人兽性交

Since 1968, the histories, cultures and contributions of the Latinx community to the United States are celebrated during . For many people in the Latinx community, this month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) is about pride for who they are and honoring their roots.

For Maria del Rosario Palacios, who lives in Georgia but was born in Michoac谩n, Mexico, this month brings a time for reflection. Palacios鈥� parents were migrant farmworkers in the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s, but her father wanted her to be born in Mexico, even though they had established a home in the U.S. by this time. Palacios, who is 32 and uses she and they pronouns, grew up in Georgia and is now employed in the nonprofit sector.

鈥淚 come from a very humble family background and have always loved and appreciated living in this country,鈥� she told the Southern Poverty Law Center. 鈥淎ll that I have been capable of doing here has been made possible by my parents who have a third-grade education level, and who have worked in food manufacturing throughout their lives.鈥�

But Palacios understands that while the contributions the Latinx community has made to the U.S. are invaluable, not all of them get noticed 鈥� a problem that has long plagued her and her peers. Recognizing Latinx people as individuals is a problem, she said.

鈥淭his month is great because there are national efforts to recognize Latinx contributions, but it鈥檚 often done in a way that is a bit tokenizing, to be honest,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ne month is better than nothing, but our community helps significantly 鈥� and that often goes overlooked.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檙e fully recognized as people, so until we give people the true opportunity to have real representation 鈥� in our schools, our government 鈥� our needs aren鈥檛 being honored, and we aren鈥檛 being recognized.鈥�

Palacios鈥� comments also come at a time when the Latinx community is facing intense demonization by elected officials and other public figures. The governors of two large states 鈥� 鈥� have recently made headlines for transporting Latin American migrants to other states to protest immigration policy.

Their actions come after other elected officials have fearmongered during election years about protecting the country from Latin American 鈥渕igrant caravans鈥� arriving at the southern border. It also comes years after Donald Trump launched a successful presidential campaign by infamously Mexico is sending criminals and rapists to the United States.

鈥楳yriad of individuals鈥�

Despite the 鈥渙thering鈥� of the Latinx community for political gain, it鈥檚 a community tightly woven within the fabric of the United States. Currently, 60 million people in the U.S. identify as Hispanic or Latino, , and are therefore becoming the minority with the largest presence.

These figures have increased substantially over the years, with the influence of Latinx culture sliding into different aspects of American society at when the Chicano Movement, otherwise known as El Movimiento, advocated for social and political equality through their shared culture.

Latinx people have contributed significantly to American history and culture. Journalist spoke out against racism and in support of women鈥檚 and Mexican Americans鈥� rights. Astronaut was the first Latinx woman in space. is the first Latinx Supreme Court justice. is the first Latinx woman to serve in Congress.

The Latinx community has also contributed its cuisine and festivities to American culture. It has provided professional sports with incredible athletes. To boot, salsa and reggaeton music have now wiggled their way into the musical tastes of Americans from varied backgrounds. Meanwhile, artists like and changed the landscape of the art world.

And while these contributions are, in fact, major, so are others, Palacios said. Unfortunately, a painful reality exists for the community鈥檚 essential workers.

鈥淐onstruction, hospitality, the food industry 鈥� these are all sectors where we鈥檝e proven very valuable,鈥� she said. 鈥淒uring the pandemic, no poultry workers had any days off. Our folks met death at which wasn鈥檛 covered by the media for a long time. We have a huge, broken system, and these workers literally gave their lives during COVID, so I take enormous pride in our essential workers.鈥�

The presence of the Latinx community has had major impacts to the U.S. economy. The Mexican community alone represents roughly Over the past decade, Latinx startups have seen .

Efr茅n Olivares, deputy legal director for the 人兽性交鈥檚 Immigrant Justice Project, said that from his perspective as a Mexican immigrant and dual citizen, he is proud of what the community contributes to all aspects of American society.

鈥淎s we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we keep in mind that the Latinx community has contributed to the political, professional and economic growth of the United States and have not always reaped those benefits,鈥� Olivares said. 鈥淥ur community members, in all our diversity, pride ourselves on what we do. We work in farms and in hospitality; we are lawyers, doctors, professors, writers, CEOs and elected officials, experts in our respective fields. We are parents, and we want our children to grow up knowing there is nothing out of reach.鈥�

Understanding nuances

For Jerry Gonzalez, CEO of the 鈥� an organization in Atlanta that promotes civic engagement and leadership for Georgia鈥檚 Latinx community 鈥� the issues facing the community have a wide scope.

