Voices
In The Community
I sniffle through my so-called ‘liberal tears’ as I stare at the screen in front of me in disorienting disgust. It’s 2024, and America has just voted for a man convicted of 34 felonies over an accomplished woman lawyer with an outstanding track record.
I am an American Latina who loves and believes in this country. One who proudly dropped off her voting ballot, encouraged others to vote, sent voter guides to friends, and posted about the threat of another Donald Trump presidency.
This mind-bending reality is destroying me, just like it is destroying democratic voters across the country. We stand bewildered, shocked, and scared, shrugging our shoulders and wondering what the hell went wrong. What did we miss? The news media cycles for the next few months will undoubtedly debate this question, but most will skip the honest conversations we need to have with ourselves and our peers.
There are two dreadful categories of answers—the easy answers and the hard answers.
It’s easy to say that America is still inherently racist and sexist because it’s true. Despite the civil rights movement of the 1960s and all the social progress made since, it really only has been 49 years since Latinas got the right to vote. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed an extension of the Voting Rights Act that ended discrimination against “language minorities.” In the grand spectrum of history, this is a minor period compared to the hundreds of years it took to end slavery, of which our black brothers and sisters still suffer the social and financial repercussions of today.
49 Years later, Latinos in California just now are at the growing height of their prime. We’re winning seats in Congress and graduating college at record numbers. Academia is now filled with nuanced dissertations of Latine academics who offer the missing perspectives of history we lacked in our high school textbooks. There’s even a Latina-led news media outlet! We must be advancing society, right?
So how did Donald Trump win when we have so many of us working hard and entering the higher echelons of society? How, when he demonized us, our communities, and disparaged the Central American countries of our ancestors?
It’s easy to say that Kamala lost because she is a woman of color and voters are sexist, racist and simply not ready for a female president. It’s easy to say that the country is stupid and uneducated. It’s even a bit elitist, and it makes me cringe just typing it.
But it’s even harder to admit that the Democratic party betrayed their voting base, deceptively stringing us along for 4 years amid the threat of another Trump presidency. It’s hard to admit that they pushed Biden upon us in 2020, entertaining us with a democratic primary where many contenders, including Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, validly questioned the Democratic establishment and pushed a progressive agenda.
Despite his poor debate performance, Biden was ushered into the primary seat by the establishment, never giving voters a chance to choose their favorite candidate. By the time the Democratic National Convention came around, they had effectively pushed all competitors out of the race to ensure Biden’s nomination.
And we all said sure, whatever it takes to beat Donald Trump.
Biden won, and all went “back to normal.” Four years of unmemorable accomplishments went by for the Democratic party. The promises made during the 2020 campaign faded away. Immigration was never fixed, abortion was never protected, and I, as a Latina, felt incredibly ignored by my own party. I felt angry and deceived. I worked hard to represent the Democrats in my community, but scrutiny over the party’s poor decisions and lack of connection to voters was getting incredibly hard to challenge.
How long can we keep saying it is the fault of the voters, when it is the responsibility of the party to win our vote?
As we headed into the 2024 election year, Democratic voters across the country resoundingly began rejecting President Biden. Personally, I did not feel like he represented what he ran for, nor did I feel he was strong enough in his messaging to win another election against Donald Trump. I still remember getting nauseous every time I heard the President talk about immigration; it made me despondent, concerned and made me question my vote for him. I won’t engage in the age issue here, but I am sure everyone watched him speak and realized “shit, he isn’t going to cut it.” We all knew this.
The Democratic Party refused to listen.
It wasn’t until they saw the polls showing a Biden loss against Trump that they decided to switch their candidate, questionably, only a few months before the election. The fact is, Kamala didn’t win a primary election as a presidential candidate, and as much as I want a female president, the way she was chosen struck me as incredibly undemocratic. It felt like the party ignored us until they couldn’t, but by the time they changed course, it was too late.
I love Kamala Harris, but her presidential campaign run was botched into a 5-month sprint for a party that had lost the trust of their voters, with only one debate against Trump to show her skill set (and she absolutely nailed it). This was not enough to win.
Democratic Establishment failed to listen to their voters, coalition of organizers, activists, and advocates. They failed so hard that I, a lifelong Democrat, am questioning their motives and values. Vote after vote, the election process feels like an unfair game of chasing the carrot, where you jump for the carrot, and do back-flips but never actually get the carrot.
I have spent 14 years voting and I am fed up with the Democratic Party. At every political loss, they have disparaged young voters, blamed us for not doing enough, and blamed third-party voters for not falling in line when it is their lack of connection, insight, and responsibility to voters that have made them fail. If I hear them blame voters for this loss (and they will, it’s a classic talking point) I will take my vote elsewhere next presidential run, and no, I will never vote for a Republican.
