Mi Tierra: Latinx Heritage at Gap Inc Continued
Alicia Arroyo | Site Merchandising at Banana Republic
In honor of Latinx* Heritage Month, and in collaboration with members of HOLA (Honoring Our Latinx Ancestry), Banana Republic celebrates and amplifies the voices of our Latinx community at Gap Inc. Throughout this month, we highlight different Latinx individuals with stories and discussion on culture, family, identity and what it is like living as a Latinx in the United States. Much of Latinx culture is ingrained in connection and community, and we invite you into this space to read and to learn more.
*Latinx: of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage —used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina.
Latinx. (2007). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Latinx
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Growing up as a mixed heritage Black and Puerto Rican girl I always felt unique. It was not uncommon to be “the only” where ever I went. I was often the only one of my background in dance classes, my predominantly white private school and as I grew older the only one who looked like me in entire companies in which I worked. As a young girl who just wanted to fit in this was hard. I felt as though I wasn’t Black enough or Latina enough and I certainly wasn’t white. I didnt know where I fit in.
When I was younger kids used to always ask my brother and I “What are you?” in reference to our ethnicity. For a long time I didn’t know how to answer that question. It reminded me of being forced to check the race box on standardized tests in school. The one where I was forced to choose between Hispanic/ Latino or Black/African American. There was no option for both. In short this country told me that I couldn’t exist. That I was anomaly. So rare that they didn’t even think to acknowledge my existence on a test given to every school aged child in America.
Growing up having my race and ethnicity called into question forced me to seek answers through my family. My mother told me that in Puerto Rico there were people who looked like me. She taught me the history of Puerto Rico and how my people are a mixture of Spanish, Native and African ancestry. She taught me that being different didn’t make me lesser than but it made me special.
So now when somebody asks me “what are you?” I tell them WHO I am. My name is Alicia Arroyo. I am not Puerto Rican or Black. I am Puerto Rican AND Black. I am my African Ancestors and I am my Taino ancestors and I am proud!
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My Mom is from California and my dad is from New York. They are from Black and Puerto Rican decent. When I was younger I didn’t feel as secure in my Latina Heritage. When my parents would speak Spanish I would beg them to speak English in fear of being seen as different. I would shutter at the thought of the first day of school where the teacher was bound to butcher the pronunciation of my first and last name during roll call.
However as a grew older being Latina was comforting to me. The sound of Mark Anthony playing on a Sunday morning. The way my family pronounced my name. Eating empanadas, yuca and arroz con gandules. The stories my mom would tell me about the Coqui frogs singing her to sleep in Puerto Rico.
This country certainly doesn’t make it easy to be Latina. Not now and not when I was growing up. But I learned to not let that fact strip me from my identity. My culture has made me who I am today. I am so grateful for my mother for always instilling in me a sense of cultural identity even when I was reluctant to except it.
Q: How is it like being Latina in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? Being a Latina in the fashion industry is challenging and rewarding. I would say the main challenge is the lack of representation in the fashion industry for Latinas. Especially for Latinas who aren’t white passing. Id like to see more afro-Latina women in leadership positions and as models. Representation makes a difference! When I was younger I didn’t see people in the fashion industry who looked like me. And as a child when you don’t see it you don’t think you can be it. As an adult it is often hard to navigate your career when you don’t see leadership that looks like you or coworkers who come from the same background as you.
I think the most rewarding part of being a Latina in the fashion Industry is that I feel like I offer a unique point of view that is influenced by my culture.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My style is really laid back. I wear whatever makes me feel comfortable. But in some respects I do like to stand out with me fashion or at least with my accessories. I’m a fan of the Puerto Rican staple of hoop earrings and layering jewelry.
When I saw Puerto Rican congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being sworn in wearing hoop earring I saw myself. For a long time hoop earrings were seen as unrefined. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proved that as Latinas we don’t have to subscribe to society’s ideal of professional dress (which is often times dictated by white men). We can embrace our cultural identity in every facet of our lives!
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Being Lantinx in America can mean so much to some many different people. For me personally it means being proud of and celebrating the traditions of my culture. It is important for me to be unapologetically Latinx so that I can show younger Latinx Americans that their culture is so special and worth honoring. Being Latinx means embracing and celebrating your culture not just during Latin History month but every day.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? If I could give my 14 year old self advice I would tell her “The things that make you different are why you are special including your Heritage! Own and Celebrate where you come from.”
