These same people will be like “I’m 5/16th German on my dad’s side.” Leave her alone.
RichardOrmonde on
Fucking losers.
madendo16 on
Maybe I don’t know enough about her, but just because she has a Latin name she needs to know how to speak Spanish?
kris_jbb on
i’m so confused why do we shame people for not speaking a language 💀
Commonnbdy on
Im so tired of this discourse honestly. I was born speaking Spanish, lived in a Spanish speaking country, and was close to my Latin side more than my gringo side. I chose to stop speaking Spanish because of the countless mistakes I made in my advance classes when speaking English which made me extremely insecure. It made me genuinely question my intelligence as I was unsure if I even belonged in these courses due to how difficult it was for me compared to my peers. I began having panic attacks and anxiety whenever I was forced to publicly speak and my confidence went down. It’s been years and my Spanish isn’t as good as it used to be and it’s made me feel once again insecure. I constantly have other Latinos judge me for not being as fluent as my mom and grandmother. It’s like no matter what I’m made to feel inadequate because I’m not the version of who people want me to be and I’m tired of Latinos both in Latin America and in the United States being made to feel this way. Jenna isn’t asking to be the queen and patron saint of Latinos everywhere she just wants people to stop making her feel like a fraud for identifying as a Latina. If Jenna had not identified as latina y’all would still be bitching at her saying she’s ashamed of her roots. LET HER LIVE WORRY ABOUT YOURSELVES
cubsgirl101 on
There are so many stories of children from immigrant families who were never taught the parents’ native language or who didn’t learn it as time goes on. It’s not like Jenna purposely chose not to learn Spanish despite her heritage. Jenna is Latina, her ability to speak Spanish or not has no dependence on that. (Not to mention Brazilians exist and are Latinos who don’t speak Spanish??)
totallycalledla-a on
Yawn. Losers. I am so fed up of people acting like learning a language is so easy too, its *really really* not. Especially for an adult.
Ok-Heron4308 on
Why are people like this?? Speaking Spanish is not what makes you Latina. Also, we don’t know what the background here is. I know many immigrant parents who didn’t teach their children their language because it was believed to help assimilate and give opportunities for them. Don’t judge what you don’t know. Pinche gente…
Top_Concert_3326 on
Wow what a surprise people that insist using latine or latinx also don’t think you are authentically Latina if you don’t speak Spanish could never have seen that coming
yuyufan43 on
Dumb people are going to be dumb. I was told I wasn’t Irish because I don’t drink. My great uncle was the first film star from Ireland, we inherited 2 houses and part of a castle, a wing of a hospital in Ireland is donated to my grandparents, and also you know, genes. But hey, I don’t drink so non of that matters. 🤷♀️ 🤦♀️
hotcheetoprincesss on
These comments bug me so much. Since when is speaking Spanish a requirement for being Latina.
MontyBoo-urns on
Didn’t they watch selena? she didn’t grow up speaking spanish either
ttpd-intern on
People need more normal hobbies nowadays, this is baffling behaviour.
moosegoose90 on
She’s a “No sabo” kid…. If your parents did not speak to you in Spanish in your house, how are you supposed to learn? That being said, you can still practice and make an effort to be bilingual but it’s hard when you’re older and people shame you if you mess up. She doesn’t know Spanish, so what… world keeps going, bills still need to be paid. Who fcking cares
savannahkellen on
I’ve noticed that discourse about certain Latinos not being Latino enough, or bi/multi-racial people not actually being allowed to claim any side because the percentage isn’t high enough has been more prominent lately. We’re regressing, even with people on the internet who claim to be more progressive thinkers, and it’s pretty sad.
RoguePhoenix89 on
I’m Latina and I don’t know how to speak Spanish either. I understand it more and speak Spanglish. Does that make me less Latina? NO
I swear it’s our own people who attack us smh.
aynrandgonewild on
what’s the point of this gatekeeping?
Crazy_plant_lady96 on
I’m born in Indian, I am Indian and I know how to speak Spanish. Does that make me a Latina now?
