Let's Talk About Latina/e/x Heritage Month
#9 Includes Sneak Peeks of Apple Tv+'s "Acapulco," "Invasion," & the "Ted Lasso" FINALE, and More. Also, Win Michaela Coel's "Misfits"!
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Wednesday’s Pop Culture Cold Brew is a collection of pop culture adjacency news that’s sincerely piqued our interest, only without the celebrity worship culture. We’re also sharing pieces on social commentary and entertainment news, like new film teasers/trailers, directly from our inbox to yours. Get into it below.
More than 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson’s Proclamation 3869 launched a week-long celebration of citizens of Hispanic origin’s histories, cultures, and contributions to America’s national heritage. ‘Hispanic Heritage Month’ is an annual celebration from September 15th to October 15th and is meant to honor the history and culture of origin— regardless of race within the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities.
Except Hispanic isn’t a race or a single encompassing community of people, yet we’re always generalized as one representative cultural entity. Confusing ethnicity and race happen more than it should, even as adults who should know better yet refuse to acknowledge another person’s existence with willfully blind ignorance.
The term ‘Hispanic’ was defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in 1977 and used in the 1980 census. Regardless of race, it lumped in people from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, and other Spanish-speaking cultures. Struggling with cultural identity is a continual challenge, even with last year’s Census tabulation only had two separate questions on Hispanic origin and race:
“For ethnicity, the OMB standards classify individuals in one of two categories: “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.” We use the term “Hispanic or Latino” interchangeably with the term “Hispanic,” and also refer to this concept as “ethnicity.”
Terms like “Hispanic” and “Latino” became institutionalized through the U.S. Census and were birthed by political lobbying as the U.S. government attempted to identify different groups of people. We know now that this doesn’t always resonate or encircle all identities and populations they’ve historically referred to, including most U.S.-born citizens of generations of diaspora and immigrants.
Confusion is common with identity, and we’re constantly classified together to make it more accessible as a nation, but we’re not a linear embodiment. It’s why as a community, there are mixed-up thoughts and heated feelings around even the word Latino/e/x in the first place. Dipping into the endless discourse on Twitter will guarantee at least one unsolicited troll’s aversion to the x with a quippy copy/pasted comeback like, ‘real Latinos don’t use Latinx’ (see below).
The word “Latinx” centers around the lives of indigenous, Brazilian, and other non-Spanish-speaking people. Within the culture, many have adopted the term ‘Latino/e/x Heritage Month,’ which also helps represents the identities of non-binary, gender non-conforming, and gender-expansive people. Even when researching, you’ll have countless articles from journalists explaining the stats and reporting of how the world won’t catch up to using ‘Latinx’ because of culture and language (here, here, and here). In reality, it’s much more nuanced than black and white linguistics.
Conversely, to what is understood, there’s no single Latino/e/x culture. We aren’t a monolith; we’re vastly different and richly steeped in orgullo (pride). While cultural overlaps exist, it’s a stunningly beautiful fusion of Indigenous, African, and Latin American influences; not just Spanish and European origins. Yet fighting against colonial structures is frustratingly challenging, especially after years of conditioned assimilation. Being “Ni de aquí, ni de allá” (neither from here nor there) summarizes commonplace experiences of the feeling of limbo within your own cultural identity.
For me, it’s always present since my parent’s homeland that I grew up visiting annually for summer vacations, and Noche Buena’s was always an eleven-hour road trip away.
Growing up in Texas didn’t make the experience easier; proving my Latinidad to white Americans became second nature to me— “if you’re Mexican, why are you white?” was a phrase heard all too common. Being white-passing has been a privilege to me that’s never forgotten. Still, most importantly, the narrative that Latino/e/x are foremost Brown erases Indigenous and Black Latinx from an already muffled representation of Latinidad. I reject the ideology that Latinidad is my generalized sole identifier, and I refuse to be the caricature I’m often reduced to, even if it strips off what little self-identity I’ve found. Being a first-generation Mexican-American doesn’t solely define who I am; it’s just a part of my ancestry.
Ironically, some Latinos, Hispanics, and Chicanos reject the notion of intersectional inclusivity within. So there are plenty of problematic and racist behaviors within our culture, like the damaging effects of rejecting identities of Blackness, Indigeneity, classism, queerness, and more within our own culture. Yet police others while grasping tightly onto the idea of identity with Latinidad for themselves.
Rather than being culturally lumped or classified together when we’re a vast group of populations creates an even broader political group that fiercely protects their rights to defend against collective action. Latino/e/x Cultures have complex and specific histories that Americans should learn but don’t. Chicano, Cuban, Caribbean, Puerto Ricans, and Central American history have a profound history that most Americans wildly ignore. You’re to be seen as American first and foremost— until you become radicalized or too outspoken.
