Written by:
Gabby McAllaster, Ph.D. Candidate in Education at Rowan University and Doctoral Graduate Coordinator, Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Rowan University; and
Patricia Fortunato, Content and Program Manager, Research and Grants, NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute (NMI), Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM), Southern New Jersey Medication for Addiction Treatment Center of Excellence (MATCOE)
Hispanic/Latinx-a-o Heritage Month is a national celebration commemorated from September 15 to October 15 to honor the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries—the history, culture, and influence of past generations. The month-long celebration is an opportunity to dispel stigma and fear through education about multiculturalism and intersectionalities, and the contributions of Latinx-a-o communities.
September 15 marks the independence anniversary of five countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Savador, Honduras, and Guatemala. This is followed by Mexico's Independence Day on September 16, and Chile's on September 18.
Hispanic/Latinx-a-o Month is a time of celebration, education, and critical reflection.
Many scholars and activists have been critical of terms such as "Hispanic" that have been historically used by the U.S. government to describe this community of people. Many argue that this term homogenizes a diverse group of people and represents colonization. As such, some people have opted to use "Chicanx, Xicana/o, and Xicanx" and "Latinx-a-o" to self-identify.
Chicano: A chosen identity of some Mexican Americans in the United States. Variations of the term include Chicanx, Xicana/o, and Xicanx, which replace the "ch" with the letter "x" as a way of symbolically emphasizing Indigenous ancestry while rejecting Western colonization. Chicano or Xicano are sometimes used interchangeably with Mexican-American and both names exist as chosen identities within the Mexican-American community in the U.S.
Hispanic: A person who lives in or comes from a Spanish-speaking country or whose ancestors came from a Spanish-speaking country.
Latino/a/x: A person of Latin American descent. Latino (males), Latina (females), and Latinx (gender neutral) are recommended, but individuals may have a preference.
The term "Latinx" is popular amongst academic and activist spaces, with an attempt to create new perspectives and gener-neutral language, however, scholars, such as Dr. Cristobal Salinas have been critical of the term. Dr. Salinas research asks what are the origins of the word and what are the perspectives of how Latinx-a-o individuals relate to, identify, and understand the term Latinx. As such, it is important that we deconstruct and understand the terms we use, as well as respect individual choices of how someone self-identities.
The term Latinx-a-o throughout this post is used as an umbrella term to describe the community of people from Latin American descent, with further acknowledgement of the diversity of this community.
The Latinx-a-o community is the largest ethnic group in the United States today, who are often homogenized in our society. Here are some suggestions towards creating more equitable and inclusive environments for the Latinx-a-o community:
Acknowledge diversity in the Latinx-a-o community. The Latinx-a-o community is a racially diverse, pan-ethinic identity. Individuals within the community can have any combination of Indigenous, African, and European ancestry. Some individuals may also have African and Asian roots throughout the Caribbean and South America. The Latinx-a-o groups with the largest representation in the United States include Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, however, this population has gradually declined since 2008, with increased immigrant from other Latin American countries, including Brazilian, Salvadorans, Cubans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, and Colombians.
Furthermore, the Latinx-a-o community is diverse in other characteristics such as generational status, immigration status, culture, language, and socioeconomic status. As such, it is important to not make assumptions or generalizations about individuals and their varying lived experiences.
Seek to educate yourself and others. Children and adolescents should have access to accurate and inclusive histories, taught by diverse educators. We should all seek to learn more about our country's history of immigration, and combat uninformed stereotypes and harmful misperceptions. With personal education, we can each advocate towards transformation of infrastructures to better serve and support Latinx-a-o communities, and rethink approaches to responding to the needs of this diverse population.
Take action towards equity and inclusion for migrants and immigrants. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, signed by Obama in 2012, allows two-year relief from deportation and work permits for immigrants who are undocumented and living in the U.S. prior to 16 years of age. The DACA program increased postsecondary opportunities for many youth in the U.S. yet individuals in the DACA program are denied eligibility for federal financial aid, creating financial barriers to higher education.Since 2017, the DACA program has been under threat, with the current presidential administration seeking to terminate the program. In July 2020, a Supreme Court decision of 5–4 voted for the DACA program to remain. However, the ultimate fate of DACA remains uncertain. It is important we use our varying privileges, such a voting, to critically understand political issues and advocate for equitable access to education for migrants and immigrants.
Vote. This month is celebrated during a critically important time in 2020—just before the presidential election. To register to vote, visit: vote.org/register-to-vote