Here's why Gina Rodriguez is currently receiving criticism from the black community for her actions/statements concerning black issues

[Yams]

Or (stick with me) perhaps your town is one that doesn't use the language and other towns do.

Or (stay with me here) perhaps the phrase is more common in more diverse areas with multiple demographics and as a result of this diversity the phrase is used.

The word gained a lot traction in more formally educated areas, think big cities with a lot of universities and a high costs of living. It is not an online thing, implying such a thing is stupid.

Similar to Royalan I was taught this word by latinx activists who use the word commonly and I now use it. People who make a big deal over a word that is used to show inclusivity are just showing their ass.

Click to shrink...

Ive lived in LA and have worked closely with activist there (mainly University and ground work for protest) up until 2017. This Latinx thing is new and I never heard it IRL. Shit, Most Mexican-Americans activist don't like being called Latino anyways. I only say it online.

The majority of us call ourselves Chicano. Especially those of us in California that are second or third generation with parents that were around during the worker rights protest. Latino erases a large part of our history

 

[Syriel]

Well, I learned a new word. Legit had never heard the word "latinx" before. Is it widely used?

Click to shrink...

No. And it's a shame that the OP uses it so much, because it undercuts his point.

"Latinx" is a word invented by American English speakers who decided that Spanish wasn't good enough for folks south of the border so they decided to fix it for them.

It's a form of privilege and cultural imperialism.

 

[Starxs]

Great thread bro! Love all the support!

 

[Darryl M R]

Ive lived in LA and have worked closely with activist there (mainly University and ground work for protest) up until 2017. This Latinx thing is new and I never heard it IRL. Shit, Most Mexican-Americans activist don't like being called Latino anyways. I only say it online.

The majority of us call ourselves Chicano. Especially those of us in California that are second or third generation with parents that were around during the worker rights protest. Latino erases a large part of our history

Click to shrink...

You lived in LA. Past tense? So when did you leave? Since the phrase has gained popularity in the last few years. And the people I learned the phrases are from LA and Houston, are they are actively still in those communities.

Latinx isn't only for Mexican-Americans.

 

[Yams]

In this thread I learned that I'm white, hell, I'm super white. I need to tell Trump so he can leave me alone.

Click to shrink...

If there's something I've learned. In American I'm not white. In Mexico my family and everyone else refers to me as white boy.

So 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[SigmasonicX]

Huh, I admit, I always assumed black people in Latin countries considered themselves distinct from what people in the United States would consider "Latino", based on the assumption that within those countries, there would be different racial categories than what Americans all group together as "Latino". I suppose it would make sense that there would be an "Afro Latino" group in the United States, but I'm surprised they would want to be counted as "Latino".

I also admit I'm pretty baffled by the idea that Gina counts as white. Maybe in the sense that as a star, she's accepted by groups of white people and has a more than decent chance of displaying conservative opinions when convenient.

It definitely does seem like Gina is thinking that "black people are getting attention, so Latino people need it too" without considering the harm this brings to black stars and communities.

 

[brainchild]

It's a form of privilege and cultural imperialism.

Click to shrink...

Latin Americans didn't just start speaking Spanish for shits and giggles, you know. It was the result of imperialism as well.

 

[Dabanton]

And the most cynical thing about all this is doesn't she have a movie coming out very soon?

Seems shes trying to calm the waters. With some poorly acted crying on the PR trail.

 

[Darryl M R]

Also I'm still waiting for homeboy to explain how the word is racist because it is used to be inclusive to non-binary folks.

 

[NewDonkStrong]

Also I'm still waiting for homeboy to explain how the word is racist because it is used to be inclusive to non-binary folks.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, I thought the whole point of Latinx was to be more inclusive. I see it all over progressive sites. I don't get how it's racist at all.

 

[Royalan]

I also admit I'm pretty baffled by the idea that Gina counts as white. Maybe in the sense that as a star, she's accepted by groups of white people and has a more than decent chance of displaying conservative opinions when convenient.

Click to shrink...

I think an important distinction that should always be pointed out in these discussions of who and who isn't "white" is that the focus isn't so much ethnicity so much as it is proximity to "whiteness." Whiteness being the "dominant culture."

It's a very similar conversation that often plays out within the Black community between darker skinned black people and lighter skinned black people.

 

[Mona]

Latin Americans didn't just start speaking Spanish for shits and giggles, you know. It was the result of imperialism as well.

