Latino by Birth or Latino at Heart: Seven Voices from the Familia
Ask seven people in this familia what makes them Latino and you get seven different answers. Not variations on one answer — genuinely different ones.
That isn't a problem to resolve. It's the most accurate thing anyone can say about this culture.
These are pieces people wrote for us over the years, gathered into one place so they can be read the way they were meant to be read: together.
“I am a little lighter and look a little different”
I am a little lighter and look a little different than my mom’s side of the family. Even though I am part Irish, I understand Spanish and can speak it too.
Ecuadorian and Irish. Two things at once, and no obligation to pick.
The line that matters here is “look a little different.” A lot of people carry that — being read as not-quite by their own family, and having to prove something that was never in question.
“My mix is Ecuadorian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Chinese, Colombian”
My father is Jamaican born and my mother is a first-generation Canadian. My mix is Ecuadorian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Chinese, Colombian. I am a Canadian.
Five heritages and a passport that names none of them.
This is what most census forms can’t hold, and it’s ordinary — Latin America has been a place of mixture for five hundred years. Afro-Latino, Indigenous, Chinese-Latino, all of it real, all of it Latino.
“Latina de alma”
I am Salvadorian. I was born in El Salvador and lived 19 years of my life in this special place I call home. Since I was young, I embraced who I am.
Nineteen years in the place itself, then somewhere else. Latina de alma — Latina of the soul.
The people who left don’t stop belonging. And the ones who never had the choice carry it differently again.
“Argentinian, French and Italian roots”
I am Canadian Born, Argentinian, French & Italian Roots. From immigrant parents, working multiple jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.
Argentina’s own story is an immigration story. What gets inherited isn’t only a country — it’s the work.
Two jobs, a roof, food on the table. That shows up in more of these than any flag does.
“Proudly, I can say I’m Colombian”
Proudly, I can say I’m Colombian. My mother and father are also from Colombia. Growing up I spent most of my childhood in Spain and the rest in Canada.
Colombian parents, a Spanish childhood, a Canadian adulthood. Three countries, one answer, no hedging.
“I understand Spanish but I don’t speak it that well”
I understand Spanish but I don’t speak it that well.
The most common sentence in the diaspora, and the one that carries the most shame — usually undeserved.
Understanding without speaking is what happens when a family arrives and a generation is told, directly or otherwise, that fitting in matters more. It’s a record of what was asked of your parents. It is not a smaller kind of Latino.
“I am just as latino as you”
Although my skin might be a shade or 2 lighter than yours, I am just as latino as you. I embrace my rich latino culture, my language, food, music.
Two of these seven pieces, written by different people, are about skin.
That’s worth sitting with. The gatekeeping people describe most often isn’t from outside the culture — it’s from inside it.
What seven voices add up to
Different countries, different languages, different amounts of Spanish, different skin. Born there, born here, raised somewhere else entirely.
And every one of them said the same thing underneath: this is mine.
That’s why we say it on everything we make — Latino by birth or Latino at heart. Not as a marketing line. As the only description wide enough to be accurate.
The culture was never one thing. It was never going to be.
Una sola voz.
Why "Raised by Latinos" Matters in Streetwear
Why Raised By Latinos Matters in streetwear!
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- Authenticity: Latino streetwear brands are rooted in real-life experiences, offering authentic cultural representations. Unlike mainstream brands, they don’t just use Latinx symbolism superficially—they embrace the history, struggles, and pride that come with growing up in Latino communities.
- Cultural Expression: Fashion is a form of self-expression. Latino streetwear brands provide a way for Latino individuals to express pride in their heritage while embracing modern style, allowing them to showcase their identity and culture without compromise.
- Empowerment: For Latino youth, wearing Latino streetwear can be empowering. It’s about reclaiming cultural pride in a world that often marginalizes or misrepresents them. Through fashion, they assert their value, identity, and place in mainstream culture.
- Representation: Having Latino designers and brands in the streetwear scene is a powerful form of representation. These brands and creators help shape the narrative of what it means to be Latino in the modern world, giving a voice to a generation often overlooked in the fashion industry.
Chicano culture in japan
Chicano culture is deep-seated root in family values. Chicanos an exploration between the similarities and differences between Chicano culture in America and Japan, and how the scene is not all about gang culture, but about Familia.
Junichi Shimodaira
A decade before the Chicano revolution, Junichi Shimodaira was one of the first to take up an interest in Chicano culture in Japan in the 1980s. Mexican Americans had taken “Chicano,” a racial slur against them and turned it into one they identified with proudly.
Nagoya, Japan
From the waist high Zoot suits in the 1930 and 1940. To the Flannel One buttons Shirt in the 1960 to 1970. To the classic dickies with a plan white shite and bandanas in the 1980 to 1990. Chicano's have been making an impact in fashion. The Cholo design forever have used stylistic fonts like Black Letter or Gothic / Old English.
More Dropping Stay Tuned.
Chicano Culture in Fashion
This page is dedicated to exploring Chicano Cholo's in Fashion and how they have influenced us since the 1930 until now influencing the Latino Streetwear Culture. So book mark this page as we will be updating it every month Respect.
The nation’s automotive industry center, is bursting with a Chicano and Chicana-inspired lowriders, fashion.
