Why we should tell more Latino stories? | Antonia Cereijido | TEDxUdelRosario

Overview

The speaker argues that the U.S. creation and use of the broad identity “Hispanic/Latino” has been both a powerful tool and a risky one. While it has helped unite diverse communities under a single umbrella, it has also allowed those communities to be flattened into a single stereotype group.

The Origins of “Hispanic” in U.S. Policy (1970s)

She explains that “Hispanic” became official in the U.S. in the 1970s largely due to two motivations:

• Advocacy groups sought government recognition in order to access resources such as bilingual education and healthcare.
• Businesses wanted market data to profit from the large Spanish-speaking audience.

She notes that this recognition helped communities gain visibility and advocate for themselves—but it also made it easier for hostile political narratives to target and discriminate against them.

Media and Political Rhetoric: Lack of Context

The speaker criticizes media coverage and political rhetoric that, especially during Donald Trump’s campaign, frames Latino immigrants with zero context, emphasizing criminals and presenting entire nationalities as dangerous.

She cites offensive rhetoric about Mexico, describing Trump’s claim that Mexico “sends” people who bring drugs, crime, and violence. In her view, the harm comes not only from the content, but also from the way it:

• categorizes Mexicans broadly as perpetrators, and
• ignores variation and individuality across people.

Storytelling, Risk, and the “Easy Target” Problem

As a journalist and radio/storyteller, she reflects on how focusing on marginalized communities can inadvertently make them “easy targets.” Still, she concludes that the current moment makes richer storytelling more necessary than ever.

Example: Reporting on Central American Skateboarders

She shares an example from her work: reporting on Central American skateboarders who crossed the border illegally. The point is that the “typical immigrant” stereotype often does not match reality.

Example: Understanding MS-13 in Context

She also discusses the background of MS-13, arguing that it:

• wasn’t originally rooted in Central America, and
• instead grew as U.S. imprisonment and deportation helped spread the gang.

She adds that fear of deportation can prevent victims from seeking help, which deepens the cycle of violence. Her overall argument is that public debate treats MS-13 as an immigrant threat without acknowledging its U.S.-born origins and broader systemic context.

How the U.S. Talks About Latin America

She extends this critique to how the U.S. talks about Latin America in general. The conversation often overemphasizes drugs and crime, while overlooking achievements and innovation—such as contributions by scientists, inventors, and others.

Call to Action for Journalists

The speaker calls on journalists to provide more context and to tell more complete, diverse Latino stories, so that the “Latino” label is not used as a justification for discrimination.

Presenters / Contributors

• Antonia Cereijido (speaker; TEDxUdelRosario)