Click to shrink...

is there really that big of an indigenous population down there? i always thought it was analogous to what happened with the british and the colonies

in the USA we dont have majority english speaking because our ancestors got colonized, but because our ancestors were the colonizers

is it different down in latin america? are there that many descendants of indigenous populations compared to USA?

maybe im misreading the intention of your post completely?

 

[Antrax]

I wonder which side of the line she's gonna fall on when the white supremacist owners of this country finally decide to fully welcome white or white-passing latinos into the fold.

Click to shrink...

Eh, they'll grab Japanese people first. I think I even saw some right-wing shit pushing for that a few years back.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Latin Americans didn't just start speaking Spanish for shits and giggles, you know. It was the result of imperialism as well.

Click to shrink...

there were no Latin Americans before Napoleon the third

 

[norwegiandude86]

Latin Americans didn't just start speaking Spanish for shits and giggles, you know. It was the result of imperialism as well.

Click to shrink...

Well Brazilians speak Portuguese and I found out about my Brazilian heritage way too late (already took Spanish lessons) when I should have learned Portuguese .... ooops.

 

[Yams]

Latin Americans didn't just start speaking Spanish for shits and giggles, you know. It was the result of imperialism as well.

Click to shrink...

Yeah you're right but that's not what he's talking about. American cultural imperialism is pretty bad on forums. Especially when multiple people from an area or culture are trying to explain why the language works as is and people are plugging their ears and saying "follow what we do in the US"

 

[Deleted member 1248]

Eh, they'll grab Japanese people first. I think I even saw some right-wing shit pushing for that a few years back.

Click to shrink...

That's not gonna make a dent in voter turnout.

 

[SigmasonicX]

I think an important distinction that should always be pointed out in these discussions of who and who isn't "white" is that the focus isn't so much ethnicity so much as it is proximity to "whiteness." Whiteness being the "dominant culture."

It's a very similar conversation that often plays out within the Black community between darker skinned black people and lighter skinned black people.

Click to shrink...

I assumed as much at first, but then people kept going on about her appearance and how she tans herself and such.

 

[Stardestroyer]

That tweet is not really a good example. Rock hosted the Oscars in the middle of a big storm of controversy around all the acting nominees being white, but he framed the issue exclusively in binary terms of white and black actors, ignoring other races. And that wasn't just in the monologue, it was a running thread through the entire show. Pretty obvious why they would be annoyed with that.

Click to shrink...

Chris Rock did that because blacks were the ones who brought up the issue. No else aka other race were talking about it. The actress could have said something but she was conveniently quietly until after the controversy was over.

During the whole Oscar's is so white, other others from other groups were invited but did not pick up, while the black actors took the hit and the usual insults.

Why didn't she or any other non-black actor speak up initially? She somehow found the courage after it had blown away.

It is not black people's job to be carrying the burden all by themselves.

 

[Psykodoughboy]

Also I'm still waiting for homeboy to explain how the word is racist because it is used to be inclusive to non-binary folks.

Click to shrink...

I thought I said privileged Latinos should be less racists. They are pushing for latinx, and that's not going to go well with other Latinos. White Latinos pushing for something always gets a Lot pushback.

 

[Nerokis]

How is using "Latinx" racist?

Click to shrink...

It's not. Latinx became a thing because it has currency in some Latinx circles.

Some people are allergic to it in the same way some people are allergic to the term 'cis'. Or to criticism of blackface in countries besides the United States.

As a native Spanish speaker, I can say Spanish is no less baggaged than English, and there's no reason it shouldn't be just as fluid. Latinx acknowledges that the act of defaulting to masculine pronouns falls short for a lot of people; non-binary people, especially.

Yeah you're right but that's not what he's talking about. American cultural imperialism is pretty bad on forums. Especially when multiple people from an area or culture are trying to explain why the language works as is and people are plugging their ears and saying "follow what we do in the US"

Click to shrink...

You're doing the same shit people do when their favorite blackface festival is criticized. "We don't view that as racist here. That's an American thing."

In one way, though, it's actually worse. In this case, people are simply using language that's been accepted as more inclusive in a variety of circles; no one has actually criticized the continued widespread usage of Latino, as far as I can tell, so the pushback here is especially unnecessary.

 

[Royalan]

Chris Rock did that because blacks were the ones who brought up the issue. No else aka other race were talking about it. The actress could have said something but she was conveniently quietly until after the controversy was over.

During the whole Oscar's is so white, other others from other groups were invited but did not pick up, while the black actors took the hit and the usual insults.

Why didn't she or any other non-black actor speak up initially? She somehow found the courage after it had blown away.

Click to shrink...

Yep.

