You Grew up Latino if You Recognize These 20 Things

Collage highlighting iconic Latino household items: a bright purple Fabuloso cleaner bottle, a "chancla" flip flop, and a classic blue jar of Vicks VapoRub



You Grew up Latino if You Recognize These 20 Things

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

If you grew up in a Latino household, there are certain universal truths that you can't help but agree with. From the mystical powers of "Vivaporu" to the joyous chaos of family gatherings that always, always, start later than planned, being part of a Latino family isn't just about shared ancestry; it's about a collection of hilarious, heartwarming, and sometimes hair-raising experiences that bind us together.

The Power of Vicks Vaporub

photograph of Vick Vaporub ointment

Better known as "Vivaporu," this powerful potion could supposedly cure everything from a headache to a broken heart. It was your abuelita's answer to all ailments. Got the flu? Vivaporu. Twisted your ankle? Vivaporu. Existential crisis? Well, you get the picture.

The Fear of La Chancla

Still from the Disney film Coco

Disney's Coco

Ah, la chancla - the infamous flip flop, often wielded by moms and abuelas, ready to fly at the speed of light to discipline a misbehaving child. It was a symbol of authority that taught you how to toe the line...pun intended.

Telenovelas as a Family Affair

You know you grew up Latino when your family's schedule revolved around the air times of their favorite telenovelas. Your abuela's tears during a dramatic episode were as gripping as the overly shocking on-screen action.

The Magic Word, "Ahorita"

meme that asks what does ahorita mean in spanish: now, later, in a bit or right now

This elusive term could mean in five minutes, five hours, or even five days. This vague time frame was somehow universally understood, but only added to the confusion of our non-Latino friends.

Sancocho Sundays (for many Latinos as this is a regional Caribbean-inspired dish)

Pot of hearty sancocho stew.

Photography by Culinaria Nativa del Tatamá

The tantalizing smell of a simmering pot of sancocho filling the house on a Sunday was the epitome of comfort and family time. It didn't matter if the weather was 100 degrees outside - sancocho was a year-round delight. If you're Mexican, substitute for caldo, pozole, or menudo.

Cascarones at Easter

Photo of colorful cascarones confetti eggs

Photography by David

The thrill of smashing what took hours of painstaking work to create beautifully decorated, confetti-filled eggs on the heads of unsuspecting cousins during Easter celebrations. The glitter aftermath? Priceless.

Living in a Novela

Latin soap opera character

Conversations with your tías could sometimes feel like you're in a telenovela, complete with dramatic plot twists, excessive hand gestures, and long pauses for effect.

El Cucuy and La Llorona

Promotional poster for "Cucuy the Boogieman"

Promotional poster for "Cucuy the Boogieman" movie

Forget the boogeyman, these legendary creatures were the ones who kept you in check during your childhood. Their tales were the classic scare tactics, cautioning you against staying out too late or not going to bed on time.

Fabuloso Everything

Photo of the Fabuloso Cleaner

Before there were fancy scented candles, there was Fabuloso. This cleaning product was the perfume of your home, leaving an undeniable smell of a clean house.

Dancing is Non-negotiable

latin couple dancing

Merengue, Salsa, Bachata, Cumbias, Rancheras...you were probably dancing before you could walk. From family gatherings to Christmas parties, dancing wasn't just expected; it was required.

The Invasion of Tupperware

photograph of a table full of tupperware containers

Photography by James Salvas

Any large gathering meant you were going home with a random assortment of Tupperware filled with leftovers, from arroz con pollo to frijoles negros.

Blasting Music on Cleaning Day

girl twirling around room


Photo by Laura Fuhrman on Unsplash

Saturday morning cleaning sessions weren't complete without a booming soundtrack of Latin hits. The louder Marc Anthony or Marco Antonio Solis sang, the faster you mopped. And if you were trying to sleep in, the more you wondered if you'd ever be able to actually get some extra sleep on the weekend.

Quinceañeras

young latina celebrating her quincea\u00f1era

Sweet sixteen wasn't a thing. It was a grand quinceañera - a dazzling celebration of culture, family, and the journey to womanhood, or nada.

Morning Rituals with Cafecito

Coffee wasn't just a morning beverage; it was a rite of passage. Sipping on the strong, sweet elixir as a family, often accompanied by pan dulce, was an experience that shaped your mornings and energized your day.

The Power of the Sobremesa

Latin woman sitting after lunch talking

The art of lingering around the table after a meal, sharing stories, and cracking jokes. A simple dinner could easily extend into the wee hours of the night.

Being Late is On Time

Meme with funny text about being late

Arriving "fashionably late" was just a normal part of family gatherings. An invitation for 6 PM? It was universally understood that meant 7 PM or later.

No Secret is Safe

Two women telling each other secrets and gossip

News traveled faster than light in your family. Before you even got a chance to announce something, everyone already knew. The chisme express was always running. From engagements to pregnancy announcements, your family was the original social media.

The Respect for Saints and Spirits

altar of religious figures Latin house

A house full of religious icons, saints, and the ever-watchful ojo protector. Your childhood was a blend of Catholicism and ancient superstitions.

Packed Cars on Road Trips

Packed car for family trip

Photography by Mark Hodson

Family road trips weren't just for your immediate family. They also included cousins, aunts, uncles, and sometimes even neighbors. And don’t forget, everyone always brought enough food to feed a small village and hand-me-downs to give away.

Love is Louder

A Latinx Family gathered around

Above all, the loudness wasn't just about volume. It was about passion, vibrancy, and love. From booming laughter to fiery debates, everything was done full-heartedly.

Here's to the loving chaos, the unforgettable memories, and the strong sense of community and tradition that is growing up Latino.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.