Posted inGender

Anthony Ocampo, author of “Brown and Gay in L.A,” gets vulnerable about family and his journey of self-acceptance

thony Ocampo, the author of “Brown and Gay in L.A.: The Lives of Immigrant Sons,” recently spoke to CALÓ NEWS about his journey to self-acceptance. Today, Ocampo is a Professor of Sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He frequently writes on topics of immigration, gender and sexuality, and Latino-Asian identity.

Posted inOpinion

COMMENTARY: Latino authors explore identity

What does it mean to be Latino in the U.S.? That was the focus of a lively discussion at the Library of Congress National Book Festival held this month in Washington, D.C., where UC Irvine professor Héctor Tobar told a packed house that the term “Latino” is “an expression of an alliance, we have this commonality, we have this story of a journey in the background.”
The Los Angeles native was speaking about his new book, “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of Latino” which starts with what he says is a message to his UC Irvine students who have told him stories of their lives.
Also at the festival was Afro Latino Puerto Rican David Betancourt, a comic book culture reporter with the Washington Post and author of an upcoming book with Marvel, “The Avengers Assembled: The Origin Story of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.” The volume, which hits the shelves August 29, takes a deep dive into “the greatest superhero team of all time,” including looking at fan favorites such as Vision and Black Widow.

Posted inOpinion

COMMENTARY: Why the term Latinx misses the mark

Latinx emerged as a response to the gender binary inherent in the Spanish language, which requires gender-specific nouns and pronouns. This practice is deeply ingrained in the language and has long been a source of frustration for non-binary and gender non-conforming people of Hispanic origin. Some argue that Latinx solves this linguistic problem. However, many Latin Americans find the term to be an imposition of non-Hispanic cultural values and a term that fails to respect and celebrate the linguistic and cultural nuances of Hispanic communities.

Posted inIdentity

Latinx, Hispanic, or Latino? What are we?

As of late there has been increased debate over the term Latinx. Some have argued that the term Latinx represents a whitewashing of the community as it is an artificial label imposed on us. Others have argued that it actually diminishes the community by adding a pejorative “x.” A best practice would be to ask a person their preference, when relevant, and for us not to label or mislabel each other.

Posted inCulture

EDITORIAL: Latinx, Hispanic, or Latino? What are we?

As of late there has been increased debate over the term Latinx. Some have argued that the term Latinx represents a whitewashing of the community as it is an artificial label imposed on us. Others have argued that it actually diminishes the community by adding a pejorative “x.” A best practice would be to ask a person their preference, when relevant, and for us not to label or mislabel each other.