Muchx latinx limpian sus carx con Kleenex.
Huh? What was that? Well, it is a new attempt by the ultra politically correct to purge the Spanish language of any hint of gender based words which would include almost all its nouns and adjectives. Because the new words sound so much like a variation of "Kleenex" I call this new PC language the Kleenex language aka idiomx Kleenex. If you think this is some wild exaggeration then check out the MTV Unbound video below at the 2:10 mark of Kat Lazo asserting with Stalinist insistence that you MUST use "latinx" in place of "latina" or "latino."
...Which brings us to latino or latinx if you want to be gender inclusive which you should be. Latinx refers to having origins in Latin America which is basically the countries in North and South America that are geographically south of the United States including most of the Caribbean. And unlike Hispanic, latinx excludes much of Latin America's colonizer, Spain. So, one more time: Hispanic refers to language and latinx focuses on geographic location.
If you had your fill of latinx from Kat, too bad. She returns at the 3:40 mark for yet more rapid fire, headache inducing prattle on the same topic.
The reason this gets so confusing when we are talking about latinx in America is that there is a broad ethnic latinx identity that has a complex history with a lots of different racial groups living together. Latinx isn't a race but we are definitely racialized as a people. Which is confusing and I'm the one who said it.
Not so much confusing as incredibly annoying, Kat. She continues on with the latinx shtick mixed in with dollops of "white supremacy." I'll spare you the details but continue listening on if you are a glutton for punishment.
This MTV Unbound video is currently being featured at Vox which also subscribes to the use of the ridiculous "latinx" term:
Latinx and Hispanic identity signifies common cultural practices like language and shared histories, and those don’t easily map onto skin color.
...So are people who identify as Hispanic (or even Latinx) actually white?
As Ramsey says, "It depends." But it’s important to reflect on the fraught reasons why Hispanic and Latinx identities are associated with whiteness too.
The Vox article ends as they all do with this question: Was this article helpful?
Answer: No but it was sure annoying. And unfortunately this "latinx" absurdity seems to be spreading among the liberal MSM including the Huffington Post which recently announced that it is incorporating this Kleenex term in its Latino Voices section. They begin with an explanation of why "latinx" is oh so important to them:
Latinx is the gender-neutral alternative to Latino, Latina and even Latin@. Used by scholars, activists and an increasing number of journalists, Latinx is quickly gaining popularity among the general public. It’s part of a “linguistic revolution“ that aims to move beyond gender binaries and is inclusive of the intersecting identities of Latin American descendants. In addition to men and women from all racial backgrounds, Latinx also makes room for people who are trans, queer, agender, non-binary, gender non-conforming or gender fluid.
“In Spanish, the masculinized version of words is considered gender neutral. But that obviously doesn’t work for some of us because I don’t think it’s appropriate to assign masculinity as gender neutral when it isn’t,” explains queer, non-binary femme writer Jack Qu’emi Gutiérrez in an interview with PRI. “The ‘x,’ in a lot of ways, is a way of rejecting the gendering of words to begin with, especially since Spanish is such a gendered language.”
Latinx is also, as pointed out by writer Gabe Gonzalez, a way to reclaim identity, a form of rebellion against “the language and legacy of European traditions that were imposed on the Americas.”
And now their grand announcement:
It’s with this in mind that Latino Voices is incorporating the term Latinx into our coverage. We believe every individual’s identity is complicated and nuanced — and deserves to be acknowledged and respected.
"Latinx." Coming soon to an izquierdista media outlet near you.
Exit question: Should the Huffington Post be forced to change the name of that section to "Latinx Voices?"
