In May 1998, at the peak of its popularity, the iconic sitcom “Seinfeld” aired an installment titled “The Puerto Rican Day”. It was the 2nd highest rated episode in the show’s history. But even before its broadcast, the content was heavily scrutinized as insensitive to the Puerto Rican community. The episode has been removed, restored, and removed again from syndication packages. The details of the original airing will not be repeated here but can be easily located online. As is often heard about programs that have aged poorly, “you could never make that show today.” Yes…and there’s a good reason for that.
Whether it’s called “political correctness” or “wokeness”, the culture wars of the 21st century thrive on situations where one group “punches down” on a marginalized community. In the case of the “Seinfeld” episode, you could easily see that if the actions of the main characters had played out against another culture or religion, it would have never made it to air, even in the late 1990’s. While no one has ever revered “Seinfeld” for its cultural sensitivity, the episode’s current cringiness has a good bit to do with the movement to better tell the stories of Latino/a/x and Hispanic people.
But there are miles to go…starting with: what do you call the annual celebration from September 15 to October 15? Well, it’s complicated.
Originally designated as National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, and later expanded to become Hispanic Heritage Month, the celebration was intended to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans. But there is no nation known as “Hispania” so the term has become a catchall for both Hispanic and Latino/a/x Americans. But what is the difference? The slightly simplistic answer is: Latino means from Latin America, including the Caribbean, while Hispanic refers to a country whose primary language is Spanish. So there is overlap but also some glaring exceptions. A person from Brazil (where Portuguese is spoken) would be considered Latino (and not Hispanic) and a person from Spain would be considered Hispanic (but not Latino). A person with Mexican ancestry could be considered both, depending on where in Mexico they came from.
While this lack of clarity remains, one thing is certain: the contributions of non White Americans are not as well known as they should be. Any attempt to educate on the experiences of historically underrepresented communities is worthwhile.
If you are looking to start that conversation, here are some of the most unique voices in the Latinx and Hispanic Heritage spaces.
Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Speakers
Irene Franco Rubio is Latinx woman of Guatemalan and Mexican descent. Her work is rooted in community and devoted to social, racial, and environmental justice. She currently hosts the #SchoolsNotPrisons podcasts, part of a movement to stop overspending on prisons and end mass incarceration.
Liz Rebecca Alarcón is the founder of Pulso, a media outlet sharing the Latino history no one taught you and the commentary you won’t find anywhere else. Working at the intersection of media & advocacy, Liz is a passionate crusader for civic participation including non-partisan voter registration, get-out-the-vote, and issue advocacy.
Paula Carozzo is a disability activist, content creator, model, and speaker. She has cultivated a space to redefine disability, as well as to further amplify her intersectional experiences as a disabled Latin woman.
Sara Mora is an Immigrant Rights Activist committed to education, language accessibility, and the power of storytelling. A DACA recipient herself, Sara is changing the narrative in mainstream media about migrant rights.
Zoey Luna is a Latina transgender actress and advocate. She’s made appearances in films and tv shows such as “Dear Evan Hansen”, “Pose”, and “The Craft: Legacy”. She continues to use her talents to break the standards that don’t represent the Latinx LGBTQIA+ community.
Lauren Ridloff was born deaf to hearing parents, a Mexican-American father and an African-American mother. She received a Tony nomination for her work in the Broadway revival of “Children of a Lesser God” and has enjoyed memorable roles in TV and film projects ranging from Marvel’s Eternals (where she was cast as the first deaf superhero in the MCU) to the long running hit show The Walking Dead. Lauren’s art and advocacy are reminders that representation matters.