Alicia Arroyo | Site Merchandising at Banana Republic
In honor of Latinx* Heritage Month, and in collaboration with members of HOLA (Honoring Our Latinx Ancestry), Banana Republic celebrates and amplifies the voices of our Latinx community at Gap Inc. Throughout this month, we highlight different Latinx individuals with stories and discussion on culture, family, identity and what it is like living as a Latinx in the United States. Much of Latinx culture is ingrained in connection and community, and we invite you into this space to read and to learn more.
*Latinx: of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage —used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina.
Latinx. (2007). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Latinx
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Growing up as a mixed heritage Black and Puerto Rican girl I always felt unique. It was not uncommon to be “the only” where ever I went. I was often the only one of my background in dance classes, my predominantly white private school and as I grew older the only one who looked like me in entire companies in which I worked. As a young girl who just wanted to fit in this was hard. I felt as though I wasn’t Black enough or Latina enough and I certainly wasn’t white. I didnt know where I fit in.
When I was younger kids used to always ask my brother and I “What are you?” in reference to our ethnicity. For a long time I didn’t know how to answer that question. It reminded me of being forced to check the race box on standardized tests in school. The one where I was forced to choose between Hispanic/ Latino or Black/African American. There was no option for both. In short this country told me that I couldn’t exist. That I was anomaly. So rare that they didn’t even think to acknowledge my existence on a test given to every school aged child in America.
Growing up having my race and ethnicity called into question forced me to seek answers through my family. My mother told me that in Puerto Rico there were people who looked like me. She taught me the history of Puerto Rico and how my people are a mixture of Spanish, Native and African ancestry. She taught me that being different didn’t make me lesser than but it made me special.
So now when somebody asks me “what are you?” I tell them WHO I am. My name is Alicia Arroyo. I am not Puerto Rican or Black. I am Puerto Rican AND Black. I am my African Ancestors and I am my Taino ancestors and I am proud!
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My Mom is from California and my dad is from New York. They are from Black and Puerto Rican decent. When I was younger I didn’t feel as secure in my Latina Heritage. When my parents would speak Spanish I would beg them to speak English in fear of being seen as different. I would shutter at the thought of the first day of school where the teacher was bound to butcher the pronunciation of my first and last name during roll call.
However as a grew older being Latina was comforting to me. The sound of Mark Anthony playing on a Sunday morning. The way my family pronounced my name. Eating empanadas, yuca and arroz con gandules. The stories my mom would tell me about the Coqui frogs singing her to sleep in Puerto Rico.
This country certainly doesn’t make it easy to be Latina. Not now and not when I was growing up. But I learned to not let that fact strip me from my identity. My culture has made me who I am today. I am so grateful for my mother for always instilling in me a sense of cultural identity even when I was reluctant to except it.
Q: How is it like being Latina in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? Being a Latina in the fashion industry is challenging and rewarding. I would say the main challenge is the lack of representation in the fashion industry for Latinas. Especially for Latinas who aren’t white passing. Id like to see more afro-Latina women in leadership positions and as models. Representation makes a difference! When I was younger I didn’t see people in the fashion industry who looked like me. And as a child when you don’t see it you don’t think you can be it. As an adult it is often hard to navigate your career when you don’t see leadership that looks like you or coworkers who come from the same background as you.
I think the most rewarding part of being a Latina in the fashion Industry is that I feel like I offer a unique point of view that is influenced by my culture.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My style is really laid back. I wear whatever makes me feel comfortable. But in some respects I do like to stand out with me fashion or at least with my accessories. I’m a fan of the Puerto Rican staple of hoop earrings and layering jewelry.
When I saw Puerto Rican congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being sworn in wearing hoop earring I saw myself. For a long time hoop earrings were seen as unrefined. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proved that as Latinas we don’t have to subscribe to society’s ideal of professional dress (which is often times dictated by white men). We can embrace our cultural identity in every facet of our lives!
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Being Lantinx in America can mean so much to some many different people. For me personally it means being proud of and celebrating the traditions of my culture. It is important for me to be unapologetically Latinx so that I can show younger Latinx Americans that their culture is so special and worth honoring. Being Latinx means embracing and celebrating your culture not just during Latin History month but every day.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? If I could give my 14 year old self advice I would tell her “The things that make you different are why you are special including your Heritage! Own and Celebrate where you come from.”
