What White Families Need to Know about Hispanic Heritage Month
You're a White person?
So am I! Let's chat.
One look at my picture shows you I am a white woman occupying a diverse (racially, linguistically, culturally) professional space (bilingual education). My whiteness in Latinx spaces means I have more stories than you can count where I said or did something cringe-worthy that revealed my privilege and ignorance to what life is like as a racialized minority in US culture. Until recently, I didn't have terms like "lived experience" or know about ethnographic tools like analytical memoing (an intense form of introspective journaling) to self-identify when I really messed up. Instead, I would offend someone, and if I was lucky, a kind member of the offending group would pull me aside and illuminate why what I had said or done was insensitive, inappropriate or downright hurtful.This topic matters as we enter into Hispanic Heritage Month (henceforth, HHM) and equity-minded White folks will want to participate in the celebration of stories, cultures and contributions to US culture for those who live in this country and claim Hispanic heritage (learn more about the meaning and purpose of the month here). The goal of this post is to share some of my experiences navigating diverse spaces as a white body, combined with my knowledge gained through my scholarship. A special shout-out to any white parents who’ve enrolled their English-speaking children in bilingual programs and who are looking for strategies and tips on how best to show up during this month- I see you! Before we tackle helpful terms and ways to learn about how we can best show up during this month of Latinx orgullo, I’ll share my cringe story.Mine the Cringe 😬
When I started getting really into Latinx culture (aka when I went full tilt into identifying as a legitimized Spanish-speaking American at 16 years of age) I would approach people whom I'd assume were Latino and start speaking Spanish with them. While it’s true that my enthusiasm to strengthen my second language skills would assist my full bilingual development into adulthood, and this is something I have worked really hard to achieve, I was operating out of an assumption that: Brown people = Spanish speakers who = want to speak with me in Spanish. CRINGE! 
In fact, language preferences and ethnic identity do not map neatly onto each other. In fact, many US-born Latinx bilinguals are English-dominant and do not claim Spanish fluency, and this linguistic practice only increases as future generations are born and educated in this country, as one Pew Study suggests. These are the sorts of misunderstandings or myths that equity-minded white girls (like me) would have benefited from unlearning had there been more awareness raised around the plurality of the Latinx experience in the US. From my perspective, this is why the recognition of HHM in K-12 education is so vitally important. It’s also why, as parents or community members in support of bilingual education in the US, we must take opportunities to learn about cultural and linguistic pluralism as the norm. We must also take steps to challenge the monolingual bias steeped in our nation’s history and rhetoric around the schooling of Multilingual Learners.Let’s Talk Terms!
Well, my business is called “Language Matters”, so that means any blog I write will offer readers a linguistic roadmap to more thoughtfully partake in conversations around the topic at hand. So let me illuminate 2 helpful terms that White folks need to know entering into HHM.
Now that you know better, do better!
1. Stop, Drop, and Listen:
This month provides an important opportunity to SHUT UP and LISTEN. Lord knows I'll be doing some learning myself over the next few weeks. Here are 3 resources I'll be exploring:In The Thick podcast: This is a current events podcast about culture, race and identity with award-winning journalists Maria Hijanojsa and Julio Ricardo Varela. It’s a must-listen for staying informed on topics relevant to the US-Latinx experience.Raising Remixes Instagram account gives an SEL-based view of schooling for Multilingual Learners. Also, her graphics are stunning.Gholdy Muhammed's book "Cultivating Genius" is required reading on all of my syllabi.... and heads up- she has a NEW book coming out at the end of year.
2. Mine the Cringe:
Some of my most powerful moments of learning happened when my body alerted me to that icky feeling that my actions were doing harm to someone else. If you can avoid self-shame (that's a big IF) then sit with the memories of your cringiest moments and re-imagine what you could have said or done differently. You will have other opportunities to get it right tomorrow. 3. Monitor your learning:
When I coach teachers, I often use this sentence frame "I used to think X, but now I realize Y". I use it as a closing ritual to help my teachers monitor their new insights and to let go of misconceptions. Aim to say this phrase at the end of each night to track how much you're learning over the course of this month.4. Get involved (not just with your $):
There are community groups keen to have non-Latinx members support their initiatives. Pro-Tip: Find an org that you share some values, interests or hobbies with. As a Chicago-based bilingual education advocate, here are two orgs I’m involved with:Bilingualism Matters Chicago: This is a group of scholars who research, engage in outreach and aim to support local heritage-language groups achieve their bilingually-related goals and missions. Also, I’m the newly-appointed co-chair so I will actually READ any emails you may send!Amigos de las Americas: This org is near and dear to my heart! They have chapters all over the country, find your local one and see how you can help youth live and learn with equity-principles in mind so that our future generations can also "do better".
Did you try one of my recommendations? Do you have similar cringe-stories you want to share with me? Drop me a line at LillianArdell@languagematters.org or book a discovery call with me to learn more about how you can be a true ally in the fight for high quality bilingual education for ALL families!