Historic and dramatic changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the U.S. have created two distinct approaches to the study of Latino politics. While the first focuses on intra-ethnic questions of Latino political incorporation, the second focuses on inter-minority relationships – particularly relations between Latinos and African Americans. The research to be presented examines the politics of Afro Latinos, with the intent of discovering whether Afro Latinos represent a bridge of sorts between the African American and the Latino communities (e.g. Logan 2003). Reconceptualizing the study of Latino politics, this research brings Latino communities’ racial politics into clear, sharper focus and highlights the role that Afro Latinos and their political interests potentially play in fostering or inhibiting African American/Latino coalition politics