Indigenous + European + African
+
Asian
=
N. American + Caribbean + S. American
Now is an exciting time to investigate why human societies everywhere look so strikingly similar.”
Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, December 10, 2018
Costa Rican + French-Canadian
Guatemalan + Honduran + Mexican
Nicaraguan + Panamanian
Salvadoran + US American
Cuban + Dominican + Puerto Rican
Haitian + Creole
Jamaican + Trinidadian
Argentine + Bolivian + Brazilian
Chilean + Colombian + Ecuadorian
Paraguayan + Peruvian
Uruguayan + Venezuelan
Taíno + Garifuna
+
Aztec + Maya
+
Inca
French + Italian + Portuguese
Romanian + Spanish
Chinese + Filipino + Indian
Jewish + Romani
There is more to it. Latin is the great mix. This is as far as we have come.
“When You’re Here, You’re a New Yorker”
When we started this project in 2012, national labels made sense. Born and raised in the United States, this is how we were taught to see the world.
But after studying Latin culture all these years, national labels don’t make as much sense anymore. We are just people and we are all mixed with each other.
“Where you were born does not matter.
NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
When you’re here, you’re a New Yorker.”
It can’t be said any better than that, and it is true. Part of the magic of New York City is that it is one of the best places in the world to reinvent yourself.
Nationality doesn’t really make sense
Like skin color, nationality is a false flag. Humans have been migrating since we could walk. There is only one species of humans living in the world today. Whatever you are, Africa is the mother of us all.
Living in Puerto Rico made us realize that Puerto Ricans on the island are completely different from Puerto Ricans in New York City. The same is true no matter where you or your family are from. In New York, you have to think faster, work faster, walk faster and talk faster. Living in the city changes you into a New Yorker.
Forgive us for the inaccuracy of national labels. We don’t distinguish between “born here” and “born there.” Slavers did it, but people are more complex than that. We just haven’t figured out a better way to categorize human cultures.
Oh, and no matter who we are writing about, we use “we.” “They” and “them” is the first step in dehumanization. There is no “they” and “them,” there is only “us.”
We don’t represent any religion
The Latin story is a story of colonization, enslavement and the long march towards independence. Colonization spread Latin European culture around the world and its religion too.
“Latin” is often associated with the Catholic church. We don’t represent any church and don’t intend to promote any particular religion. Any way the spirit manifests for you is a blessing.
However, religion has been a major influence on Latin culture. Ancient writings were written as poetry, not technical manuals. We look for the meaning behind the symbols. Anything we write about religion is just our opinion. Only a priest or priestess can give you religious teachings.
Help us get it right
Forgive us for the inaccuracy in some of our writing. We are a small team and obviously not raised in all of these cultures. This project is a journey of learning and sharing. We make mistakes along the way. Every year, we realize how little we knew the year before. Please accept apologies for our errors in advance. Help us get the story right.
We want to tell your story, because it is our story too.
“It’s up to you, New York, New York.”
by Fredd Ebb/John Kander, famously sung by Frank Sinatra