#OscarsSoWhite started as a Black movement. I remember a lot of prominent Black actors being mocked for it at first (Jada Pinkett Smith comes to mind). Until it gained traction...of course.

 

[Osan912]

I commend her for taking the bullets. People were really shitty to her online and instead of using her statements as an actual dialogue to further the discourse as to why representation for latinx peoples is so poor everyone kept posting memes and dunking on her telling her to stfu about those issues unless it included black representation as well. She's not wrong. The focus has been shifted towards rectifying those mistakes which is a good thing. Per the Marvel tweet it is shitty that for 20 something odd films there aren't any latinx leads. Granted I'm only referring to the films and not Robbie Reyes on tv. Someone will chime in and point out Tessa but she's probably 5th billed on a third film in the franchise. Then there is the issue with Luis who though he steals the show in both Ant Man films is a former convict so between marvel and DC the two Mestizo actors on screen of significance are a quippy convict sidekick and the other is former gang member who shoots fireballs out of his hand. That's really cruddy people. I'm not gonna shit on black representation in Hollywood. It's fucking awesome that Black Panther is a cultural touchstone for so many folks and has done as well as it has. I think Gina has been super inelegant in how she laments that mestizo representation is not anywhere close to where is should be. Case in point name 5 A list actors who identify as latin. It doesn't help that the only rep we get is Michael Peña that's it and we make up the second largest group of people in the US. I hope Miss Bala kills it because there are stakes involved, if it fails than its one more reason Hollywood can justify not casting latinx people.

 

[Darryl M R]

I thought I said privileged Latinos should be less racists. They are pushing for latinx, and that's not going to go well with other Latinos. White Latinos pushing for something always gets a Lot pushback.

Click to shrink...

Your post continues to be ignorant since some of the biggest champion of the words are Afro-Latinx folks who often fall to the wayside in both latinx communities and black communities, and still face systemic issues with wealth, education, and other social-economical issues.

Your argument boils down to "privileged people should not creating inclusive spaces for marginalized individuals."

Yeah, I thought the whole point of Latinx was to be more inclusive. I see it all over progressive sites. I don't get how it's racist at all.

Click to shrink...

It's not at all. But let's see where this person goes with their argument.

 

[Midramble]

she could talk about her issues or use her platform to elevate some that is. Cause i guarantee you without looking hard i can find latino actvists

Click to shrink...

Yup. Can't argue with that.

 

[Antrax]

Especially when multiple people from an area or culture are trying to explain why the language works as is and people are plugging their ears and saying "follow what we do in the US

Click to shrink...

This isn't really a good argument (or even one at all). Take Japan. That place has some huge fucking problems with its culture that should absolutely change. If you can't defend gendered language in any way other than "it's how we always did it" then I don't think you should be surprised people aren't convinced by your argument.

That's not gonna make a dent in voter turnout.

Click to shrink...

I think the article was shooting for political donations from wealthier demographics, not necessarily votes directly.

 

[Trojita]

Chris Rock did that because blacks were the ones who brought up the issue. No else aka other race were talking about it. The actress could have said something but she was conveniently quietly until after the controversy was over.

During the whole Oscar's is so white, other others from other groups were invited but did not pick up, while the black actors took the hit and the usual insults.

Why didn't she or any other non-black actor speak up initially? She somehow found the courage after it had blown away.

It is not black people's job to be carrying the burden all by themselves.

Click to shrink...

Gina said she took the picture in the OP with the latinas that showed up out of all those invited. She somehow gets shitted on for having the gall to take a picture of the meetup





How dare she push forward and take a picture?

 

[Atraveller]

Chris Rock did that because blacks were the ones who brought up the issue. No else aka other race were talking about it. The actress could have said something but she was conveniently quietly until after the controversy was over.

During the whole Oscar's is so white, other others from other groups were invited but did not pick up, while the black actors took the hit and the usual insults.

Why didn't she or any other non-black actor speak up initially? She somehow found the courage after it had blown away.

It is not black people's job to be carrying the burden all by themselves.

Click to shrink...

Yes, I'm 100% sure no people of other races pointed out the problem.

 

[Deception]

Posters here have a habit of taking comments from one Latinx member a s generalizing across all Latinx and that bothers me. As far the term Latinx, I was taught the term from several female activists as an inclusive way of addressing Latino/a's.

