Multiple Identities

We’ve been discussing identity issues, and I wanted to bring up the issues of mixed race, ethnicity, national origin and culture because it’s another part of this "Latino measuring stick."
 
How many times have we heard that someone isn’t "really" Latino because both of their parents are not Latino?  For example, they’re "mixed race" — Latino and Asian, Latino and Black, Latino and American Indian (which is an interesting comparison, but understandable for cultural reasons), Latino and white, etc.
 
What’s so ironic is that Latinos, as we’ve discussed before are of all races.  So the real issue is not one of "race" so much as that of cultural background and affinity.

So often we see celebrities and movie stars deny their Latino ancestry or deny their affiliation until it becomes "cool" or acceptable to self-identify as Latino.  And I think we can understand this from a cultural perspective when it can be difficult in a profession so identity conscious not to be self-limiting to so identify.
 
For example, Jessica Alba stated she didn’t see herself as Latina until it became "cool" and acceptable for her to do so.  And until she could be sure it didn’t narrow the roles that it would be possible for her to play…  (not an unreasonable fear)
 
And while the Latino media is so anxious, at times, to include those who are mixed as "one of us" internally we are sometimes EX-clusive of those that we feel either don’t self-identify as Latino or those we think of as different.
 
So I encourage each of us to think about when we choose to be EX-clusive versus IN-clusive and why we do so.  Don’t we want to allow us all to be Latino if and when we agree to be part of this culture.  What does it take away from us if we do?
 
More questions and I’m going to shy away from answers for now, but of course you can probably tell in which direction I’m leaning. 
 
Let’s keep the discussion alive, because I want to encourage thoughtfulness and reflection, as well as the push to question when and how we keep people in and how we push people out.
 
Please stay with us as we continue the conversation…