Maybe I should learn to speak Danish and gain a Danish nationality then. Oh wait! But I speak English. Does that mean I’m American, British and Australian too??? Wooooow!!
chiweenie4ever on
I bet it’s a bunch of argentines saying this shit 🤮
whatisthisposture on
Listen, I can understand being Latina from a South American country and not being happy that your big representation is a white passing American who doesn’t speak the language. Bullying is not okay, but I can understand their issues. Language is not the be all end of all a culture, but it is a big part.
Bl1nk1nUR4r34 on
latine is the correct gender neutral word lol latinx is the one that was created in the us and can’t be pronounced in spanish
fishonthemoon on
The Latin American gatekeeping of who is or isn’t Latino/a is so exhausting.
I had this discussion with someone on Reddit recently, and it’s clear they’re very ignorant about the experience children of Latin American parents have. Even when you do speak Spanish, or grow up entirely around people from that culture, have strong cultural and familial ties, etc they will try to say you aren’t Latino/a.
Also, one of those comments seemed so ignorant to me. Even kids born here who are Latino/a experience discrimination and marginalization. Being born here and speaking fluent English doesn’t protect us from that. Those of us born here are still part of an “other” group that gets discriminated against, we get told to speak English, we get told to go back to our “countries,” get called racial slurs, experience microaggressions, etc.
It’s a very tiring discussion. I am glad people irl don’t have this view. Never met a single Latin American who didn’t consider me Latina and didn’t embrace me as one of their own just because I was born in the U.S. None of us claim to be born anywhere else, but the impact our upbringing has on us, and the way society perceives of definitely affects our experience, too.
PlentyDrawer on
This is awful, I know quite a few people who wish they knew Spanish, but their parents didn’t place an importance of them learning. They wanted them to learn English because they felt it was more important because of where they live. To say she is not Latina because of this is just wrong. It is up there with bi-racial people being told they don’t belong. You do NOT someone how to identify. People have zero respect and have no boundaries.
whenforeverisnt on
Not all Latinos speak Spanish.. some speak Portuguese.
Cherryandcokes on
This whole situation reminds me of that song from Cheech & Chong (Up in Smoke, I think) where one of them sings a song that goes like “Mexican Americans take Spanish class/And only make a B” 😂
Ok-Buddy-7979 on
Twitter is like this too, and not just for her. They come for JLo and literally any Latina born in the US who doesn’t speak fluent Spanish. They call them gringa. No matter the skin tone. It’s insane. IMO.
Curiosities on
This is such tired discourse. And if it’s not language, it’s how you look, or don’t look, or how you present, or any number of things because those people who would leave comments like that will never be satisfied.
I am a Spanish speaker (and basic level Portuguese) because I wanted to learn. But there is no shame in not speaking any language, regardless of whether that’s your heritage or not.
But these people will move the goalposts over and over.
PinkCadillacs on
I’m so fucking tired of this discourse. Some Latinos literally get upset when another Latino says that they didn’t have similar life experiences (like speaking Spanish, watching some telenovelas/ other Spanish language programming, listening to Spanish music, etc.). I have a similar to experience to Jenna. I’m a Latina and I also didn’t grow up speaking Spanish myself. Discourse like this has made me feel like I’m not Latina enough. I would like to learn Spanish but at the same time the no sabo jokes make me not want to learn if that makes sense like I’m damned for not speaking Spanish but I’m also damned because I would just now be learning the language.
TrickyTicket9400 on
“You’re not Italian because you don’t speak the language” said nobody ever.
chezibot on
I just seen an interview where the interviewer told her she’s Latina enough. Jenna almost teared up and hugged her. People suck.
nan2405 on
I’m latina and i don’t know how to speak spanish either. Nor does anyone else in my latin american country because i was born in brazil
springxpeach on
Do people know how HARD it is to learn a language? I’m trying to learn my mom’s native language but it’s been years and I’m still not bilingual, not for a lack of trying.
