Top stories written by Latinas delivered to you each month in partnership with #WeAllGrow Latina
LATINE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Being able to see yourself in media is important to know that you’re not a race and your story matters. You get to see representation and know that you can be the main character of your own story.
Alex Cruz-Jimenez
We are nearing the end of another Latine Hispanic Heritage Month, and we’ve rounded up a couple of articles that explore, celebrate, and shine a light on our favorite time of year. For LatinaMedia.Co, Co-Founders Cristina Escobar and Nicola Schulze explored the complexities and nuances of this month, its history, and our future. The 19th News interviewed lifelong book enthusiasts, from people working in publishing to those who have devoted years to producing book-related content on social media, and asked them for their recommendations this month. We were also excited to see #WeAllGrow Founder and Co-CEO Ana Flores on the Today Show, where she curated a list of 6 Latine-owned brands that deserve our support. Her segment highlights the economic empowerment and solidarity within our community.
Cassandro isn’t a sad gay story of hate crimes and despair. It’s not even a coming-of-age story of young gay men figuring out who they are. Armendáriz is a grown and unapologetic gay man from the beginning. He’s never unclear about who he is. He is just waiting for the world to catch up and accept him. Thankfully, it does.
Cristina Escobar
As October and the strikes in Hollywood inch their way closer to a close, there are so many films we can’t wait to fall into. A Million Miles Away is an inspiring journey, chronicling José Hernández’s remarkable trajectory from farmworker to astronaut, highlighting the resilience of individuals facing economic challenges. Meanwhile, the Cassandro biopic celebrates the vibrant world of Lucha Libre culture and its role in queer liberation, illustrating the intersections of identity and justice. In addition, the Q&A with Robert Rodriguez provides insight into the lasting impact of the Spy Kids franchise, which has encouraged diversity and inclusion in the film industry. These films, each in their unique way, contribute to the ongoing dialogue and desire to see more representation throughout Hollywood.
For many Latinos, the inability to speak Spanish can result in others shaming them or making jokes, the Pew study notes, pointing to recent examples such as the viral video of the young Mexico soccer fan who was ridiculed when he struggled to answer a reporter’s questions in Spanish.
Alejandra Molina
Last month, a recent Pew Research Center analysis shed light on the complex relationship between Latino identity and the Spanish language in the United States. Surprisingly (or for some not), the study revealed that approximately half of U.S. Latinos who do not speak Spanish have faced shaming from fellow Latinos. Despite this disheartening statistic, the majority of Latinos in the U.S. maintain that speaking Spanish is not a prerequisite for establishing their Latino identity. This finding underscores the multifaceted nature of Latino identity and the need for more inclusive and understanding conversations within the community. In an article for NBC News, Maya Brown interviewed a growing group of young Latinos using TikTok and social media to push back on not speaking perfect Spanish. The findings of this analysis are crucial for promoting a more inclusive and diverse perspective on what it means to be Latinx in America.
