“Race isn’t that important. Culture is what makes you who you are.” – RIC student, Heidi Salazar Martinez
In the most recent census, questions about Latino or Hispanic race and ethnicity were presented differently. “Latino or Hispanic” was no longer a category to choose from but rather a separate question. Respondents were asked if they were of “Spanish/Hispanic/Latino” origin, regardless of what race(s) they chose. “But that doesn’t always align with how Latinos see their own identities,” notes Mikaila Arthur, sociology professor at Rhode Island College.
“Race is as basic as what you can see. I am white because of my skin color even though I’m of Hispanic ethnicity,” says RIC student Heidi Salazar Martinez, a social work major who identifies as Puerto Rican and Latinx. “For me, culture is the art, the food, what you can relate to. Race isn’t that important. Culture is what makes you who you are.”
Daniel Clarkin, co-president of UNIDOS, a Hispanic student group at RIC, believes that when it comes to race and ethnicity, people tend to confuse the terms. “For example, if you’re Latino, people believe you have to look a certain way. When they hear the word ‘Latino,’ they don’t imagine a person with really dark skin or with super-light blond hair and blue eyes, but a person with olive skin tone and dark hair.”
Lilly Ngolvorarath, a world languages education major, with a concentration in Spanish and a minor in Latin American studies, explains that “when you have to fill out a survey and the races are listed – White, Black, Asian and Native American – there’s always a second question that asks about Hispanic origin. It forces some people to say, ‘I don’t identify as White. I’m from Colombia or Bolivia. I don’t fit into any of these categories. So, what do I call myself?’” She adds, “It’s important for people who are Latino to identify the country they’re from. That’s the most important identifying factor.”
Depending on who you are and where you were raised, people identify themselves by many ethnicities. For instance, Ngolvorarath was born in the United States but identifies as half Laotian and half Chinese.
“People also don’t understand the differences that exist in Asian cultures,” she says. “Think about it as if you were Mexican and I called you Dominican. They’re two different cultures. In Asian countries we don’t even speak the same language, exposing people to other cultures would help them appreciate the differences,” she says.
When discussing identity, UNIDOS makes a special effort to be accommodating. The group not only welcomes Spanish speakers but anyone who wants to learn or practice the Spanish language. Clarkin, Ngolvorarath and Salazar are all members of this group and they say that they work hard to make room for everyone’s individual identity. They also celebrate their shared identities. “We have a shared identity in being RIC students and on top of that most of us are from Providence,” says Ngolvorarath.
“It’s also really important to give everyone time to distinguish themselves from the rest of the group,” Clarkin says. “For example, we have a lot of Christians who share their church experiences, something that means a lot to them. We also have a lot of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Central Americans, who enjoy expressing their identities through music and food.”
UNIDOS plans events that expand members’ experiences with other identities and often begins conversations about their individual nationalities, gender roles, sexual identities and religion.
“UNIDOS does a good job of bringing everyone together and just trying to make sure that everyone is included.”