Not Stereotyping Mexican as “Spanish”

LET’S CHAT ABOUT IT

As I’m sure you can tell, I do my best to keep all my content on this page as well as on my Instagram light-hearted and laced with humor. In times as crazy as what we are experiencing now with COVID-19 and worldwide self-quarantine, I personally think that everyone needs as much optimism and silly reasons to laugh as possible. It’s important to remember not to take ourselves too seriously especially as the world is facing the most serious pandemic we — as well as our children and grandchildren, most likely — will ever experience.

However, sometimes, it’s important to get a little serious.

Stereotyping, grouping, and systematic racism are sad realities that continue in today’s world despite the significant progress that has been made over the years. In what I have witnessed in my lifetime, this type of oppression is mainly communicated through microaggressions. And what’s the most common type of microaggression that we experience — either first-hand or as a bystander — almost every day? Grouping different cultures who share languages or features or cultural similarities together.

Especially now, with the widespread anxiety due to coronavirus truly bringing people’s deep-seated racism to light, Asian people from many different cultural backgrounds are being grouped as “Chinese.” Latinx cultures also very commonly fall victim to this.

How many times have you heard Mexican food, people, culture — anything — be referred to as “Spanish” simply because Mexico’s national language is Spanish? It goes without saying that subjecting people to this type of ignorance and racism is much more damaging than wrongly labeling Mexican food as “Spanish,” but it happens a lot.

Know the difference! Mexican food and Spanish food are not the same, just as Chinese and Japanese food are not the same. The only thing these cuisines really have in common is how utterly bomb they are (and they share some ingredients and dishes, but I’m making a point here!) and they all deserve their individual respect.

I recommend that you eat both Mexican food and Spanish food because they’re both absolutely incredible… but do your best to know which is which! Ignorance is never bliss in this case.