mintydaisy13 on
Imagine how tired my fellow mixed race/gen Latinas are. My mom and her family were actively punished in school for speaking Spanish in the 50-70s. At home her parents tried to get their kids to only speak English so they could better assimilate. Now, they all speak some sort of Spanglish. My mom was told her Spanish was “wrong” in college, and once she met my dad (black dude), she didn’t think her Spanish was worth teaching us. I still adhere to Mexican values and traditions. I want to learn Spanish—I feel sometimes like I’m missing out on important cultural experiences because of my lack. Anyway… this goes to show that mixed people are never enough. It’s Exhausting
jihyopuffs on
seriously, you’re telling me that none of those people have anything more productive to do today other than leaving such comments…
*i mean… it’s not like her knowing how to speak spanish (or not, in this case) affects their daily life in any way ?!*
Practical-Anxiety-68 on
Ohhhhhhh this makes me so mad. I have a Cuban grandmother who came to a mostly white neighborhood when she had children so she didn’t teach them Spanish. I always feel like I’m not enough when I say I can’t speak the language well and I hate when people try to diminish this issue. It’s alive and well! She is LATINA
awkward_film_girl on
As someone who was never taught their native tongue growing up, these comments are quite triggering because I’ve had the misfortune of hearing most of these comments in person. This discrimination doesn’t help anybody
Edit: meant native language
Strict-Chicken4965 on
My best friend was adopted to a whole nother continent as a baby, so obviously doesn’t know Spanish. Guess she’s not Latina
MUPIL090310 on
My father came to the US shortly after the Cuban Adjustment Act was passed. He initially settled in California where the trend was to assimilate and become American. Depending on the period of time your family comes over really will dictate how much of the language carries over to first generation born kids.
Altruistic-Guard-100 on
Jlo didn’t learn spanish in her childhood because her parents were discriminated for their accent and they didn’t want that to happen to her. It’s so tied up with racism that I don’t understand why people held it against them.
vilandra21 on
comments like these are why I’ve always felt uncomfortable when people ask if I’m Mexican and I would just say yeah idk, Hispanic I guess. I don’t speak Spanish, my great grandparents were from Mexico but my parents were never taught Spanish. They could kinda understand it but that’s it. I’m trying to learn on duolingo now but I doubt I’ll ever be able to confidently speak it.
Ollirum on
Also some Latino/hispanic parents decided once moving to America they only wanted their kids to learn English, because of fitting in and assimilating. Those were hard times, and why there are generations that don’t speak the native tongue.
ProfessorJiggle on
Can we not demean someone’s entire existence because of their inability to speak a language?
10Account on
It’s funny to read a comment about marginalisation of immigrant latin people as justification for why Jenna Ortega isn’t Latina.
I’m Indian and don’t speak any Indian languages due to growing up outside of the motherland. You are too brown for the locals to truly integrate and too white for the Indians. The literal definition of marginalisation.
44 Comments
These same people will be like “I’m 5/16th German on my dad’s side.” Leave her alone.
Fucking losers.
Maybe I don’t know enough about her, but just because she has a Latin name she needs to know how to speak Spanish?
i’m so confused why do we shame people for not speaking a language 💀
Im so tired of this discourse honestly. I was born speaking Spanish, lived in a Spanish speaking country, and was close to my Latin side more than my gringo side. I chose to stop speaking Spanish because of the countless mistakes I made in my advance classes when speaking English which made me extremely insecure. It made me genuinely question my intelligence as I was unsure if I even belonged in these courses due to how difficult it was for me compared to my peers. I began having panic attacks and anxiety whenever I was forced to publicly speak and my confidence went down. It’s been years and my Spanish isn’t as good as it used to be and it’s made me feel once again insecure. I constantly have other Latinos judge me for not being as fluent as my mom and grandmother. It’s like no matter what I’m made to feel inadequate because I’m not the version of who people want me to be and I’m tired of Latinos both in Latin America and in the United States being made to feel this way. Jenna isn’t asking to be the queen and patron saint of Latinos everywhere she just wants people to stop making her feel like a fraud for identifying as a Latina. If Jenna had not identified as latina y’all would still be bitching at her saying she’s ashamed of her roots. LET HER LIVE WORRY ABOUT YOURSELVES
There are so many stories of children from immigrant families who were never taught the parents’ native language or who didn’t learn it as time goes on. It’s not like Jenna purposely chose not to learn Spanish despite her heritage. Jenna is Latina, her ability to speak Spanish or not has no dependence on that. (Not to mention Brazilians exist and are Latinos who don’t speak Spanish??)
