Sandra Abd'Allah-Alvarez Ramírez

Sandra Abd'Allah-Álvarez Ramírez is a Cuban writer, editor, and essayist who is active in both Cuba and Germany

She then attended the Instituto Internacional de Periodismo José Martí, earning a diploma in gender studies and communication, and in 2008 she earned a master's degree in gender studies at the José Martí International Institute of Journalism. The blog's name is a play on "negra(o) tenía que ser", a Cuban saying referring to the Afro-Cuban community's experience of racism.

The stated purpose of the blog is to correct for media bias in which Afro-Cubans and particularly Afrocubanas are underrepresented in Cuban media, and to challenge racism, sexism, and homophobia in Cuban media. The blog includes substantial media criticism, for example publishing pieces in response to advertisements that employ objectification. Negra Cubana Tenía que ser was named in the 2014 BOB Awards in the Best of Online Activism category.

Álvarez is also the founder and manager of the Directorio de Afrocubanas (Afrocubana Directory), which publishes short biographies of Afrocubanas who have played a significant role in Cuban history, society, or culture.

In 2015, she co-founded the magazine Azúcar & Kalt, which is the first Spanish-language magazine in Hannover. She has worked extensively as a journalist, writing regularly for several print and online media outlets.