Gonzalez said that Latinx youth, for example, worry about climate change and the future of the environment. For others, it鈥檚 access to the ballot box 鈥� or finding an avenue to ensure educational equity for their children.

GALEO is a grant recipient of the Vote Your Voice initiative, a partnership between the 人兽性交 and the to increase voter registration, participation and civic engagement among communities of color in the Deep South. GALEO will use its $75,000 Vote Your Voice grant this year to strengthen Latinx youth voter participation in the coming midterms and beyond.

鈥淲hen you talk about this election cycle and the issues important to the Latinx community, the economy has been important to every election 鈥� this is something that鈥檚 been consistent for us,鈥� Gonzalez, 51, said. 鈥淎bortion is another concern; Latinos, regardless of their faith, believe in access to abortion, and the community is also concerned over gun control.鈥�

To provide for a better future for the Latinx community, Gonzalez said the first step is gaining a genuine understanding of the nuances within the community. To do so, Gonzalez said that when decisions are made in elective offices or schools, Latinx leadership is required, so the nuances can be better understood.

鈥淭here is a leadership gap to bring cultural nuance and cultural understanding to others about who we are,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淏ut this isn鈥檛 linear; rather, it鈥檚 what we must strive for. Unfortunately, the politics in Georgia are one of simplification. There is an anti-immigrant, white supremacy ideology still at play here.鈥�

Anna Rodriguez, director of the Southern Methodist University Cox Latino Leadership Initiative, the 鈥渃hanging face of America鈥檚 demographics drive that fear,鈥� and that the country鈥檚 changing demographics are 鈥渟kewing toward a kaleidoscope of identities more diverse than the European-centered tapestry of the past century.鈥�

The 人兽性交鈥檚 Olivares added that the demonization of the Latinx community underscores the importance of education and outreach.

鈥淭his month is about understanding 鈥� or learning 鈥� that we鈥檙e an invaluable and beneficial part of the melting pot that is the United States,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut the Latinx community continues to face a barrage of racist threats, insults and scapegoating. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important for people to truly see our community rather than accept harmful stereotypes as fact.鈥�

Gonzalez 鈥� who is of Mexican, French Cajun and Indigenous descent 鈥� encourages people during this month to celebrate Latinx culture and appreciate how we all have more similarities than differences.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that we, as a society, recognize this month and honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans in this country,鈥� he said. 鈥淩ecognizing and taking the time to learn about the diversity within the Latino community helps us all to understand that we share a lot across cultures and nationalities.鈥�

Making the nation better

Palacios said that celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is important, and that she enjoys seeing friends and colleagues at festivals and other events this month.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still struggling, but I do like to go out and celebrate,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y husband is from El Salvador, so we celebrate together and attend festivals that mimic what we see in our home country. I enjoy that.鈥�

While this is a time to revel, Palacios also said she believes that lawmakers should spend this time investing in more resources to address gaps in representation in education and the quality of living for the Latinx community.

鈥淭here are large health disparities in our community, so we need anything that would help address why we鈥檙e not validated,鈥� Palacios said. 鈥淪ervice giving is one of the biggest ways to do that, not just by attending festivals and celebrating with us.鈥�

While the Latinx community still confronts racism and lack of access to necessary resources, Olivares said that Latinx culture has not only become a part of the nation, but it has empowered the Latinx community to stand up to injustice.

鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative that people of all backgrounds understand how the U.S. came to be the success it is today, and that came, in part, with the contributions of immigrants and the Latinx community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his month is about recognition of what we鈥檝e accomplished 鈥� as well as what we鈥檙e up against.鈥�

Palacios agrees and encourages people to understand who they are, and how they鈥檝e played an integral role in developing American society.

鈥淭he Latinx community is in neighborhoods, churches, schools, the workplace, and we still have some areas where we could use support,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur people love to help others; the way we give is unmatched. Any support people invest in the Latinx community is better 鈥� better for all of us 鈥� in the end.鈥�

Photo at top: The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) has received a $75,000 grant from the Vote Your Voice initiative, a partnership between the 人兽性交 and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to increase voter registration, participation and civic engagement. Pictured, GALEO CEO Jerry Gonzalez, seated third from left, with GALEO staffers. (Credit: GALEO)