Yawn. Losers. I am so fed up of people acting like learning a language is so easy too, its *really really* not. Especially for an adult.
Why are people like this?? Speaking Spanish is not what makes you Latina. Also, we don’t know what the background here is. I know many immigrant parents who didn’t teach their children their language because it was believed to help assimilate and give opportunities for them. Don’t judge what you don’t know. Pinche gente…
Wow what a surprise people that insist using latine or latinx also don’t think you are authentically Latina if you don’t speak Spanish could never have seen that coming
Dumb people are going to be dumb. I was told I wasn’t Irish because I don’t drink. My great uncle was the first film star from Ireland, we inherited 2 houses and part of a castle, a wing of a hospital in Ireland is donated to my grandparents, and also you know, genes. But hey, I don’t drink so non of that matters. 🤷♀️ 🤦♀️
These comments bug me so much. Since when is speaking Spanish a requirement for being Latina.
Didn’t they watch selena? she didn’t grow up speaking spanish either
People need more normal hobbies nowadays, this is baffling behaviour.
She’s a “No sabo” kid…. If your parents did not speak to you in Spanish in your house, how are you supposed to learn? That being said, you can still practice and make an effort to be bilingual but it’s hard when you’re older and people shame you if you mess up. She doesn’t know Spanish, so what… world keeps going, bills still need to be paid. Who fcking cares
I’ve noticed that discourse about certain Latinos not being Latino enough, or bi/multi-racial people not actually being allowed to claim any side because the percentage isn’t high enough has been more prominent lately. We’re regressing, even with people on the internet who claim to be more progressive thinkers, and it’s pretty sad.
I’m Latina and I don’t know how to speak Spanish either. I understand it more and speak Spanglish. Does that make me less Latina? NO
I swear it’s our own people who attack us smh.
what’s the point of this gatekeeping?
I’m born in Indian, I am Indian and I know how to speak Spanish. Does that make me a Latina now?
Maybe I should learn to speak Danish and gain a Danish nationality then. Oh wait! But I speak English. Does that mean I’m American, British and Australian too??? Wooooow!!
I bet it’s a bunch of argentines saying this shit 🤮
Listen, I can understand being Latina from a South American country and not being happy that your big representation is a white passing American who doesn’t speak the language. Bullying is not okay, but I can understand their issues. Language is not the be all end of all a culture, but it is a big part.
latine is the correct gender neutral word lol latinx is the one that was created in the us and can’t be pronounced in spanish
The Latin American gatekeeping of who is or isn’t Latino/a is so exhausting.
I had this discussion with someone on Reddit recently, and it’s clear they’re very ignorant about the experience children of Latin American parents have. Even when you do speak Spanish, or grow up entirely around people from that culture, have strong cultural and familial ties, etc they will try to say you aren’t Latino/a.
Also, one of those comments seemed so ignorant to me. Even kids born here who are Latino/a experience discrimination and marginalization. Being born here and speaking fluent English doesn’t protect us from that. Those of us born here are still part of an “other” group that gets discriminated against, we get told to speak English, we get told to go back to our “countries,” get called racial slurs, experience microaggressions, etc.
It’s a very tiring discussion. I am glad people irl don’t have this view. Never met a single Latin American who didn’t consider me Latina and didn’t embrace me as one of their own just because I was born in the U.S. None of us claim to be born anywhere else, but the impact our upbringing has on us, and the way society perceives of definitely affects our experience, too.
This is awful, I know quite a few people who wish they knew Spanish, but their parents didn’t place an importance of them learning. They wanted them to learn English because they felt it was more important because of where they live. To say she is not Latina because of this is just wrong. It is up there with bi-racial people being told they don’t belong. You do NOT someone how to identify. People have zero respect and have no boundaries.
Not all Latinos speak Spanish.. some speak Portuguese.
This whole situation reminds me of that song from Cheech & Chong (Up in Smoke, I think) where one of them sings a song that goes like “Mexican Americans take Spanish class/And only make a B” 😂
Twitter is like this too, and not just for her. They come for JLo and literally any Latina born in the US who doesn’t speak fluent Spanish. They call them gringa. No matter the skin tone. It’s insane. IMO.
