WEB EXCLUSIVES

       This past August in a recent interview with Vanity Fair , actress Jenna Ortega was given a chance to respond to the backlash she faced for a video of her at the Christian Dior Ready To Wear Spring 2024 fashion show. In the video, Argentinian-American actress Anya Taylor is seen introducing her husband to Ortega and pop singer Rosalia in Spanish. This video sparked a lot of criticism for the actress, as she was shown in the video responding in English. Ortega herself is widely known to be of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, however the discovery of her inability to speak Spanish caused a lot of fans to take issue with her label as a “Hispanic actress”. Various accounts online called her a fake Hispanic or a “No Sabo Kid,” which refers to someone who is
of Hispanic descent who cannot speak Spanish.
       When Ortega was asked about the situation, she revealed to Vanity Fair, “Because I wasn’t born in a Spanish-speaking country, I know people have a hard time connecting with me.” She also admitted that a part of her feels “ashamed” for not knowing the language and that she finds herself “jealous” of her mother, who speaks Spanish fluently. However, the trend of the “No Sabo Kid” did not come to existence merely because of her. Other artists like Selena Gomez and Cameron Diaz have been criticized frequently throughout the years for their inability to speak the language. The consistent reappearance of this trend puts a strain on the Hispanic community as a whole and forces the creation of a divide where there should only be unity.

       I myself am a Hispanic-American. My mother, being of Colombian heritage, introduced the language to me at a young age. While my Spanish has slightly slipped away from me over the years, I remain eternally grateful that she decided to teach me Spanish. However, many Hispanic-Americans refused to teach their children Spanish due to the fear that they would be harassed and bullied for their foreign heritage. And in my experience, they were not wrong.

       When I was in middle school, my mother used to pack lunches for me. These lunches typically consisted of foods that we would eat at home, traditional meals from Colombia, ones that looked extremely different from the peanut butter jellies which circulated the lunch tables. I was made fun of for bringing “weird food” and was laughed at for my culture, which led me to resent it. Because of this, I chose to identify with my dad’s natural born American heritage, something that would be accepted by my peers. I demanded my mother to stop giving me her leftover meals and start making me sandwiches just like everyone else's. When I think back to this moment, I am so full of shame. My rejection and embarrassment of my mother’s culture directly reflects upon my now subpar ability to speak Spanish.

       Now, it feels as though suddenly the roles have been reversed, the same Hispanic-Americans who were taught to be ashamed of their culture and Spanish language, are now being shunned for their inability to speak it. It appears as though there is no way to win. But why is there a double standard? When Italian-Americans, who are third or fourth generation and who are not fluent Italian speakers call themselves “Real Italians”, no one takes issue. Why do we force shame upon Hispanic-Americans who don’t know Spanish?
       My own personal advice to anyone of Hispanic descent who, like myself, cannot speak the language fluently, is to ignore that shame you feel. You don’t owe anyone any explanation for it. Don’t let the negativity of others stop you from being able to connect with your heritage, because it truly is a beautiful gift. This semester, I chose to take SPAN 300 so that I would be forced to practice the language multiple times a week, and it has been a great learning experience for me. I’m not going to lie, there are various times where I find myself challenged by what we read and I get embarrassed to pronounce something wrong when I speak in class, but each class gets a little bit easier and I remain proud of myself for my decision to take the class. I know that with continued practice I will only be able to get better, and so can you!
       What’s needed more than anything within the Hispanic community is positivity and comradery. These kinds of divisions have been enforced upon us for too long and we shouldn't feel pressured to follow suit. Divisions like these lead to an overall loss of culture, as Hispanic descendants feel discouraged to engage with their roots, and it is for this very reason that the creation of these harmful trends like the “No Sabo Kid” should be eradicated entirely.