September 26th 2023.
Celia Cruz, the "Queen of Salsa," is being honored in a historic way. She has been selected to be featured on the U.S. coin as part of the American Women Quarters series, and will be the first Afro-Latina woman to do so.
Cruz was an international sensation, known for her Spanish-language songs that became global hits. She earned multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, and was granted the National Medal of Arts by the U.S. Congress in 1994. She was born in Cuba and moved to the United States when her career began to take off. Cruz made history by becoming the first Afro-Cuban to sing in Spanish on U.S. television and to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Cruz was also a fashion icon. Her collection of dresses worn during performances was highly coveted. The Smithsonian American Art Museum has preserved 30% of her more than a hundred dresses for display. Cruz's stage presence included extravagant clothing and numerous wigs to match her energetic voice. To honor Cruz's legacy, a Barbie doll was also released.
The multifaceted legend passed away at the age of 77 due to complications from cancer. The year before her passing, she was awarded her final Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album for her last project, Regalo del Alma. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Celia Cruz Bronx High School Of Music in New York City are testaments to her enduring legacy.
Cruz's coin will be released in 2024, symbolizing the representation of Black people of Latin descent. It will serve as a reminder of how her platform uplifted and championed a marginalized identity. Bessie Coleman, the world's bravest aviator, will also be honored on a US quarter as part of the same series.
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