Blurring the Line Between Inclusion and Erasure

Literary Event Raises Cultural Identity Issues

NEW YORK — A recent writers' event brought to light the tensions surrounding cultural appropriation and identity within Latino communities. Writers Abril Peña and Henry Suarez, who attended the event at City Winery in New York, revealed a mix of humor, discomfort, and cultural disconnects during the gathering.

The event, designed to celebrate Latino voices, became a reflective moment for Peña and Suarez, calling attention to the issues around what it means to be "authentically Latino." As the evening unfolded, they discovered that at least three of the writers in attendance were not of Latinx descent one, a white woman who claimed to be "Latina at heart" after teaching English in Latin America, another who was married to a Cuban but had no Latinx heritage, and a third, born in Mexico, with Jewish parents who had moved there.

These revelations sparked a series of uncomfortable conversations and questions: Who gets to claim Latinx identity? And more importantly, how do these moments of cultural appropriation affect the legitimacy of those truly from the community? As the night progressed, Peña and Suarez reflected on their own experiences, each of them grappling with the weight of said identity.

For Peña, the evening was a reminder of the long-standing tension within the community around cultural authenticity. “I think there was definitely a lack of cultural competence, but overall a good experience," Peña remarked. She expressed frustration at seeing people claim stories and culture without understanding the depth of our history and struggles. Her words reflect the sentiments of many writers who feel that the commodification of Latinx culture, particularly by those outside of the community, risks erasing the lived experiences and challenges that define it.

Suarez voiced similar concerns, noting there’s a fine line between sharing our culture and misrepresenting it for personal gain. When someone takes the music, the art, and language but doesn’t live the reality experienced, it diminishes the value of those things. "Definitely tone def. One of the usurpers, credited “yo no se mañana” to Marc Anthony. A song famously sung by Luis Enrique. Thankfully, the Pinot noir helps look past the microaggressions." Comments that reflect a broader issue within the arts and entertainment industries, where elements of Latinx culture are often reduced to mere aesthetics, stripped of their cultural and historical context.

These tensions surrounding cultural appropriation are not new, but they are gaining more visibility as the Latinx population in the U.S. grows and becomes more vocal about its experiences. According to The Journal of Popular Culture, cultural appropriation is when a dominant culture adopts elements of a marginalized culture without understanding their significance. This has been most evident in fashion, music, and media, where Latinx culture is frequently showcased without recognition of the struggles that have shaped it.

A few decades ago, it might have been easy for these issues to go unnoticed, but as more Latinx creators and activists advocate for change, there is increasing awareness of the negative impact of appropriation. Dr. Gloria Anzaldúa, a renowned scholar and activist, highlighted the importance of cultural integrity and resistance against appropriation, stating, “Ethnic identity is twin skin to linguistic identity—I am my language.” Her work emphasizes the deep connection between culture, language, and identity, and how cultural appropriation often strips these elements of their true meaning and significance.

This broader issue was evident throughout the event, particularly in the ways some non-Latinx writers positioned themselves in relation to Latinidad. One attendee, a white woman who had taught in Latin America, described herself as “Latina at heart,” drawing subtle but visible reactions from others. For Peña and Suarez, this kind of statement exemplified the tension between cultural appreciation and appropriation, especially when the person claiming cultural connection lacked lived experience with the identity and its systemic challenges.

The issue lies in how Latinx culture is commodified, packaged, and sold by those outside the community without a full understanding of its roots. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz once stated, “Artists are not cheerleaders, and we're not the heads of tourism boards. We expose and discuss what is problematic, what is contradictory, what is hurtful, and what is silenced in the culture we're in.” His words reflect a broader frustration that too often, elements of Latinx identity are spotlighted for aesthetic or commercial appeal while the deeper histories of colonization, resistance, and survival are ignored or dismissed.

In contrast, the event also underscored the importance of storytelling in maintaining the authenticity of Latinx identity. Peña and Suarez, who write about Dominican identity, both spoke about their own writing, emphasizing how their work serves to preserve the nuanced, lived experiences of Latinx people, adding that part of Latinx writers' work is to offer counter narratives to the dominant portrayal of their communities.

Their passion for this mission is palpable. They explained that mainstream media often distorts or ignores Latinx stories, perpetuating stereotypes rather than presenting complex, authentic narratives. This sentiment resonates with the Dominican Writers audience, many of whom are eager to share their own experiences and confront the challenges of cultural representation in an increasingly globalized world.

The event at City Winery illuminated the ongoing struggle for authentic representation and cultural respect. As Latinx communities continue to push back against appropriation and marginalization, moments like these remind us that the fight for cultural sovereignty is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about understanding, empathy, and solidarity.