Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15th to October 15th, is a cultural celebration that highlights and pays homage to Hispanic/Latinx peoples in the United States. This 30-day event is an opportunity to help others learn more about this diverse group and how we coexist as one society composed of many, many different backgrounds.
While over this month, we celebrate the accomplishments, history, food, music, and impact of Hispanics and Latinx people have had on the world, it would be a misstep to gloss over some of what holds them back, in and outside the workplace. Let’s talk microaggressions — those subtle jabs that marginalize people based on race or ethnicity.
But first, what is the difference between Latinx and Hispanic?
Hispanic and Latinx are two terms tossed around today somewhat interchangeably. But, there is a defining difference between someone of Hispanic origin and someone of Latinx origin. It's also important to note that both terms, Latinx and Hispanic, are typically American terms, as people in Latin America likely wouldn't use those terms since, well, it’s a given.
Being Hispanic essentially means you originate from a country where the main spoken language is Spanish, while Latinx generally implies you originate from a country in Latin America.
So, can you be both? Yes! Everyone from a Latin American country where the official language is Spanish is both. But not every country in Latin America has Spanish as its official language. For instance, Brazil is in Latin America, and Brazilians in the U.S. fall into the category of Latinx but their main language is Portuguese.
Now that you know the difference, is it ok to bring it up with your Hispanic or Latinx friends?
Typically, it's ok to talk about someone's heritage with them if they kicked off the conversation. Avoid starting conversations with Latinx and Hispanic people (or anyone) that include assumptions about their culture, as they can be seen as microaggressions.
So, what are microaggressions?
Microaggressions are small, subtle words or actions that discriminate against a group of people because of their race or ethnicity. Whether or not they’re intentional, microaggressions can leave a mark — especially in the workplace, where instead of focusing on doing their best work, the receiver of the microaggression has to stop, pause, process, and consider reacting to the injury they just received. And, that can derail your whole day.
For example, while engaging with a coworker a Hispanic/Latinx person might hear "I had no idea! You don't look like you're from Mexico.” That’s a microaggression: the speaker is determining the Hispanic/Latinx person’s country of origin based on some stereotype of what a person of Mexican descent might look like. Microaggressions may seem small at first, but they have the potential to grow into larger and more direct biases if left unchecked.
In that spirit, let’s take a look at three common Latinx and Hispanic microaggressions you may have heard, why they’re detrimental, and how you may engage with, learn about, and celebrate the culture in respectful ways.
1. "You don't look Hispanic."
This common microaggression may not necessarily be intended to offend, but it nevertheless shows a lack of understanding and awareness. After all, obviously not every Hispanic and Latinx person looks the same. In fact, Latin America actually holds a very diverse gene pool!
Don’t: Assume that all Hispanic and Latinx folks look a certain way. Latin America is a mixture of people from all over the world with a range of physical characteristics.
Do: Ask someone about their family's heritage if they have opened up the space and dialogue to do so.
2. "You don't sound Hispanic."
Any non-native English speaker can perfect their accent when learning English as a foreign language. Also, not every Latinx person with Hispanic cultural background has a Hispanic accent. Accents are a product of many different factors, country of origin being just one of them. Just like there’s a difference in the way of speaking for someone from New York versus someone from Texas, the “sound” of a Latinx person will vary widely.
For those whose English is a foreign language, an “accent” will typically depend on what age they started learning English and how their brain processes language. For Hispanic and Latinx people specifically, there are American and British schools all over Latin America, and English is typically taught in many schools with the influence of many different accents.
Don’t: Sound shocked or point out that someone’s “English is very good.” That person may very well have lived the majority of their life in the U.S.
Do: It’s okay to ask if English is someone’s first language as a way to have a conversation around somebody having an accent.
3. "Are you Mexican?"
At the risk of stating the very obvious, here we go: Not every Latinx person in the U.S. is Mexican. In fact, Mexico is only one of many Latin American countries where Latinx culture originates. Latin America truly is a melting pot of people from all over, including Portugal, Arab countries, Africa, and Eastern Asia.
Don’t: Assume someone’s country of origin based on their skin color or accent or group individuals into a collective country of origin based on assumption.
Do: You can ask if they have any Hispanic/Latinx heritage if there is an indication that they may be Hispanic or Latinx that doesn’t exclusively rely on them “looking” the part — for instance, if they speak Spanish or mention being from a predominantly Latino neighborhood.
Want to remove biases? Get the conversation going!
One of the best ways to break through microaggressions and unintentional biases is with conversation. Hispanic culture is multifaceted, rich, and welcoming above all. If you have Latinx employees or coworkers, don’t hesitate to reach out this month — or any month for that matter — to get to know a little more about where they come from and what being Hispanic/Latinx means to them.
Clarissa Trabanino is an education lead at Glassdoor. Clarissa majored in Romance Languages (Spanish, French, Portuguese) and minored in Latin American Studies, and brings to the table everything she's learned over the years from school, being raised in Miami, and living in Brazil/working in Latin America.