Anti-Racism Advocacy

Historical Context:

People residing in the Americas have lived through colonization and imperialism. The Spaniards used brutal means to enslave Indigenous populations and strip their rights. The caste system was used to give rights to direct descendants of Spaniards and take away land, rights, and the humanity of anyone else. This practice permeates in Latin American culture through colorism. As we inherited this unspoken racism, we must actively combat the remaining internalized racist practices that still exist among us.

As the Mexican-American war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which annexed Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Later in 1898, Puerto Rico was invaded as a result of the Spanish-American war. Colonist ideas had already taken root in these territories, and a second wave of colonization began seeking to strip Spanish language and heritage to force assimilation. In addition to this, the racism that stemmed from the practice of slavery was extended to Indigenous and Latin American populations. We must use our voice to fight the racism that still exists in our communities.