Why Latina?

 I am a proud Tejana, Chicana, and Latina. I've always cherished the culture I was born into and will continue to do so until I no longer walk this Earth. While my Spanish isn't as perfect as my grandmother's and I may not enjoy some traditional dishes, my identity remains deeply rooted in my heritage. It also doesn't matter that I call myself Latina instead of Latinx.

Initially, my dislike of the term Latinx stemmed from feeling pressured to please young progressive individuals during discussions on social issues. Despite being advised by fellow Latinos that "white people only call us that", I convinced myself that by adopting the term, I could redefine the meaning and dismantle the negative opinions of Latinx. This was me blindly hoping I wasn't just being shoved into another category as I had always been. I longed to be socially accepted, to finally blend into the socio-political landscape.

I was initially reluctant to engage in politics, but I felt compelled to voice my opinions due to the 'activists' in my high school. "It is possible that with the tense political climate, actively participating in the conversation poses a threat to these young Latinx people..." (Lind, pg. 86) This quote rings true for me and others who have grappled with similar experiences. Over time, I felt like a token used to showcase that I was compliant; that I was tamed.

If I referred to myself as Latina, I was wrong, I wasn’t politically correct or I wasn’t with the movement for equality. My entire existence as a first-generation American was centered around not causing trouble or upsetting the wrong people. So, at the time I kept my mouth shut, I followed what they wanted of me even at the expense of my identity.

Although I don't hold any animosity toward those who use the term Latinx, some people find that it aligns with who they are. For me, I found that it confined me to a singular identity, that was what I would only be. I know many people who take heavy offense in being called Latinx, in my opinion, I’d rather be called “Latinx’” than “the Spanish people”, which is what some people use to refer to all people of Latin American descent.

 

 

Lind, Rebecca. Race/Gender/Class/Media. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (5th Edition). Taylor & Francis, 2023.