Op-Ed: The Danger of Overlooking Black Latinx in Predominantly White Latinx Spaces
Happy Black History Month
It is no secret that Latinx media at large has been spoon feeding the ideology of ‘La Raza Latina’ and or the mestizaje of a vastly diverse group of people to its consumers despite evidence of the violence it promotes. This dangerous unification has contributed to a variety of sociocultural schemes that ultimately supply the social demise of Latinx whom specifically exist in the most vulnerable of intersections. Those intersections including but not limited to Negritud, Indigeneity, LGBQTIA, and etcetera.
While intentions of conducting singular campaigns featuring Black pride seem innocent and well meaning, it should be recognized for what it really is in principle–a function of performative solidarity. When someone from a common nonmarginalized group, non-black or white Latinx, profess support and solidarity with a marginalized group, Black Latinx. This is performative if the benefits do not immediately transfer to those whom actually need it.
Kindly reread that, because as far as Black Latinx are concerned we do not have the luxury of subscribing and unsubscribing to these performances due to the lack of consistency contributing to our very demise. In simpler terms Black Latinx must always self advocate even when its unpopular because refraining from doing so may very well result in our erasure, the further limiting of our opportunities of financial independence, of joy and of our collective humanization.
Efforts executed in the name of solidifying the narrative that the non-marginalized are “good people” indeed, but “good people” measured by the engagement of initiatives meant to empower a publicity spin can’t be all that “good” now can they?
The reality is socio critics and activists have been hosting town-halls, lectures, public events etc educating those desperate to gather the tools to survive, those looking to exploit and those questioning their own morality as “good people.” This evasion of accountability and exploitation of resources all in the name of presenting good corporate morale are shallow, self serving and shameful.
Cancel culture or the modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of personal or professional circles — either online on social media, in the real world, or both is a concept that I don’t necessarily agree with, contrary to popular belief. I’m far more interested in accountability and redistribution of resources and I deem that far more valuable than the act of cancelling an individual can offer. Although I am also sensitive to its application in hypersensitive instances. Cancelling individuals for actions taken when they sincerely did not know any better (within the aforementioned parameters) while they are genuinely interested in pursuing the course to rectifying their actions because the contrary is truly a waste of time. Although considering all of the anti-racist resources online, it is peculiar as to how these institutions can truly be so “innocently” ignorant. Perhaps this is a testament to the lack of diversity and anti-racist procedures continuously enforced at the institutional level, shameful. Is your staff overwhelmingly beige? It might be time to change that.
This boils down to the act of categorizing justice. How do we measure the adequate amount of justice and the course of action necessary to assure that payment, humanity and respect is constantly given to those most marginalized? How can that justice be accurately measured when the reigns of power dynamics are at the hands of those who’d benefit from performative solidarity? Well let me answer the question: The danger of overlooking Black Latinx in predominantly White Latinx spaces which can be broken down into many reasons, i’ll give you five.
- Continuation of buying into this notion that All Latinx are People of Color. Which is simply not true.
2. The hopeless and endless cycle of unpaid emotional labor
3. Gaslighting Black Latinx into validating underperformed efforts by white institutions who are suddenly proving their solidarity, is extremely dehumanizing and or violent.
4. Tokenizing the Black Latinx who exist in these spaces and pressuring them to help white institutions compensate for these ‘faux pas’, and for free.
5. Speaking over Black Latinx in these spaces who do have the courage to speak up on their own. This is not a contest, this is an opportunity to sit back, be quiet, learn from Black Latinx and our diverse array of experiences*
There are a plethora of other examples that can be noted here but the gist is this: This path of self discovery by white-latinx has been branded as something righteous when in all actuality it is paralleled to the unjust treatment that Black Latinx have experienced for centuries. In other words, while performative celebratory pieces may congratulate you for your new-founded actions against racism, the payment and humanization of Black Latinx hang in the balance. Not to be mistakened with a desperate desire to be included, see Black Latinx do not seek validation from white Latinx. Instead we desire continuous accountability and respect so that we may build ourselves independently while white Latinx take the actual honest efforts to restructure unjust policy. Providing Black Latinx with visibility as a sheer form of compensation is unacceptable, take these efforts of bridge building to the highest capacities available or truly leave us to celebrate and uplift each other as we have been because historically, nobody has supported Black people like Black people have, it is time for structural change, so make sure as non-black or white Latinx you are truly doing your part.
