# Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University

> research institute at Harvard University

**Wikidata**: [Q137920303](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137920303)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/afro-latin-american-research-institute-at-harvard-university

## Summary
The Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University (ALARI) is a research organization located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to the study of Afro-Latin Americans and the African diaspora in the Americas. Founded in 2013, the institute operates as a distinct unit within the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. Its primary mission is to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinguishing it from teaching-focused university departments.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University
- **Also Known As:** ALARI; Harvard University Afro-Latin American Research Institute; Institute of Afro-Latin American Research at Harvard University; Institute for Afro-Latin American Studies at Harvard University
- **Founded:** 2013
- **Location:** Cambridge, United States
- **Parent Organizations:** Harvard University; Hutchins Center for African and African American Research
- **Website:** https://alari.fas.harvard.edu/
- **Primary Function:** Research institute and organization
- **Fields of Work:** Afro-Latin Americans; Black Hispanic and Latino Americans; African diaspora in the Americas
- **Classification:** Mapped to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` for structured data purposes

## FAQs
### What topics does the Afro-Latin American Research Institute study?
The institute focuses specifically on the history, culture, and experiences of Afro-Latin Americans, Black Hispanic and Latino Americans, and the broader African diaspora in the Americas.

### Where is the institute housed within Harvard University?
The Afro-Latin American Research Institute is part of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, operating under the broader auspices of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

### When was the Afro-Latin American Research Institute founded?
The institute was established in 2013 to serve as a dedicated hub for research on Afro-Latin American issues.

## Why It Matters
The Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University serves as a critical infrastructure for advancing knowledge about a historically underrepresented demographic. By operating as a specialized research institute rather than a standard academic department, ALARI can concentrate resources and talent purely on investigation, free from the teaching obligations that often divide university researchers' attention. This organizational structure allows for deep, long-term inquiry into the complexities of the African diaspora in Latin America. As part of the Hutchins Center, it contributes to a broader ecosystem of study regarding African and African American life, ensuring that the specific narrative of Afro-Latin Americans is integrated into global historical and sociological discourse.

## Notable For
- **Dedicated Research Focus:** Exists specifically to generate new knowledge about Afro-Latin Americans, distinguishing it from general area studies programs.
- **Institutional Prestige:** Functions as a component of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.
- **Specific Demographic Scope:** Uniquely targets the intersection of Black and Latino identities, covering Black Hispanic and Latino Americans and the African diaspora in the Americas.
- **Organizational Structure:** Classified formally as a research institute, a structure designed purely for systematic investigation rather than degree-granting education.

## Body

### Identity and Classification
The Afro-Latin American Research Institute at Harvard University (ALARI) is formally classified as a research institute and organization. In the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, it functions as an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than serving as a membership-based learned society. It is distinct from think tanks that focus on policy research; instead, ALARI pursues fundamental inquiry across academic disciplines related to its specific field.

The institute is recognized under the `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` classification and is identified in library cataloging systems as an organization whose primary purpose is research. It is also known by several aliases, including the "Institute of Afro-Latin American Research at Harvard University" and the "Institute for Afro-Latin American Studies at Harvard University."

### Organizational Affiliation
ALARI maintains a dual institutional relationship. It is a part of **Harvard University**, but more specifically, it falls under the umbrella of the **Hutchins Center for African and African American Research**. This affiliation places it within a major hub for the study of African and African American history and culture, providing it with the academic infrastructure and reputation of one of the world's leading universities. The institute's physical and administrative location is in **Cambridge, United States**.

### Research and Field of Work
The institute's work is strictly defined by its focus on specific demographic and geographic groups. Its primary fields of work include:
*   **Afro-Latin Americans:** Investigating the lives, history, and contributions of people of African ancestry in Latin America.
*   **Black Hispanic and Latino Americans:** Focusing on the specific experiences of Black individuals within the Hispanic and Latino demographics in the U.S. and abroad.
*   **African Diaspora in the Americas:** Broadly studying the movement and settlement patterns of African peoples and their descendants throughout the American continents.

### History and Operations
The institute was founded in **2013**. Since its inception, it has served as a digital and physical resource for scholars and the public, accessible via its official website at `https://alari.fas.harvard.edu/`. The website serves as the primary English-language portal for its activities and research outputs.

## References

1. [Source](https://alari.fas.harvard.edu/)
2. [Source](https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvardalari)