In Latin America, the construction of race is varied and has, throughout history, undergone significant changes. During the colonial period, racial identities were ruled by an elaborate caste or casta system that determined what position in the social hierarchy citizens occupied. The system was one of the many ways that Spanish and Portuguese colonizers held onto their power and maintained superiority. The system remains unofficially in place despite the passage of time since the official end of colonization. Afro-descendant and Indigenous people make up 40% of the population in Latin America, yet they are often placed at the margins of society, with the region embracing a White-European visual representation that does not accurately depict the ethnic and racial makeup. This has resulted in the erasure of Afro-Latina contributions to various Latin American cultures. Many activists, artists, musicians, and entertainers have sought to reinscribe these ignored histories. Among these cultural workers was choreographer, composer, and activist Victoria Santa Cruz. Victoria Santa Cruz (Victoria Eugenia Santa Cruz Gamarra) is widely considered the mother of Afro-Peruvian dance. Born in Lima, Peru, on October 27, 1922, she was the eighth of ten children. Her father was Nicomedes Santa Cruz Aparicio, and her mother, Victoria Gamarra Ramirez. Her father worked as a playwright and her mother was an accomplished singer and dancer of traditional Peruvian styles. After an artistic career lasting 53 years, Victoria Santa Cruz died in Lima, Peru on August 30, 2014. Her legacy and impact on the culture continues to be celebrated. In October 2021, Peru’s Ministry of Culture launched the Victoria Santa Cruz Centennial with programs and activities. In addition, the Fulbright Commission in Peru launched the Victoria Santa Cruz Fulbright Grant to Afro-Peruvians perusing graduate study in the United States. Thank you for your contributions.