Afro-Caribbean

Suazo was a member of the Garifuna, a people of mixed indigenous and Afro-Caribbean descent originating from the island of St Vincent which has a distinct musical style.

She has also been accused of cultural appropriation for recording straight-ahead salsa tunes — an unfair accusation to this writer, considering that she is a dedicated student and collector of Afro-Caribbean music.

In 2009, Calle 13 recorded “La Perla,” a now iconic track with salsa pioneer Rubén Blades that mixed hip-hop with Afro-Caribbean grit.

Meredith Turner, a Cuyahoga County councilperson and Ohio delegate at the Democratic National Convention, remembers Harris' campaign fondly, applauding how she pulled off her White House bid and made history as the first woman of color — specifically of South Asian and Afro-Caribbean descent — to be nominated as a presidential candidate.

From its apocalyptic rise in late ’60s New York to its triumphant empire of sound throughout the ‘70s and ’80s, the company sold albums by the millions, its incomparable roster showcasing the pedigree and sophistication of Afro-Caribbean music: Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.