Chicano represents a cultural identity that is neither fully "American" or "Mexican." Chicano culture embodies the "in-between" nature of cultural hybridity.
Blood In Blood Out Influence in the culture still going hard after 31 Year.
Blood in Blood out also know as Bound by Honor (1993) Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on step-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo.
We will keep exploring the importance of Chicano culture to the world . Sign up to our new letter
The U.S. Latinos
65,3 Million “Latinos are Sleeping Giants” @ev_morena @victorhenryramirez .
@raisedbylatinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans (Spanish: Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos) are Americans of full or partial Spanish, and/or Latin American ancestry.[3][5][6][7] More broadly, these demographics include all Americans who identify as Hispanic or Latino regardless of ancestry.[8][9][10][11][12] As of 2020, the Census Bureau estimated that there were almost 65.3 million Hispanics and Latinos living in the United States and Puerto Rico (19.5% of the overall population).[1]
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans
Latino Representation Matters
The Latino Community continues to be underrepresented in media and is consistently overlooked. There is no denying there is little to zero Latino Representation, whether it be in front of the camera, behind the scenes, or in the boardrooms. And despite Latinos being the #1 consumers of media in the USA, the Latino Community continues to be excluded. “There aren’t many TV shows, movies, or books with a Latino main character, and if there is a Latino character, they usually act out stereotypes”. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/tackling-the-lack-of-latino-representation-in-the-media.
Everything from being the over-sexualized Latina to the drug dealer, to the maid, the mechanic or the illegal. We need to see Latinos on the main screen who are not stereotyped.
“I just feels like it’s such a damage to kids not to see themselves reflected back in positive ways” John Leguizamo
We need to have Latinos in the boardrooms (the decision-makers) that understand us and who will properly represent the Latino Community and Culture. It is important because it creates role models and inspiration, someone that you can look up to and say I can do that too. It is important to break the constant Latino discrimination that still exists today.
AfroLatinidad!
Raised By Latinos celebrates and embraces our Diversity! To learn, support and bring awareness to the beautiful diversity of Latinos we have a created a section on our YouTube Channel. Raised By Latinos
#RaisedByLatinos #LatinoDiversity
"Whether it’s food, music, politics, or literature, Afrolatinos have played a major role in shaping Latin America and U.S. culture. Lala Anthony breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Afrolatinidad, celebrating the rich history of the Afrolatino diaspora, while trying to understand why there are so many misconceptions about Black Latino identity". La La Anthony Celebrates Afrolatinidad | Black, Latino and Proud | Netflix
Ramirez
My earliest memories were at 3390 Keele St. There were only a few Latinos in the Keele and Sheppard area, a mostly European dominated neighbourhood in the 80’s and 90’s. We were a few, but we stuck together. We were fearless and stood our ground. We even took our beats, but we earned respect.
If someone needed help you showed up and stood by their side because they were family. The friendships and reputation we made for ourselves still stand today. We are strong resilient people who grew up in the ghetto, the hood or the barrio.
I would not change anything because it’s made me who I am. I am Victor and I am Raised by Latinos
Respect loyalty and trust.
Stay humble
Ramirez
RBL Designer
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Born to hustle
RBL Established T-shirt.
I grew up in the outskirts of the hood with little to no support from the outside world and always being underestimated but only wanting to be given the opportunity to show my abilities. Kind, naive and taken advantage of, the streets quickly taught me to be hard, quick and not stupid. My mother taught me to be kind and not violent, to be humble, honest and to not judge others. Life has taught me intelligence without empathy equals ignorance. - Ramirez
This shirt is dedicated to anyone and everyone who has ever been underestimated.
born to hustle.
Shirt Concept breakdown
EST. Established | ST. Street | SCH. Scholar
RBL - amorpuro
Tu No Estas Ready Pa’ Mi
Nio Garcia is featured wearing a custom RBL “6” shirt on his new video Tu No Estas Ready Pa’ Mi (with EL Taiger; Messiah; Green Cookie; Chini Lee).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft6xto0ZS8k
'80s And '90s Streetwear
We are inspired by vintage clothing and love its history.
Read about it on Narcity: Vintage Streetwear
checkout vintage streetwear Sale this weekend. On Aug. 24 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://www.thedeadstockdepot.com/
RBL is inspired by Vintage Streetwear take a look at our gear.
RBL Newera box logo cap
RAISED BY LATINOS NEW ERA BOX LOGO CAP
RBL wanted to create a symbol for our movement. We want to unite Latinos and connect conscious-minded and inclusive people. Celebrating not only the Diversity within the Latino Race, Indigenous Latinos, Afro Latinos, etc. Celebrating The diversity of the world. We humbly present our RBL Box logo. So anyone can wear it we put it on a Newera Cap. Be part of our movement get yours today. Get your's today!
Growing up Latino the 80s And '90s
My earliest memories were at 3390 Keele St. There were only a few Latinos in the Keele and Sheppard area, a mostly European dominated neighborhood in the
If someone needed help you showed up and stood by their side because they were family. The friendships and reputation we made for ourselves still stand today. We are strong resilient people who grew up in the ghetto, the hood or the barrio.
I would not change anything because it’s made me who I am.
Respect loyalty and trust.
Stay humble.
Ramirez