me feel insecure.”

According to Pew Research, nearly 6 million adults in the U.S. identify as Afro-Latino. Studies show some face more discrimination than other Latinos when speaking Spanish and are often called offensive names.

Life experiences shaped by race and skin tone are different from other Hispanics. Nicholson adds, “Even in media representation, when you think of Latinos, you see people like J-Lo, right? And we don’t always look like that. Sometimes showing that Afro-Latino identity is very hard for people to understand because they say, ‘Well, you look Black.’ But I am both, and I’m proud to be both.”

She recalled a young girl who reminded her of herself: “She was brown, had curly hair, and looked at me like I was a superhero. And that’s what I mean. It’s those girls seeing me and knowing there’s a whole world out there for them.”

Nicholson also serves on the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area Hispanic Professionals Board, focusing on ensuring Latinos have access to job opportunities and career paths. The Milwaukee County Board will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through October 15.

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