Aida Rodriguez: Why Latines Must Prioritize Community and Unity Now More Than Ever

Since the election, there has been a lot of conversation surrounding Latine communities. With Trump securing the Latino vote, a notable increase from previous elections, our communities were highlighted at every turn, and rightfully so. I don't take issue with some of the valid criticisms of my community; I understand the betrayal and pain that many felt as a result. The single-voter reality that we were faced with as Americans made us confront some of the ugly truths about how the media can wrongfully inform us. The attack on education is manifesting itself in a problematic America, and Immigration and its endless alleged threat to the well-being of White Americans superseded the rising prices that are actually currently hurting all working-class people. I do not doubt that many of these issues have been part of a greater plan to cause so much division that kidnapping our democracy could actually become a reality.

Being who I am as an entertainer, a comedian, and a social/political commentator, I have often come under fire for holding my community accountable, speaking to the colorism, anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous sentiment, and downright self-hate that is so prevalent and toxic among Latin Americans living in the states. So much so that my Latina card has been revoked as my invitation to the Parranda or the Asada, and many of the so-called Latine "solidarity" events have been rescinded. I am considered "divisive" and "problematic" because, of course, I am not willing to sweep it under the rug.

After my appearance on "Hell of a Week," a Latina called me a 'traitor to my people" on social media, stating that I shouldn't be criticizing my own publicly. In speaking out against anti-Blackness in our community, I have hit a nerve with certain people. In another setting, while discussing relationships with friends, a Latina actress boldly asked, "Why do you love Black men and Black people so much?" It was a sad reality that she didn't understand that Blackness is a part of the Latine spectrum. It is often a problem in our community to discriminate against Black and Indigenous people or downright erase them.

Latines try to assimilate for the same reasons that everyone else does — it's a form of survival. As those who have been oppressed by colonization and white supremacy, it is encoded in our DNA to figure out the way through. We are a group that has every racial component as a part of it. As a result, we have our own white people, too. Unfortunately, that whiteness is weaponized against the non-whites in our group. That's what white supremacy does; it infects us with the belief that white is better, and many people suffer from the illness.

Within our own community, we have had many ongoing debates about Hispanic vs. Latino identity. The continuous argument about speaking Spanish being a requirement to identify with the group is nonstop. We, as a group, are still far from the solidarity that we love to purport. These challenges are no secret to others and, at times, weaponized to keep us unseen and devalued in the face of those who benefit from our presence and dollars.

We have fallen in love with being "picked." You see it in politics, Hollywood, corporate America, and even at home. During the election, Nicky Jam, a popular Puerto Rican/Dominican singer, endorsed Trump and was introduced by the former president as a woman — he didn't even know who Nicky Jam was. We are constantly poked and pimped through misinformation and fear. After all, we are the biggest minority group in America, and we make a difference in this country with our dollars and our votes.

Because education catches up with us, no matter how much we run from it, we are seeing a reckoning. Younger generations that have pushed back from the problematic table are no longer eating what we have been fed. They are claiming their identities and championing the Indigenous and African ancestors of the past over the worship of the brutal colonizers that raped and pillaged our people. They have no desire to be "picked" by the very people who hurt us.

I am not here to advocate for a political ideology, party, or platform. True liberation entails marginalized people having access to everything the ruling class enjoys. I simply want to remind us that despite the propaganda, we are a great people. We have much to offer in everything from the arts to science, to agriculture, and everything in between. We contribute greatly to society in all roles, and our dollars make a great difference.

I often speak of a solidarity that others perceive as unrealistic and naive, almost like a fantasy that will never be our reality, because I believe that our victory is possible. In the recent past, we have seen the uneducated, hateful masses driven by rhetoric that feeds their bigotry without a basic understanding of us. We have heard the terms Affirmative Action, CRT, and now DEI used to justify the dismantling of programs to create some sort of equity for an already unbalanced system that comforts white mediocrity. This is by design; after all, we are all being exploited. But if you don't know better, you can't do better. It is much easier to scapegoat the most vulnerable of us than to face the reality of what has and continues to happen. This country values corporations and billionaires over the people who make them.

The reality is that we know our customs, religions, food, languages, etc. … because these things were handed down to us from our ancestors, not through their history books. In fact, many of the books we are given to read in school have never really painted us favorably or in our fullness. Many of the systems in this country, from the education system to the healthcare system, are also not meant to work in our favor. We are still reaching for our ancestral cures and medicine; our food and customs have been handed down through our own pipeline, not the mainstream. We have always been everything we needed to survive, after all, we are still here and thriving despite it all.

America has always been a haven of violence, but the most damaging and feared revolt that it understands is an economic one. Our dollars should be rerouted to our communities instead of the very institutions that neglect and ignore us and our needs. Our resistance is in building community, highlighting the erased, and forging paths forward despite the obstacles. Our true leaders and activists don't spend hours on social media; they are on the ground, securing and enforcing movements in our best interest. They need our support in all forms. Why should we feel pressured to figure it all out expeditiously if Rome wasn't built in a day? With as much that has been thrown our way to deter us, we continue to plow forward. We can't forget that no movement has ever been successful without the cliche sweat, blood, and tears, but our true liberation has and will always be damn well worth it.

Aida Rodriguez is a comedian, writer, actor, and author — a favorite of critics and fans alike. Rodriguez is the host of the podcast "Say What You Mean" and the author of "Legitimate Kid," published by HarperCollins, and her comedy special "Fighting Words" is streaming on Max. She's a guest writer for BuzzFeed and Oprah Daily, as well as a regular commentator on "The Young Turks."