In The Community
On April 14, gardeners and lucky people with green thumbs celebrated National Gardening Day. While it doesn’t usually garner a lot of attention, National Gardening Day is focused on encouraging others to get into some plants or into a garden to start their journey. We propose it should also be a time to honor the special skill and knowledge gardeners have, especially in the Latino community, where our connection to the earth is such a big part of the culture.
For far too long, gardening in the United States has been associated with Latinos, mostly Mexicans, in a very stereotypical way. While their work may be appreciated at a base level, there’s little to no recognition of the profound skill and dedication Latino gardeners bring to their craft.
After all, gardening isn’t just about trimming hedges or mowing lawns; it’s more complex than that, requiring a deep understanding of horticulture. Anyone who has done it will tell you that growing the kind of stunning garden that makes your neighbors jealous is hard work. It requires a certain kind of intelligence, known as naturalistic intelligence, which is the ability to understand and work with natural elements.
People with naturalistic intelligence are very sharp about identifying patterns and understanding what nature needs. This is why people who have this kind of intelligence are so good at not just gardening, but also farming, conservation, and more. Granted, gardening may not always be a calling for Latinos living in the U.S. Sometimes, it’s a means to an end, but there’s no denying that Latino gardeners have a connection to nature and know what they’re doing.
Latino gardeners, while often overlooked or underestimated, are responsible for making communities brighter and more beautiful by transforming ordinary spaces into thriving ones. Many of them have sharpened their skills through generations of family tradition, which makes their work even more special, having the skills passed down from their parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents and beyond.
Behind every meticulously manicured lawn or flourishing garden bed there are hours of hard work and passion for nurturing the earth. Latino gardeners often start their days before dawn, familiarizing themselves with every area they work with. Why? Because beautiful gardens are achieved by making the right choices not just for the land, but also for the owner.
Gardening is all about creating harmony and linking people to nature. If you really think about it, gardening is extremely focused on connection. The land is connected to the soil, the soil is connected to the plant, and the plant is connected to carers who help it thrive—not just the gardener but also the homeowners who continue the gardener’s work.
As we reflect on National Gardening Day, let’s take the opportunity to honor the invaluable contributions of Latino gardeners. Let’s recognize their expertise, their dedication, and their role in shaping our communities. In doing so, let’s also challenge the stereotypes that have marginalized them for far too long and celebrate the rich knowledge and culture they bring to the table.
Not to mention the love that many of them pour into the land; a land that isn’t their own, making that love even more worthy of appreciation.
So, here's to Latino gardeners blessed with green thumbs; the unsung heroes of many a garden across the United States!
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The story of Asian Latin Americans is a tale as old as the mighty Pacific Ocean that links Asia with the Americas. Beneath the surface, Latin America holds a tapestry rich with Asian influences, from its bustling cities to its lively cultural fabric.
The First Arrivals
Before K-pop or anime gripped the globe, Asians had already set foot in Latin America. The story begins in the 16th century when the Spanish galleons sailed from the Philippines, then a Spanish colony, to the shores of Mexico. These Manila Galleons brought more than just merchandise; they also brought the first Filipino settlers to the region. While many continued on to Spain, some chose to make the Americas their new home.
The 19th century saw a larger influx, especially with the arrival of Chinese laborers, who came to build railroads, cultivate land, and mine for treasures across nations like Peru, Cuba, and Mexico. Their hard work often went unnoticed, and they faced discrimination and adversity, yet their contributions are undeniable.
While the Chinese made their mark on the Pacific coast, the Japanese began to journey across the ocean in the early 20th century, predominantly settling in Brazil. São Paulo's Liberdade district today stands as a testament to their presence. The vibrant neighborhood, with its sushi bars juxtaposed against traditional Brazilian churrascarias and streets lined with cherry blossoms, is an epicenter of Japanese culture outside of Japan. In fact, Brazil boasts the largest Japanese community outside of Japan itself.https://commons.wikimedia.org/
Nestled in the heart of Mexico City, the Barrio Chino is perhaps the most well-known Chinese enclave in the country. Though it spans just a couple of blocks, its impact and significance are much grander. This bustling area is characterized by its distinctive red arches, myriad of shops, and mouthwatering Chinese restaurants serving both traditional dishes and Mexi-Chinese fusion food.
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La Chinesca in Mexicali, Baja California, offers a more extensive glimpse into the Chinese diaspora. Home to about 15,000 people of Chinese origin, it is the largest Chinese community in Mexico. La Chinesca is a unique blend of Chinese and Mexican influences. Beneath the city streets lie a series of underground tunnels, originally built as protection against the desert heat, and were often used by Chinese immigrants. These tunnels were places of work, residence, and secret social gatherings at times when Chinese communities faced discrimination.
Today, while many of the tunnels lie dormant, some have been converted into intriguing underground businesses. Above ground, Chinese restaurants and markets dot the landscape, evidence of the lasting influence of the community.
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Pop Culture, Food, and the Rise of Representation
The Asian influence didn’t just end with neighborhoods and railways. Anyone who has tasted a Peruvian 'chifa' dish or relished a Brazilian 'temaki' knows that the fusion of Asian and Latin flavors is a romance for the ages. 'Chifa' is a unique blend of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine, birthed from the merging of these two vibrant cultures. Meanwhile, sushi, especially temaki, has been wholeheartedly embraced and reimagined in Brazil, giving birth to a new kind of fast food sushi restaurant called “temakeria.”
Within the world of film and television, Asian Latin Americans are carving a space for their narratives. Films such as "Made in Bangkok", a documentary about a Mexican opera singer's journey in Thailand for gender confirmation surgery, bridges Mexican and Asian cultures while addressing universal themes of identity and self-discovery.
