Surprising Facts About Latinx History
The fact that discrimination has long been a characteristic feature of U.S. history is well-known. However, what was new for me in “The Long History of Anti-Latino Discrimination in America” was that the oppression of Hispanics began as early as 1848, immediately after the United States’ victory (Blakemore). The sharp increase in the number of citizens was undoubtedly due to the possibility of obtaining citizenship.
At the same time, this fact is highlighted positively in the history of the United States, while other stories are often glossed over. For example, immigrants were in high demand as cheap labor in booming industries, while they were not considered candidates for other jobs. What surprised me, however, was that Hispanics were forced to attend separate schools (Blakemore). Numerous children were denied access to quality education based on the color of their faces and names alone.
Apart from that, it is shocking to consider the conditions in those schools. There were no basic subjects and not enough teachers in the bare rooms (Blakemore). Due to this, local schools were overcrowded and underfunded, with almost no students from diverse social backgrounds and skin colors. Public transportation was poor in these areas, and there were more frequent safety problems. It turns out that a white American born and raised in an upscale neighborhood who went to a good school and grew up in a safer environment has a better chance of a prosperous future than his Hispanic peer.
Implicit Bias in the Narrative of BIPOC Histories
Furthermore, discussing the biases that directly affect stories about people of color is equally important. Undoubtedly, the textbooks will include the winners’ version: some episodes will disappear altogether, and others will be embellished, which is directly detrimental. The winners’ interpretation does not allow for critical reflection; it renders truthfulness meaningless, and people of color will face even greater difficulties in their struggle for equality.
The victors write history, a maxim often repeated but rarely subjected to critical reflection. Winners give direction to the future; they not only teleologically interpret the course of BIPOC history as a movement toward their triumph, but they also close those archives that would allow them to reach a different conclusion. Nothing can be believed, but information can be extracted from everything. There can be numerous versions, but it is everyone’s responsibility to assemble a meaningful version of history from the many pieces.
Work Cited
Blakemore, Erin. “The Long History of Anti-Latino Discrimination in America.” History.