Suddenly it’s loaded language with “civility,” “you need to know your place,” or the ever condescending “be respectful/civil,” or “just be patient, also “your tone,” and “don’t be so confrontational/emotional/hot-blooded/spicy.” Except, I don’t want to be included or seated at the table with people who adhere to messages of diversity yet achieve none when hiring or not walking the walk.
As a first-generation Mexican-American whose entire existence gets categorized by others, I’m honored to be a part of a vibrant community. However, fiercely latching on to Latinidad as a sole identity isn’t all that Chingona to me.
Haiti has a long history of U.S. interference and destabilization; most recently, the turn of events in Haiti involved a political power struggle— now there’s a migration crisis in a country where resources are already scarce.
Still, U.S. Border Patrol agents began deporting Haitian migrants under a Trump administration-era pandemic order over the weekend, and the Biden administration began flying people back due to expulsion when it’s within their right to seek amnesty. Not to mention they’re currently eyeing Guantanamo Bay to “hold migrants.”
Meanwhile, on Mexico’s side, authorities are barricading and bussing humans to cities further south into Mexico in Del Rio, Texas, and neighboring Ciudad Acuna. The tweet below summarizes the border patrol’s long, violent history of dehumanizing practices; this is disturbingly on par.
Convoy of Hope distributes meals, shelter supplies, and hygiene kits for earthquake survivors while expressing an intent to support Haiti’s relief efforts in the long term. Donate to Convoy of Hope here.
Fonkoze supports long-term efforts to combat poverty in Haiti, providing financial aid and other resources to women. Donate to Fonkoze here.
Hope for Haiti supports the people of Haiti through education, health care, and infrastructural efforts. Their short- and long-term plans to respond to the most recent earthquake include distributing medical supplies, setting up an infirmary, and, eventually, providing grants as the country rebuilds. Donate to Hope for Haiti here.
🗡 If someone’s version of ‘Latinidad’ doesn’t include Afro-Latinx, then I don’t claim or long to be a part of something exclusionary during moments of humanitarian crisis.
Here are the latest teasers and trailers for your unadulterated pleasure.
🎥 Apple Tv+’s Invasion
Starting our three-part Apple Tv+ Sneak Peeks, is the trailer for Invasion, a new, 10-episode science fiction drama series from Academy and Emmy Award-nominated writer/producer/director Simon Kinberg (X-Men, Deadpool, The Martian) and David Weil (Hunters). The sweeping, character-driven Apple Original series, directed by Emmy Award-nominee Jakob Verbruggen (The Alienist, The Fall), will make its global debut with the first three episodes on October 22nd, followed by new episodes weekly, every Friday.
🎥 Apple Tv+’s Acapulco
Apple Tv+ shares a sneak peek clip HERE from the upcoming series premiere of Acapulco, a new Spanglish series starring Eugenio Derbez, who also executive produces.
Eugenio is a legend in most Latino/e/x households; his films are hidden gems. Like the 2013 box-office breaking Instructions Not Included; top Spanish-Language Film of All Time in the U.S., and even surpassed Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth.
The new 10-episodic series is set to debut globally on Friday, October 8th, with the first two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly; every Friday.
🎥 Apple Tv+’s Ted Lasso
Sadly, the time has come to say goodbye to the Kansas City Rick Astley. The recent seven-Emmy Awards-winning series Ted Lasso finale is this Friday; it’s a good one.
We see the possibility of Richmond getting their final chance to win promotion to re-enter the Premier League as Ted (Jason Sudeikis) deals with the fallout of Trent Crimm’s (James Lance) painfully honest exposé.
As a treat, Apple TV+ excitedly unveils a sneak peek clip titled Inverting the Pyramid of Success HERE.
Additionally, I’ve also embraced not italicizing Spanish and instead listed the translation since the function of language is to indicate things while grammar and its rules facilitate that communication. Italicizing Spanish further emphasizes the “foreign” cultural difference instead of engrossing yourself in the speaker’s native language to appreciate another cultural world— this doesn’t seem all that radical. Still, these small yet powerful dissolutions of assimilation will help move the ebb and flow of progress into more of a radicalized tide and call to action.
Lastly, in last Friday’s TGIF, I mentioned the possibility of winning Michaela Coel’s new book Misfits. One lucky and randomly drawn ACTIVE Youthquake reader will earn a free copy of the ‘personal manifesto’ and some other surprises by way of a care package from yours truly; all you have to do is actively follow via Subscription. That’s it; I’ll be notifying the winning person on November 6th. Good luck to all!