Last year, Philando Castile was shot seven times by Jeronimo Yanez, a Latino police officer. It was supposed to a simple traffic stop that turned deadly because of the anti-blackness Latinx are exposed to. Let's not forget about the death of Trayvon Martin caused by George Zimmerman, also a Latino. We need to realize that white police officers are not the only ones killing innocent black people; it is also people part of the Latinx community. We have anti-blackness ingrained into our community, and that caused the death of both Trayvon Martin and Philando Castile.
So, yes. Latinx can be racist. Just because you're also a minority does not mean you're excluded from being racist. In fact, unless you're black, I believe you're completely capable of being racist. Latinx do experience racism, of course. I've experienced myself, as well. But as Latinx, we are also racist towards black people, especially. I can recall multiple times when a family member of mine said something insulting specifically directed to black people. Or when they have told me not to stay outside in the sun too long because I'll get darker y luego me miró "como los negritos." Or anytime a non-black Latinx says the n-word? Yes, that's racist.
Sometimes you are anti-black, and sometimes you don't even realize it because it's how you were raised. You were taught to be anti-black by your tías or tíos or abuelos. But the thing is that you can unlearn it. You were not born to be anti-black, but you were shown how to be it. And maybe it's not "exactly" your fault because it started with the colonization done by whites. Speaking of Mexico as a Mexican, when the Spaniards came to colonize Mexico, they additionally brought African slaves with them. Despite that, Spaniards treated both the natives and Africans as trash, the lighter a person was, the better treated they were. And then because of this, Mexicans came to think themselves as "a level higher" than blacks because "at least we weren't as dark". Even if a Mexican was dark-skinned, they could not refer to themselves as black because somehow, you "can't" be both. And ultimately, according to colonization, being black is no good. This is why you need to realize that the whiter you are, even as a Latinx, you have way more privilege than a black Latinx. Even I, a brown Latina, has more privilege than a black Latinx.
But as I said before, you can unlearn anti-blackness. You can do better, be better. One of the many ways you can do that is to hold yourself and others responsible. Being called out on your problematic ways is the only way you actually learn. You have to realize you're wrong first before you can make any changes. How are you supposed to be better when you don't even realize you're wrong? Let people call you out for what you said or did, so you can unlearn your anti-blackness. When you hold yourself responsible, you have to listen. Actually listen. When it comes to anti-blackness, listen to your black brothers and sisters on what they have to say. When you're a non-black Latinx, you don't have a say in it. You have to listen on how you're wrong and find a way to do better. Lastly, when you realize someone else is being anti-black, call them out on it. Sure, it might be scary because you don't know how they'll react, but do you really want to be associated with a racist? I think this is how we can start having a healthy dialogue about anti-blackness in the Latinx community, but that's just the beginning. Remezcla gave a wonderful article about how to continue to fight anti-blackness in our community. We can all do be better and destroy the disgusting plague of anti-blackness.
As a brown Latina, I am there for my black brothers and sisters. When you're being anti-black, you are not also hurting the black community, but you're erasing the existence of our Afro-Latinx. You cannot be pro-Latinx while being anti-black because people can be both. You cannot love your culture while also hating the black culture in it. Times like this is when we learn that we have to stick together. It's not a competition on which minority has it worse or who needs the most help because now is when solidarity and unity matter more than anything. But it cannot just be prayers or love anymore. We need action, and we need it now. Every day, we make choices that can either help or destroy the anti-blackness in the Latinx community. And we can't keep it going any longer.
#BlackLivesMatter
