Why Georgetown Latin@s shouldn’t berate each other
How a good-hearted campaign was twisted
It was a normal, semi-boring Tuesday night and I was preparing to head to bed when my phone started convulsing with Facebook notifications.
The pictures I had recently been tagged in by LASA (Latin American Student Association) together with fellow classmates and peers were suddenly now the cause of great controversy.
The events that followed gave me an insight on some very important aspects of our school, how overly-sensitive our generation is, how we tend to politicize anything and everything on social media, and especially, how widely diverse the Latin@ community is at Georgetown.
Let me provide you with some context.
On Tuesday morning, LASA began its weeklong campaign to raise awareness for Hispanic Heritage Month.
They set up in Red Square for their annual Empanada sale. Latin music was playing whilst members of the organization attempted to sell these baked goods to people passing by.
LASA also asked people to fill out a sheet of paper, describing what the term Latin@ meant to them. Due to the fact that a lot of students were running between classes with only five minutes to spare, the vast majority of people approached by members of LASA respectfully declined to participate.
By the end of the afternoon, only 25 people had provided their personal definition of Latin@.
That night, as the pictures were made public on LASA’s Facebook page, Georgetown students began liking, commenting and sharing the post.
As I scrolled through the pictures, I read people’s “Latin@ is…” definitions. The answers ranged from “Flavor #Sabor”, to “the salsa dancing emoji” to “Imperio Español <3 #VivaEspaña”.
This last comment especially caused a great deal of turmoil; it was according to some, “offensive, misplaced and unacceptable”.
Although I would have to agree that the comment was a bit out of place, the furious reaction it received was not warranted.
Another member of our community also commented: “I’m confused. DO you mean, “el imperio Español” as in the genocide of a race and enslavement of another Or the creation of structures that have influenced racism, sexism and classism that still exist today, OR both considering one lead to the other? Then by all means, yes, Spain definitely has had a lasting impact in Latin America #VivaEspaña”.
The person who wrote “Imperio Español” on their sheet is a close friend of mine, and I asked them what they had meant by that. They replied that it was simply a well-intentioned comment, which spoke to the origins of Latin America and the enduring influence Spain has had in the continent.
Most of all it was a silly joke, by which they meant no harm. Even after LASA deleted the picture from their page, the comments continued:
“Not sure what the purpose of this campaign is? Is it to reinforce stereotypes about Latinxs all having sazón or whatever…?”, asked another.
These initial comments generated an entire thread of discussions and debates. A freshman girl, member of LASA and supporter of the cause, stated:
“Most of the people in the pictures are internationals who have lived most of their lives in South America so it makes sense that they will take pride on different facets of their cultures at home…I think if you want your messages to be voiced, you should all take part in the campaign as there is not one right way of defining what it means to be latin@”.
As I read these strongly-phrased remarks, which seemed to turn into entire paragraphs, I was shocked to see how a sincere and good-hearted campaign was twisted and turned into an apparently evil, ignorant and ill-intentioned scheme to defame and perpetuate stereotypes of Latin@s.
This is not what it was, and it is frankly disrespectful to attempt to make it seem that way.
LASA is a student-run organization, open to any member of the community, regardless of their country of origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, sexual identity or system of beliefs. The implication that the organization isn’t inclusive of “people who aren’t white and or wealthy Latin American or Spanish students” is not only inaccurate but also incredibly disrespectful to all members of LASA.
What some people fail to understand is that Latin@s come in every color of the rainbow. There is no single way to define who we are, what we look like, what we feel passionate about, what we believe or have faith in. The beauty of the Latin@ community at Georgetown is its incredible diversity.
We shouldn’t exclude or judge others for having a difference of opinion or a contrary belief. LASA invites anyone who identifies or feels interested in Latin America, or Latin@ culture to join and partake in their activities. As a freshman and new member of the organization, I have encountered people from all kinds of different backgrounds who have shown me support and friendship this past month and a half.
Unconstructive bashing on social media neither aids the causes that worry us all nor does it help build any type of fruitful conversation. Aggressive rhetoric doesn’t open up the floor to purposeful discussions, it simply works to widen the gap between opposing points of view.
A single picture with a few words written on a paper does not define who Latin@s are as people; what we are fighting for, what enrages us, saddens us, or makes us happy. It doesn’t define what we want to change, what we dream of, what we aspire to become. A single phrase does not encompass the entirety of what we believe it means to be Latin@.
You can “call us out” all you want. You can accuse us of being the “descendants of conquistadors” (which by the way is the GREAT majority of Latin Americans). You can tell us that we have never seen hardship or oppression. You can verbally attack us for believing that however stereotypical it sounds, being Latin@ is indeed too having sazón, or enjoying reggeaton, or “queso”.
In my opinion, “Latin@ is” being able to believe and stand up for anything I want or care to stand up for. “Latin@ is” respecting others opinions and valuing the diversity of our community. “Latin@ is” working together for the benefit and success of our people, and not dragging each other down for the sake of causing fifteen minutes of controversy.