 

[ElBoxy]

I commend her for taking the bullets. People were really shitty to her online and instead of using her statements as an actual dialogue to further the discourse as to why representation for latinx peoples is so poor everyone kept posting memes and dunking on her telling her to stfu about those issues unless it included black representation as well. She's not wrong. The focus has been shifted towards rectifying those mistakes which is a good thing. Per the Marvel tweet it is shitty that for 20 something odd films there aren't any latinx leads. Granted I'm only referring to the films and not Robbie Reyes on tv. Someone will chime in and point out Tessa but she's probably 5th billed on a third film in the franchise. Then there is the issue with Luis who though he steals the show in both Ant Man films is a former convict so between marvel and DC the two Mestizo actors on screen of significance are a quippy convict sidekick and the other is former gang member who shoots fireballs out of his hand. That's really cruddy people. I'm not gonna shit on black representation in Hollywood. It's fucking awesome that Black Panther is a cultural touchstone for so many folks and has done as well as it has. I think Gina has been super inelegant in how she laments that mestizo representation is not anywhere close to where is should be. Case in point name 5 A list actors who identify as latin. It doesn't help that the only rep we get is Michael Peña that's it and we make up the second largest group of people in the US. I hope Miss Bala kills it because there are stakes involved, if it fails than its one more reason Hollywood can justify not casting latinx people.

Click to shrink...

Tessa Thompson is gonna be in a Men In Black movie. Does she count? She is Mexican.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Gina said she took the picture in the OP with the latinas that showed up out of all those invited. She somehow gets shitted on for having the gall to take a picture of the meetup





How dare she push forward and take a picture?

Click to shrink...

how is Rosario dawson not afro latina?

 

[MetalGearZed]

Her shit is making it really hard for me to start back watching Jane the Virgin. I love that show.
It's all so disappointing, at every turn she seems to miss the point.

 

[Darryl M R]

Gina said she took the picture in the OP with the latinas that showed up out of all those invited. She somehow gets shitted on for having the gall to take a picture of the meetup





How dare she push forward and take a picture?

Click to shrink...

Your second posted tweet criticizes your own argument. If you tell me "Hey show up for this event, here's the promo." And all I see is white people or white passing (read: fair/light skin toned) people, I'll probably pass.

Being inclusive requires actions. You make people feel included.

A good phrase I hear in Corporate America is: diversity is inviting someone to a party, inclusivity is asking them to dance and having them feel as if they belonged.

 

[Royalan]

Yes, I'm 100% sure no people of other races pointed out the problem.

Click to shrink...

Well, of course. But this is a somewhat reductionist take on the origins of #OscarsSoWhite. That movement wasn't just a broad criticism of representation in Hollywood, it was sparked by a specific thing. Namely, several prominent and critically acclaimed Black films being shut out of the Oscars that year.

 

[TheMango55]

Latin Americans didn't just start speaking Spanish for shits and giggles, you know. It was the result of imperialism as well.

Click to shrink...

Sure, and modern English only came about after conquerors from Normandy imposed the French language upon Old English speakers. So therefore English is a language born of French imperialism.

But that doesn't have any relevance today, just like your point doesn't have any relevance today.

 

[Osan912]

Tessa Thompson is gonna be in a Men In Black movie. Does she count cuz she is Mexican?

Click to shrink...

Count? Towards being A list? I mean would you put her at the same level of fame and recognition as Emma stone or Jennifer Lawrence?

 

[Antrax]

Your post continues to be ignorant since some of the biggest champion of the words are Afro-Latinx folks who often fall to the wayside in both latinx communities and black communities, and still face systemic issues with wealth, education, and other social-economical issues.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, I'm white so I only listen to these kinds of things, but the person I know IRL who got me saying Latinx is an Afro-Latinx dude who isn't really into the gender binary (still uses masc pronouns but not always).

Tessa Thompson is gonna be in a Men In Black movie. Does she count? She is Mexican.

Click to shrink...

I think she should. It's a big role, and I'm fairly sure she identifies with the Latinx community.

 

[ElBoxy]

Count? Towards being A list? I mean would you put her at the same level of fame and recognition as Emma stone or Jennifer Lawrence?

Click to shrink...

She would if Hollywood gave her more chances in big movies.

 

[Deleted member 1248]

I think the article was shooting for political donations from wealthier demographics, not necessarily votes directly.

Click to shrink...

That makes sense.

 

[Maximum Spider]

Count? Towards being A list? I mean would you put her at the same level of fame and recognition as Emma stone or Jennifer Lawrence?

Click to shrink...

Does A-List mean Asian list? Did you mean Scarlett Johansson not Jlaw?

 

[Quad Lasers]

I think you mean Jeana Roderickson.

