So this is from my perspective as an immigrant into the U.S., but it is a common sentiment from my South American friend circles, family, and gaming forums. But, we notice North Americans think we just popped out of nowhere or are a race of people or some homogeneous group. Where the reality is that we are no more of a race than saying being from the U.S. is a race. If that makes sense? We are very diverse racially, culturally, ethnically, even religiously. Much like the U.S. and Canada, we are the products of Spanish and Portuguese colonization, immigration from all over the world, the native people, and of course the ugly secret many outsiders tend to whitewash, our own shameful history of African slavery.
End of story, we are diverse.
So when Queens Gambit came out, I was "cool, someone from latin america in a prominent role". But then she did this interview which she said she will not take any roles where a person is "latina" (a term I despise BTW) because she does not look like one.
And me and my friends all did a collective groan, because what the fuck does that mean? Yes, you do. There is no fucking look. How little do you know of the continent and its population? Stop pushing america-centric stereotypes of of we are suppose to look.
I am sephardic through my dad. And I have gotten so many times in this country that I don't look like I came from Venezuela, I look I am from Lebanon or Israel or "are you really from there, you look like you could be Italian". And I am like, what the fuck? First of all, Venezuela has some of the best Lebanese food outside of actual Lebanon, so fuck off, cause Lebanese-Venezuelan cuisine is awesome.
Anyway, that is my mini rant from the eyes of an immigrant to the U.S. lol
