The ‘latinidad’ complex: una lucha por la autoidentificación.
Session Title
Other Abstracts
Faculty Mentor
Michael Lipscomb, Ph.D.| Brandon Ranallo-Benavidez, Ph.D.
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Political Science
Abstract
In American society, the complexity of race, ethnicity, and nationality are an important aspect of being able to self-identify in order to uncover one’s position in society. A white man born and raised in America can navigate society based on the privileges of their whiteness. For many Latinos, the path is often more nuanced and contradictory. Due to a mix of races that fall under the ethnic umbrella of “Latino” or “Hispanic,” many Latinos face dissonance in understanding their identities in America. Central and South American countries, for example, have a long history of colonial rule that instilled an aversion to people of color and promoted a norm of colorism. American politics and media play a role in shaping Latino identity through media representations and exclusionary politics. This preference for whiteness is not only ingrained in Latin American culture but also in America, where there is an incentive for non-white people to assimilate into cultural expectations and practices of whiteness, regardless of ethnicity and nationality. Using the works of Gloria Anzaldua, Jose Esteban Munoz, and G. Cristina Mora, I delve into the layered meaning behind being Latino by looking at the effects of colonialism, partisan politics, and media representations.
Course Assignment
PLSC 490 – Lipscomb
Start Date
15-4-2023 12:00 PM
The ‘latinidad’ complex: una lucha por la autoidentificación.
In American society, the complexity of race, ethnicity, and nationality are an important aspect of being able to self-identify in order to uncover one’s position in society. A white man born and raised in America can navigate society based on the privileges of their whiteness. For many Latinos, the path is often more nuanced and contradictory. Due to a mix of races that fall under the ethnic umbrella of “Latino” or “Hispanic,” many Latinos face dissonance in understanding their identities in America. Central and South American countries, for example, have a long history of colonial rule that instilled an aversion to people of color and promoted a norm of colorism. American politics and media play a role in shaping Latino identity through media representations and exclusionary politics. This preference for whiteness is not only ingrained in Latin American culture but also in America, where there is an incentive for non-white people to assimilate into cultural expectations and practices of whiteness, regardless of ethnicity and nationality. Using the works of Gloria Anzaldua, Jose Esteban Munoz, and G. Cristina Mora, I delve into the layered meaning behind being Latino by looking at the effects of colonialism, partisan politics, and media representations.
