What Does It Mean To Be Latino?
When you think of a Latino, what comes to mind?
For some, a Latino is someone who speaks fluent Spanish, loves reggaeton and bachata or is passionate about their country’s fútbol team.
As someone who was born in the United States and is the product of a Moroccan father and a Colombian mother, the word “Latino” holds a different meaning.
Growing up, I was immersed in the Western culture and followed different music, shows and sports from my Colombian counterparts.
In 2014, when Colombia played their first World Cup in 16 years, their success was not important to me.
Basketball was more popular than fútbol in America, so the only James I knew was Lebron James, not James Rodríguez.
As a result, I didn’t understand Colombians’ passion for soccer and felt disconnected from them.
Today, I have improved my Spanish and found my love for fútbol, yet I am still criticized for not being Latino enough.
What else must I do to prove myself?
Many Latino immigrants and their descendants feel the same way.
According to a national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2015, only about 77 percent of Hispanic immigrants’ grandchildren identify as Hispanic and only 50 percent of every generation identifies as Hispanic.
Latinos who have assimilated to American culture have lost a piece of their identity.
Thousands, like my mother and grandmother, have immigrated to the U.S. seeking better lives for themselves and their children. There’s no shame in chasing prosperity—so why are current generations shamed for not being in touch with their roots?
Many Latinos believe that with hard work, success can be attained, and it’s the highest form in which one can make their family proud.
This belief is represented in immigrants’ children, who can achieve this dream of success with the new opportunities presented to them.
Being a “true” Latino in the U.S. isn’t about the music you listen to, the sports you follow, or even the languages you know. Rather, it’s about embracing the ambitious values instilled by your immigrant ancestors—that is the ultimate expression of being Latino.