The hardest truth of all is that what I did to sway this election was not enough. As a Latina voter, I could have done more to help dispel the misinformation rampant in my community. I could have volunteered, knocked on doors, and most importantly, I could have challenged my Trump-voting family members. With so much on the line, I think many of us feel this way. This is a guilt I will carry for the next 4 years as I work my ass off to fix the system. Something has got to change, and it starts with taking a hard look at the Democratic Party and determining if they are truly a party for the people, or just another corporate vampire, living only to suck us dry.
What will you do in the next 4 years, sis?
- Opinion: GOP Insults Puerto Rico, Democrats Fall Short ›
- Latino Democrats and Organizations Rally Around Kamala Harris ›
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).
- What is the "Marea Verde," the Reproductive Rights Movement Sweeping Latin America? ›
- Latin-American 'Green Wave' Gains Momentum Amongst Worsening U.S. Conditions for Abortion Access ›
“Salvadoreña? Like the MS-13?”
My eyes roll to the back of my head as I force a plastered smile explaining (again) that yes, they’re a Salvadorian gang but it was actually formed in the United States. And no, my family isn’t involved.
In my nearly 30 years of life, I have seen a slow evolution of how Salvadorian and Central American, which were synonymous with Mexican, grew into its own category. I’ll be the first to admit that growing up I had no idea Afro and Asian Latinos existed, or that not all Latinos are Indigenous because I hadn’t met any. My family consists of mestizos, and the media I consumed portrayed similar or lighter features which I accepted as canon–anything different was uncommon.
I was wrong. Latinos are primarily mixed, which gives us our broad range of features, shades, and cultural identities. Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic have a strong African influence that is evidenced in the food and music. Peru’s Asian population has left a mark as well, blending cultures and ingredients to create chifa, a cuisine of Peruvian and Chinese ingredients. The Indigenous communities have been around for millennia, with many traditions blending into mainstream Latino culture. Neither of these is less Latino than the other. Each is a piece of Latin America and our identities.
Historically, the United States hasn’t viewed Latinos in a positive light. Despite the contributions and sacrifices made in both world wars, Latinos have been treated as second-class, even when the intentions appear to be genuine. The Bracero Program was meant to prevent labor shortages but resulted in abuse of workers that continues to this day. The Zoot Suit Riots targeted Mexicans, African Americans, and other minorities. It took the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Hernandez v. State of Texas, which held that the Fourteenth Amendment applied to all racial and ethnic groups facing discrimination, to broaden the scope and determine that civil rights laws included Hispanics and all other non-whites. Discrimination against Latinos–and especially people who are assumed to be Latino based on their appearance–is ongoing (looking at you, SB-1070).
In the media, there’s an interesting juxtaposition of Latinos being portrayed as either sultry lovers or criminals, with over-the-top performances that drive the “feisty” stereotype.
We’ve come a long way from the Old Hollywood depictions showing only what they believed was what a Latino looks like, but Black and Indigenous voices have either been erased completely or fallen to the criminal role. Stories that center the POC struggle shouldn’t be the only narrative point of view because there are so many other beautiful stories waiting to be told.
Social media is the more recent source that has been promoting various Latino voices. Social media platforms allow you to become whoever you want, no matter the niche, which becomes an easy way to educate others. Additionally, with the rising number of Latinos in academia, it’s becoming much easier for kids and young adults to see themselves in a positive light. It’s estimated that by 2025, Hispanic enrollment in higher education will exceed 4.4 million students, which surpasses the growth rate of any other racial or ethnic group. The percentage of Hispanics with STEM degrees rose from 9.8% to 14% between 2009 to 2018 and is only rising.
With hashtags such as #LatinasInSTEM or #Poderosas, and accounts dedicated to elevating Black, Indigenous, and Brown voices it is now much easier to learn about our communities. And with Black and Indigenous voices having been erased for years, creators are diving deep into the oftentimes ugly history of our countries and how we immigrated to the United States and discriminated against our own people, unafraid of having authentic discussions that involve colorism and machismo.
Slowly, educating others in our communities and those outside of it have become possible with the labor done by those committed to breaking the stereotypical barriers. Even as recent as five years ago, if you wanted to educate yourself on Afro-Latino history in Central America you’d come across several hurdles. But with a growing network of Latinos dedicated to unearthing this information it’s just a few clicks away.
Words are powerful. Connecting with others is powerful.
We are not the dirty immigrants, criminals, or spicy Latinas that we’ve seen on our screens for a century. We fit no mold because there truly isn’t one. Not all Latinos speak Spanish, and our features and customs range from country to country. We are now controlling our narratives, and the narratives that the next generation will see.
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- The Struggle is Real: 10 Things Only U.S. Latinas Understand ›
- Latino Trump Supporters Prioritize Immigration Policies - Luz Media ›
- How Different Latino Subgroups View the Current 2024 Election - Luz Media ›
- This Surprising Issue Would Earn the Support of Latino Voters ›
- Latinos Demanded Action, Not Promises, on Economy - Luz Media ›
