Esmeralda BermudezVerified account

Off the top of my head, here's just a few reasons why "the Latinos" can fall all over the political spectrum on just about any given topic: 1) Geography. There's endless political differences between Cubanos, Mexicanos, Argentinos, Dominicanos, Central Americans, etc.

2) Religion. We've got a ton of Catholics, but our connection to God/ church / spirituality is complicated depending on our guilt levels, how hardcore our moms were growing up, generational shifts, political views like gay rights/abortion, etc.

If you've ever had a tia turn evangelica, you'll appreciate the big rifts that exist between religions. There's also our gazillion interpretations of la Virgen and Jesus Chist. You've got Latino Jews, Santeria worshipers, curandero believers, atheists, the agnostic, etc.

3) Skin color. From the moment you're born, ur skin color, eye color, hair color determines where u fall on a spectrum of real & perceived Latino racism that vastly impacts ur lot in life & your view of the world. You don't shed the impact of this racism when u move to the U.S.

4) Generational Impact: Some Latinos who have been in the US for 4, 5 generations. Their ancestors existed on this soil before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Other are 1st generation or immigrants. Some live with their heart split between the U.S. & their homeland.

Wealth: The kind of wealth you were born into or have attained in the U.S. can have a big impact on how you vote. In this country, Latinos make up a significant part of the service industry, but we're also business owners, doctors, journalists, architects, politicians, etc.

6) Past politics, wars: Due to U.S. intervention & other reasons, there's been plenty of turmoil in Latin America. Often when immigrants come north, they bring those political views with them. Salvadorans, e.g., are still split along political lines from the 1980 civil war.

7) Assimilation Level: There's lots of pressure to "Americanize" in the U.S. To shed your language. Your accent. Your connections to your traditions, culture, home country. Where you fall on this push and pull of your identity can also influence your political views.

8) Immigration. Sure, immigration, but not in the predictable "Open up the borders & save all the immigrants" kind of way. Latinos, for all the reasons stated above, can have vastly different views on every aspect of immigration: the wall, deportations, even child separation

There's so many other factors that influence what Latinos do at the ballot box: Our indigenous roots/erasure Family alliances, bonds Feminism/Misogony Where we end up living in the U.S. (i.e. Latinos in Alabama vs. Latinos in L.A.) Our faith or lack of faith in this country

Am I missing something? Please chime in. I'd love to hear your thoughts

Please think twice before you lump Latinos into a single category & stop chasing the "Latino vote" unicorn each election We make up 1/5 of this country. Focus on us year-round Better yet, make space for us in newsrooms, publishing houses, Hollywood so we can represent ourselves