Click to shrink...

Can't believe this stupid fucking post got such a strong laugh out of me.

 

[Psykodoughboy]

Your post continues to be ignorant since some of the biggest champion of the words are Afro-Latinx folks who often fall to the wayside in both latinx communities and black communities, and still face systemic issues with wealth, education, and other social-economical issues.

Your argument boils down to "privileged people should not creating inclusive spaces for marginalized individuals."


It's not at all. But let's see where this person goes with their argument.

Click to shrink...

I said privileged Latinos pushing for something is going to get push back no matter the cause. When the did I say it was racist? a lot privileged Latinos are definitely racist tho.

 

[Antrax]

Count? Towards being A list? I mean would you put her at the same level of fame and recognition as Emma stone or Jennifer Lawrence?

Click to shrink...

I mean, not yet, but no one would say that about Lawrence just from landing the role on the Bill Engvall Show. MIB is a big role, and as far as I can tell from the trailers, she's the lead.

 

[Osan912]

She would if Hollywood gave her more chances in big movies.

Click to shrink...

That's the thing if men in black does well then she has another potential franchise on top of an all female marvel film.

 

[brainchild]

is there really that big of an indigenous population down there? i always thought it was analogous to what happened with the british and the colonies

in the USA we dont have majority english speaking because our ancestors got colonized, but because our ancestors were the colonizers

is it different down in latin america? are there that many descendants of indigenous populations compared to USA?

maybe im misreading the intention of your post completely?

Click to shrink...

Many of the ancestors of Latin Americans were colonizers as well.

there were no Latin Americans before Napoleon the third

Click to shrink...

Exactly my point.

Well Brazilians speak Portuguese and I found out about my Brazilian heritage way too late (already took Spanish lessons) when I should have learned Portuguese .... ooops.

Click to shrink...

I didn't meant to imply that all Latin Americans were Spanish, my bad.

Yeah you're right but that's not what he's talking about. American cultural imperialism is pretty bad on forums. Especially when multiple people from an area or culture are trying to explain why the language works as is and people are plugging their ears and saying "follow what we do in the US"

Click to shrink...

Well I'm not making that argument. I'm making the argument of descriptivism, where language evolves based on its organic influence.

Yep.

#OscarsSoWhite started as a Black movement. I remember a lot of prominent Black actors being mocked for it at first (Jada Pinkett Smith comes to mind). Until it gained traction...of course.

Click to shrink...

Bingo.

 

[Yams]

Tessa Thompson is gonna be in a Men In Black movie. Does she count? She is Mexican.

Click to shrink...

Her dad is Afro-Panamanian so yeah she's most definitely counts

 

[ElBoxy]

That's the thing if men in black does well then she has another potential franchise on top of an all female marvel film.

Click to shrink...

But my point is she is an Afro-Latinx person and she counts just as much as a Latinx person like Gina.

 

[Trojita]

Your second posted tweet criticizes your own argument. If you tell me "Hey show up for this event, here's the promo." And all I see is white people or white passing (read: fair/light skin toned) people, I'll probably pass.

Being inclusive requires actions. You make people feel included.

A good phrase I hear in Corporate America is: diversity is inviting someone to a party, inclusivity is asking them to dance and having them feel as if they belonged.

Click to shrink...

If she sent out an invite before that picture was taken, how would someone feel they aren't welcome if they don't even know who was going to be there anyway? Precognition?

 

[Canyon]

Sorry for not contributing directly to this thread...

My dad is Mexican and my mom is Caucasian. My mom and I split from my dad when I was a baby and left Cali for her home in Ohio. I grew up with the white experience and have since tried to embrace my Mexican heritage. I'd be considered a lighter skinned person compared to my dad. I don't have anyone who I can relate to when it comes to this aspect of my life, so it's super interesting to read through this thread. It's also a bit of a mindfuck tbh.

 

[Darryl M R]

If she sent out an invite before that picture was taken, how would someone feel they aren't welcome if they don't even know who was going to be there anyway? Precognition?

Click to shrink...

If she does not have a positive history with championing darker women, then the onus is on her to court them to her event by assuring them that there will be adequate representation. If she did not do that then it's on her. She knows her history.

Yeah, I'm white so I only listen to these kinds of things, but the person I know IRL who got me saying Latinx is an Afro-Latinx dude who isn't really into the gender binary (still uses masc pronouns but not always).

Click to shrink...

It's funny to me since whenever I hear a Latinx person say the word it sounds so effortlessly but being taught it as an outsider I pause and stumble to pronounce it.