The Latina Manifesto

We Latinas are reclaiming our identity, transforming our lives, and defining who we are in a world that misunderstands and misrepresents the depths of our strength and the range of our character.

Listen. Watch. Respect.

Latinas are light brown, dark brown, black and yes, white—every color of life.          

Latinas have brown, blue and hazel eyes—windows to beautiful souls that see the world clearly.                                                                                                    

Latinas have straight, curly and wavy hair—strands of every hue. We speak English, Spanish, Spanglish and Catalan with accents that speak the rhythm of life.                

Hear us.                                                                                                                      

We have taken care of your children while raising our own. And, we are teachers, pediatricians, nurses, and surgeons. 

Cherish us.                                                                                                                  

We have cleaned your houses while taking care of our own homes.  And, we are architects, engineers, carpenters, and real estate developers.                

See us.                                                                                                                        

We have prepared your meals as we serve our own families.And, we are chefs, restaurant owners, and farmers.                                                    

Embrace us.  

We have made your clothes or your shoes as we dress our children.  And, we are fashionistas, designers, tailors, and beauticians.  

Notice us.                                                                                                                    

We have taken care of your elders while we grieve for our families far away. And, we are your police officers, firefighters, soldiers, and members of the national guard.                                                                                                        

Honor us.                                                                                                                  

We have worked behind the scenes while our own stories went untold.  And, we are reporters, journalists, broadcasters, actors and directors.                        

Watch us.

The words we claim to describe us are brave, persistent, dedicated, bold and beautiful. The documents we can show you are diplomas, degrees, patents, and trademarks.    

No border will contain us or define us. No one can hold us back.      

Our numbers throughout the world cannot be ignored.   We are learning, we are organizing, and we are raising our voices.  

Our futures will shape the world.                                                                                

Listen. Watch. Respect.