“When you are here, you are a New Yorker.” New York is a city of immigrants, just as the United States is a nation of immigrants. We are proud of our heritage, proud to be Americans, and proud to be New Yorkers.
“Where you were born does not matter.
NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
When you’re here, you’re a New Yorker.”
In the Caribbean, South America and North America: Indigenous, European and African, but also Oceanic and Asian cultures blended into our Latin thing. We have been American families for generations and New York City is our capital. ¡Azúcar!
We are decolonizing our own heads and our work. Thank you Black Lives Matter
Family in NYC
Family is the heart and soul of Latin culture. It’s our strength.…
When you first come to New York, people tell you they are New Yorkers, but you are not. People do the same thing when they say, “You are Latin, but I am not,” or the reverse, “I am Latin, but you are not.” Whatever.
“When You’re Here, You’re a New Yorker”
When we started this project in 2012, national labels made sense. Born, raised and educated “White” 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. The NYC Mayor’s Office really gets it.
“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. It’s the only place in the world where you can build a fortune entirely in your own language, without even speaking the native language.
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.
Nationality doesn’t make sense any more
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.
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. In our world, 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 and freedom.
“Latin” is generally associated with the Catholic church. We love the traditions, but 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. During the Colonial Period, colonizers and priests controlled every aspect of daily life. It’s fascinating how Africans preserved the faith of their ancestors inside of Catholicism.
In ignorance and competition people of faith tend to demonize all other faiths. There are no demons, only demonizers. Fear is in your own head. This demonization of “others” is a legacy of White supremacy. All faiths seek to maximize human potential.
Anything we write about faith is just our opinion. Ancient writings were written as poetry, not technical manuals to be followed word for word. We look for the meaning behind the symbols. Only a priest or priestess can teach you about your chosen faith.
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. Frankly, being raised and educated in the United States made us blind. This project is a journey of learning and sharing. Every year, we realize how little we knew the year before. Help us get the story right.
Black Lives Matter is forcing us to rethink everything. It is taking time to process, because as soon as you digest one thing, you become aware of something else.
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