Afro Mexican actors fighting racism celebrate their heritage through their plays Boston 25 News [Video]

TICUMÁN, México — (AP) — There was something about her body, but Mexican actress Eréndira Castorela couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Some casting directors told her she was “too tall” to play a Mexican woman. Others insinuated her features weren’t sufficiently “Indigenous.”

“It wasn’t until later that I discovered what it means to recognize oneself as Afro,” said Castorela, who subsequently confirmed her African ancestry. “We are a diverse community which, perhaps due to discrimination, doesn’t identify as such.”

Her life changed after she joined Mulato Teatro, a theater company that empowers actors of African descent who are eager to forge a career despite racism. However, like most Afro Mexican activists, Castorela believes that nationwide recognition is still a long way off.

“If we look around, we’ll see curly hair, high cheekbones, full lips or dark skin,” the 33-year-old said. “But there’s a wound that prevents us from …