This is such tired discourse. And if it’s not language, it’s how you look, or don’t look, or how you present, or any number of things because those people who would leave comments like that will never be satisfied.
I am a Spanish speaker (and basic level Portuguese) because I wanted to learn. But there is no shame in not speaking any language, regardless of whether that’s your heritage or not.
But these people will move the goalposts over and over.
I’m so fucking tired of this discourse. Some Latinos literally get upset when another Latino says that they didn’t have similar life experiences (like speaking Spanish, watching some telenovelas/ other Spanish language programming, listening to Spanish music, etc.). I have a similar to experience to Jenna. I’m a Latina and I also didn’t grow up speaking Spanish myself. Discourse like this has made me feel like I’m not Latina enough. I would like to learn Spanish but at the same time the no sabo jokes make me not want to learn if that makes sense like I’m damned for not speaking Spanish but I’m also damned because I would just now be learning the language.
“You’re not Italian because you don’t speak the language” said nobody ever.
I just seen an interview where the interviewer told her she’s Latina enough. Jenna almost teared up and hugged her. People suck.
I’m latina and i don’t know how to speak spanish either. Nor does anyone else in my latin american country because i was born in brazil
Do people know how HARD it is to learn a language? I’m trying to learn my mom’s native language but it’s been years and I’m still not bilingual, not for a lack of trying.
Imagine how tired my fellow mixed race/gen Latinas are. My mom and her family were actively punished in school for speaking Spanish in the 50-70s. At home her parents tried to get their kids to only speak English so they could better assimilate. Now, they all speak some sort of Spanglish. My mom was told her Spanish was “wrong” in college, and once she met my dad (black dude), she didn’t think her Spanish was worth teaching us. I still adhere to Mexican values and traditions. I want to learn Spanish—I feel sometimes like I’m missing out on important cultural experiences because of my lack. Anyway… this goes to show that mixed people are never enough. It’s Exhausting
seriously, you’re telling me that none of those people have anything more productive to do today other than leaving such comments…
*i mean… it’s not like her knowing how to speak spanish (or not, in this case) affects their daily life in any way ?!*
Ohhhhhhh this makes me so mad. I have a Cuban grandmother who came to a mostly white neighborhood when she had children so she didn’t teach them Spanish. I always feel like I’m not enough when I say I can’t speak the language well and I hate when people try to diminish this issue. It’s alive and well! She is LATINA
As someone who was never taught their native tongue growing up, these comments are quite triggering because I’ve had the misfortune of hearing most of these comments in person. This discrimination doesn’t help anybody
Edit: meant native language
My best friend was adopted to a whole nother continent as a baby, so obviously doesn’t know Spanish. Guess she’s not Latina
My father came to the US shortly after the Cuban Adjustment Act was passed. He initially settled in California where the trend was to assimilate and become American. Depending on the period of time your family comes over really will dictate how much of the language carries over to first generation born kids.
Jlo didn’t learn spanish in her childhood because her parents were discriminated for their accent and they didn’t want that to happen to her. It’s so tied up with racism that I don’t understand why people held it against them.
comments like these are why I’ve always felt uncomfortable when people ask if I’m Mexican and I would just say yeah idk, Hispanic I guess. I don’t speak Spanish, my great grandparents were from Mexico but my parents were never taught Spanish. They could kinda understand it but that’s it. I’m trying to learn on duolingo now but I doubt I’ll ever be able to confidently speak it.
Also some Latino/hispanic parents decided once moving to America they only wanted their kids to learn English, because of fitting in and assimilating. Those were hard times, and why there are generations that don’t speak the native tongue.
Can we not demean someone’s entire existence because of their inability to speak a language?
It’s funny to read a comment about marginalisation of immigrant latin people as justification for why Jenna Ortega isn’t Latina.
I’m Indian and don’t speak any Indian languages due to growing up outside of the motherland. You are too brown for the locals to truly integrate and too white for the Indians. The literal definition of marginalisation.
Gate keeping being a Latino?
