10 Iconic Latino Contributions to American Pop Culture

latina woman smiling
Photo by Matthew Hamilton on Unsplash

You might be surprised to learn how much of American pop culture is influenced by Latinos. From music and fashion to food and entertainment, Latinos have made major waves in shaping what we all enjoy today. Let’s dive into 10 iconic contributions from Latinos that you might not realize have left a lasting mark on pop culture as we know it:

Taco Tuesdays (and Tacos in General!)

close-up photography of tacosPhoto by Tai's Captures on Unsplash

Let’s start with everyone’s favorite—tacos! While Taco Tuesday has become a weekly ritual for many Americans, its roots are deeply Mexican. Thanks to the influence of Mexican cuisine, tacos have gone from street food in Mexico to a nationwide sensation in the U.S. and a go-to option around the world. Who doesn’t love a good taco, right? The next time you’re enjoying Taco Tuesday, thank Latino culture for the delicious tradition!

Reggaeton

a close up of a dj's control panelPhoto by Panagiotis Falcos on Unsplash

If you’ve ever heard a song by Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Bad Bunny, and more, you know that reggaeton is everywhere. With its roots in Puerto Rico, reggaeton’s infectious beats and bilingual lyrics have taken over the world. It’s not just a Latino thing anymore—reggaeton is a music staple that dominates playlists, clubs, and TikTok trends around the world.

The Cholo Fashion Trend

man sitting in urban park

Photo by Wendel Natan

You’ve probably seen the Cholo aesthetic (think oversized flannels, Dickies, white tees, and bandanas) pop up in streetwear, music videos, and even runways. What started as a distinctive fashion statement within Mexican-American subcultures has become a symbol of cool, adopted by everyone from skateboarders to rappers. It’s a perfect example of how Latino street culture has influenced mainstream fashion.

The “Cha-Cha Slide” (Yep, We’re Claiming It!)

cha cha cha dancersen.m.wikipedia.org

The “Cha-Cha Slide” is a party and wedding staple across America, but did you know it’s based on the cha-cha-cha, a Cuban dance style? This playful line dance, with its call-and-response directions, has roots in Latin dance traditions. It may have evolved into its own thing, but that rhythm and vibe definitely have Latino origins.

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (You’re Very Welcome!)

flaming hot cheetos

Photo by Calgary Reviews on Flickr

Believe it or not, the legend behind Flamin’ Hot Cheetos has Latino roots. Richard Montañez, a former janitor at Frito-Lay and the son of Mexican immigrants, came up with the idea to spice up the regular Cheetos. His creation became a cultural phenomenon, especially within Latino communities, and has since become an American snack-time favorite. The Flamin’ Hot craze even inspired a movie!

Lowrider Culture

a car parked in a parking lot next to other carsPhoto by Yasamine June on Unsplash

Lowriders, the iconic cars that ride low and bounce with hydraulic lifts, are a staple of Chicano culture. What started in Mexican-American communities in the '40s and '50s evolved into a full-blown car culture that has had a major influence on hip hop, fashion, and even movies like “Fast & Furious.” Today, lowriders are symbols of craftsmanship, pride, and identity.

Zumba: The Workout Dance Party

women dancing near mirrorPhoto by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash

If you’ve ever taken a Zumba class, you know how fun (and sweaty) it can be. This Latin-inspired fitness craze was created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Beto Pérez, and it’s become one of the most popular group workouts worldwide. Zumba combines Latin music and dance moves with an aerobic workout, making it a high-energy, cultural way to get in shape. It’s practically a cardio fiesta!

Hoop Earrings

red ladies jacketPhoto by Andrea Esme on Unsplash

Hoop earrings have a long and rich history in Latino culture, and they carry so much more meaning than just being a stylish accessory. Worn by women across generations, hoop earrings symbolize strength, resilience, and empowerment. In Indigenous and Afro-Latino cultures, hoops have been seen as a form of self-expression and cultural pride, representing the idea of coming full circle—where everything is connected.

Día de los Muertos in Mainstream Culture

white and red ceramic skull figurinePhoto by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

The traditional Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has made its way into American pop culture, especially through movies like Coco and The Book of Life. Both films brought the holiday’s beautiful rituals of honoring deceased loved ones to the big screen, making it a celebration that many non-Latinos have embraced. It’s now common to see Día de los Muertos-inspired makeup, art, and décor during the Halloween season.

Salsa Dance and Music

group of people dancingPhoto by Ardian Lumi on Unsplash

Salsa music and dance have taken over dance floors across America, and you can thank Cuban and Puerto Rican communities for that spicy, rhythmic explosion. The fusion of Afro-Cuban beats and Latin jazz evolved into salsa, and now, it’s one of the most popular Latin dances worldwide. If you’ve ever busted a move at a salsa club or had the beats make you sway, you’re feeling the power of Latino influence.

Latinos have been shaping and redefining American pop culture for generations, whether through food, fashion, music, or even fitness. The beauty of it all is that these contributions continue to evolve, influencing new generations and spreading joy all over the place. So next time you’re busting a move to that reggaeton song, enjoying tasty food, or getting your cardio on in Zumba, you know who to thank!

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Six Latin American Indigenous Women Activists You Probably Didn't Know About

From left to right: Berta Cáceres, Comandanta Ramona, Rigoberta Menchú, Aura Lolita Chávez Ixcaquic, Guadalupe Vázquez Luna, and Leydy Pech

The world has seen countless inspiring women rise to fight for justice and equality, particularly for marginalized and oppressed communities. Their tireless advocacy has brought much-needed attention to issues such as women's and Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and preserving Indigenous knowledge and culture.

Despite their challenges and obstacles, these Latin American Indigenous women serve as powerful role models and reminders of the transformative potential of grassroots activism. Let’s take a closer look at their extraordinary lives and legacies:
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politics

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

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.

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Latinos Are Ready to Vote for Abortion Rights This November

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).

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