On the social media scene, influencers like Keishla He have gone viral simply for being a spanish-speaking Asian Latina. He was born in Puerto Rico and told NBC news that she started posting videos on-line because, “I know I’m not the only Asian that was born here in Puerto Rico and was raised here,” He told NBC Asian America. “So I wanted to be that person that they can look up to and say, ‘OK, I’m not the only one,’ so they don’t feel alone.”
K-pop, while inherently Korean, has found a massive fanbase in Latin America, leading to fascinating cultural exchanges. Latin rhythms have begun to infiltrate K-pop music, and in return, K-pop concerts are now regular occurrences in many major Latin American cities.
In the art scene, Tomie Ohtake, a Japanese-Brazilian artist, has left an indelible mark with her abstract art in São Paulo. Her work seamlessly fuses the minimalist tendencies of Japanese art with the vivacious energy of Brazil.
@keishlaheli Hola, @TikTok give me back my account @keishlaheli pls y thanks🙂#fyp#foryou#parati
From the early footprints left by Filipinos on Mexican shores to the sizzling woks of chifa kitchens in Lima and the beats of Brazilian music infused with Japanese notes, the story of Asian Latin Americans is beautifully complex. It's a story of integration, innovation, and identity.
As the world increasingly blends into a global village, the tales of Asian Latin Americans serve as an inspiring reminder of the enriching beauty of cultural intersections.
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Colombian actress Sofía Vergara has had the spotlight on her recently due to the success of Netflix's latest true crime series "Griselda,” where she plays the titular role of Griselda Blanco. The series was the top show on the Netflix Global Top 10 list for three consecutive weeks since its debut.
This marks a big accomplishment for Vergara because it’s the first role she plays outside the realm of comedy after working on the sitcom “Modern Family” for over 10 years, which catapulted her to fame. It also made her one of the highest-paid actresses in the industry, so she’s had a very successful career so far.
However, she recently stirred up some controversy with some comments she made about her Spanish accent and how she feels it limited her career. Her comments, however, reflect a bigger issue–the belief that having an accent somehow means you’re occupying a lesser societal status.
Racism and the belief that if you’re in the United States, you should speak English at all times has fueled the idea that if you speak with a Spanish-language accent, you are less educated, less capable, less intelligent, and less skilled.
This harmful stereotype has been bolstered by the media and society at large so relentlessly that many bilingual Spanish/English speakers buy into it without even realizing it. It’s also important to note that not all accents are discriminated against - this harmful stereotype doesn’t rear its ugly head in media when it comes to accents deemed respectable like a British, French, or Italian accent.
Sofía Vergara’s Comments on Her Bilingual Spanish/English Accent
Back in January, Sofía Vergara went viral for clapping back at Spanish interviewer Pablo Motos on the show “El Hormiguero” for seemingly criticizing her English pronunciation. They were talking about “Modern Family” when Motos interrupted Vergara asking her: “How do you say ‘Modern Family’?”
Vergara responded by saying, “Do I say it wrong? Because you speak better English than me?” Motos said “Yes,” prompting Vergara’s clap back, “How many Emmy nominations do you have in the United States? How many times have they nominated you for a Golden Globe?”
The clip spread all over the internet with most people praising Vergara’s quick wit and her shut-down of Motos’ seemingly obnoxious behavior. A little over a week after that, the “Los Angeles Times” released an interview with Vergara, where she discussed “Griselda” and the barriers she has found due to her accent.
She said, “I’m always looking for characters because there’s not much that I can play with this stupid accent. I can’t play a scientist or be in ‘Schindler’s List.’ My acting jobs are kind of limited.” Vergara added later in the interview, “Eva Longoria doesn’t have an accent. Jennifer Lopez doesn’t have an accent. Jessica Alba doesn’t have an accent. Is it frustrating? Of course. In the beginning, more than now, and the frustration was towards me. How come I can’t f— get this right? I’ve been here for 30 years. How dumb can I be?”
While it’s important to understand where Vergara is coming from, it’s even more important to point out the false premise she has seemingly bought into. The fact is that having an accent doesn’t signal being less intelligent or less talented. That she hasn’t been able to play more serious roles has nothing to do with her accent or the reality of how many actual scientists, humanitarians, and thought leaders have Spanish/English accents but rather an indictment of the pervasive bias and racism that continues to exist in Hollywood and mainstream media.
Accent or Not, Hollywood Doesn’t Reflect Reality
The false premise that having an accent somehow makes you less worthy of being taken seriously or achieving success is something the Latino/Spanish-dominant community has been dealing with for ages. Why has someone like Sofía Vergara bought into it as well? First of all, because it’s heavily sustained in her industry. Hollywood’s systemic racism is notorious and it perpetuates harmful stereotypes of Latino identity, linking Spanish-dominant Latinos and their accents or way of speech to unserious roles, uneducated characters, criminal behavior, and more.
Second of all, this false premise is sustained by society at large, particularly in the United States. Linguistic discrimination, which is illegal, is a major issue for non-native English speakers simply because they don’t speak in a way that’s considered “standard.” While it’s true that this leads to discrimination, which can limit opportunities for Latinos and other English as a second language speakers, rising above it is possible.
To overcome this harmful belief, it’s important to note that there is an abundance of research that confirms that people who speak two languages have elevated cognitive functions. The media and some in American society would like bilingual Spanish/English speakers to believe that they can’t be successful in law, health, tech, space, business, or whatever industry if perfect English isn’t spoken. Very real systemic barriers exist for those without perfect English. Data confirms this, but it certainly doesn’t help when someone like Vergara underscores that if not for her “stupid accent” she’d be an even bigger star. Instead, the frustration should be directed at why Hollywood doesn’t think a scientist can speak with a Spanish accent.