The Struggle to Identify in the Latin Diaspora
09/16/22 • 32 min
People of Latin American descent can identify as Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, Latine, or Chicano/a/x. Others prefer to identify as Indigenous as a way to reclaim their roots. Others identify according to their nationality(ies), such as Colombian-American or Mexican-American, to speak out against terms that group multiple countries and cultures together. Identifying under multiple hierarchical systems, and according to two or more different cultures, can be confusing, but also powering. Many of these terms aren't perfect, but they all express the desire for members of the Latin diaspora to organize, mobilize, and advocate for their rights. When we learn about the history of each term, we grow appreciation and understanding for the struggle to find community and belonging.
Resources:
Raíces Verdes (featuring host Samara)
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨
We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)
Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)
People of Latin American descent can identify as Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, Latine, or Chicano/a/x. Others prefer to identify as Indigenous as a way to reclaim their roots. Others identify according to their nationality(ies), such as Colombian-American or Mexican-American, to speak out against terms that group multiple countries and cultures together. Identifying under multiple hierarchical systems, and according to two or more different cultures, can be confusing, but also powering. Many of these terms aren't perfect, but they all express the desire for members of the Latin diaspora to organize, mobilize, and advocate for their rights. When we learn about the history of each term, we grow appreciation and understanding for the struggle to find community and belonging.
Resources:
Raíces Verdes (featuring host Samara)
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨
We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)
Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)
Previous Episode
Representation in the Outdoors: Our Paper Trails
Meet Veronica Castillo and Miguel Venegas of Our Paper Trails. Four years ago, this power couple decided to transform their lifestyle and live in a van to reach their traveling and financial goals (they just paid off their student loans - woot woot!).
Joining the vanlife and nomadic communities changed how Vero & Miguel approach life choices, from what they purchase to how they become better allies. Even in the outdoors, representation, inclusivity, and diversity is important to ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome. Vero & Miguel are transparent about their struggles with vanlife, how the nomadic community only recently began embracing more diversity, and their undeterred dedication to get out on the road. Although it hasn't always been easy, Our Paper Trails proves we can all fulfill our dreams with the right amount of risk, effort, and support.
Follow Our Paper Trails:
Resources:
Diversify Vanlife on Instagram
Definitions:
Nomadic - a community without fixed habitation made up of people who regularly move to another area
Minimalism - a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨
We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)
Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)
Next Episode
Making Mental Health Services More Accessible with Sergio Maldonado
Sergio Maldonado is a Counseling Psychology Ph.D. student at Purdue University from Pomona, California. His research examines therapeutic experiences of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community to find culturally-relevant practices that provide support during life after incarceration. As a therapist in training, Sergio has worked with people from a variety of backgrounds, including rural communities, refugees, and factory workers. Sergio advocates for more accessibility to therapy, especially for low-income and other underserved communities, and speaks out against practices in the psychological field that perpetuate biases and prevent therapists from fully serving their clients.
Sergio’s Work:
Interview by HOMIE HEART Check
Partner organizations:
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨
We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles)
Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)
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