Even though we're in the 21st century, subtle racism towards Latinos from Latinos and non-Latinos alike is still alive and well. You would think everyone would know that we have progressed throughout the years. Sadly, there are STILL some ignorant knuckleheads out there who don't think twice before opening their mouths and as a result end up offending us.
Oftentimes I'm not even surprised if I'm faced with these questions because they aren't uncommon.
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Although many of us want to think that racism is long gone, it's not. I vividly remember one time my dad was gardening in our front lawn and a woman passed by and asked how much he charged to do her yard. Little did she know he was the owner of the house. And one of our staffers, Alicia Civita, told us a horrifying example: "Although my children are New York-born and speak English as natives, the elementary school insisted in putting my eldest son in ESL, because of my accent."
In fact, I'm sure you'll be able to relate to many of these comments, which if you think about are subtly racist and probably. And I'm sure you hear them all the time:
"You're not like the rest of them." Like who exactly?
"Is your family okay with you marrying a negrita?" –Managing Editor Mariela Rosario's husband was asked this by ANOTHER Latino.
"You don't speak like other Latinos."
"When did you arrive in the U.S.?" For most of us that answer would be: When I came out of my mom's uterus.
__"Wow, you live in the good side of town."
__
"But you speak English well. I wouldn't have guessed you spoke Spanish."
"Are you from Mexico or Puerto Rico?" Because those are the only two places Latinos come from…?
"You don't dress like other Latinas" –Staff writer Johanna Ferreira was asked this.
"What kind of Latina are you that you can't speak Spanish?"
"Where is your accent from?" You mean where in the U.S. is my accent from?
"Do you have any kids?" This would be an appropriate question if the target wasn't a teen.
"Wow, your parents went to college?"
"You don't look Latina."
"I thought you only listened to Spanish music like Reggaeton"
"You don't look Mexican! Are you sure you're Mexican? They're usually quiet and short." –Staff writer Mariana Penacater had to answer this one time. We're not kidding.
"If you change your last name, you'll get more work!" –Staff writer Claudya Martinez had to debate whether to change Martinez to something less Latino. We're glad she didn't.
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