Musician Critiques Use of “Latino” Term
Bobby Pulido, a musician from Texas and a Democratic candidate for the House, shared his thoughts on “CNN This Morning” regarding Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s use of the term “Latino.” The term, often pronounced “Latinx,” has been promoted recently as a gender-neutral alternative to “Latino” and “Latina” by various groups but hasn’t gained much traction among the broader population.
Pulido pointed out that while some in areas like New York or California might adopt this terminology, it doesn’t resonate with people in Texas, where he says, “people here don’t talk like that.”
Host Audie Cornish brought up how the upcoming 2024 election has intensified discussions about language and policy among progressives, particularly the term “Latino” in Latino communities.
In a segment, Cornish aired a clip of Ocasio-Cortez discussing how some politicians—Democrats included—believe that promoting the term could harm the party. Pulido responded by sharing his perspective, saying, “Well, I don’t talk like that. And people here don’t talk like that… That’s just a fact.”
He added that while he doesn’t find the term personally offensive, he simply doesn’t use it. He reflected on the larger conversations happening—especially in regions where industries like oil and gas play a significant role in the economy. He emphasized that his district is very different from places like New York and suggested that candidates representing it should acknowledge this.
As he wrapped up, Pulido mentioned he would never tell Ocasio-Cortez how to represent her constituents, but he underscored the importance of recognizing the distinctiveness of his locality.
Ocasio-Cortez’s office hasn’t responded to inquiries for comment regarding this discussion.
A recent survey from the Pew Research Center revealed that only 47% of Latino respondents were aware of the term “Latino,” a noticeable increase from 2019 when just 23% recognized it. However, only a small fraction of 4% actually use it to describe themselves. The data highlights that 75% of those surveyed believed the term “Latino” should not be used at all, reflecting ongoing debates within the community.
