Latin American Heritage Month: The KCL LatAm Society Answers

By: The KCL Latin American Society 2020-2021 committee members

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the KCL Latin American Society or El Cortao

In many parts of the world, September and October are dedicated to celebrate the cultural diversity and heritage of Latin America. In this honour, we asked members of the KCL Latin American Society what Latin American heritage meant to them. These are their answers.

Being Spanish my mother tongue, the thing about Latin America I became interested first was literature. I started reading Latin American literature when I was in Secondary School, as a part of the curriculum. It was then when I realised how much you can learn about a culture through literature and art. Books are a great way not only to travel from your coach but also to better understand how life is in other places. I feel that Latin American authors reflect the reality of their society in different periods of history and through different lenses. Moreover, Latin American poetry is to me not only a way to know the culture but a way to understand the feelings of the author and their ideas and ideals around certain topics.

- Ana

It is difficult to give a single answer to what my Latin American heritage means because I have luckily been exposed to various cultures and realities which have also shaped me. However, I believe one of the strongest manifestations of what I have culturally inherited is to be always oriented to hard work. I think it comes from the fact that Latin America is a very unequal region of the world. Long and hard work tends to be the reality and the answer for the vast majority of the population, including my family. I am grateful for that because it has helped me to keep focus and useful skills.

-Lucía 

Being the European born daughter of Cuban migrants, the most important things I have gained from my Latin American heritage are perspective and humbleness. Perspective because, having not only heard all the stories from my parents’ childhoods but also having seen it myself, I have learned that people can be happy and cheerful without having it all, or even having nearly nothing. This has taught me that happiness depends only on one’s attitude towards life. And humbleness because I grew up privileged and received a great education all due to my parent’s hard work; having learned all about their past and the troubles they went through to be able to provide that for me has taught me to be extremely grateful and never take things for granted.

-Denise

Latin American heritage is a complicated thing. On the one hand there’s so much that we don’t know we share with other countries in the region, but at the same time huge differences are often overlooked between them. For me, having been born in Chile but having lived in Nicaragua and Panama, that variety is the beauty of it. You have football countries, baseball countries, tango and salsa, reggaeton and rock, beach and skiing, rainforest, tundra and desert. In spite of those stark contrasts there are still values and attributes binding it all together. 

-Gianni

My Latin American Heritage means that, as someone from a privileged background from a country with exceptionally high levels of poverty, living in one of the great capitals of the world, and studying in a world-renowned university, I feel that I have the responsibility to educate myself, raise awareness about Latin American problems, and somehow attempt to bring about positive change in a region that so desperately needs positive change. My Latin American Heritage means that I (think that I) am aware and can sometimes relate to  the experiences, customs and general issues that people face in the region, which allows me to find more similarities than differences between me and Latin American people I meet, regardless of their nationality.

-Henrique

Personally, it is very conflicting. My Latin American heritage is a reminder of all the years I lived in fear until I moved countries. It is all the misunderstandings with friends and family because I got "converted to white culture" and do not support outdated values and morals that they claim are "Latin Culture". It is constantly feeling out of place, never from here but no longer from there. But it is also hard work, perseverance, an unparalleled sense of humility. It's knowing that things do not come easy and that success does not happen overnight. And to be honest, I think that's the most important thing, because I surely never take anything for granted.

-Marie 

To this day I don’t quite understand what my heritage means to me. Yet I’ve learnt through stories and interactions, that oneness and community come at the forefront of the way we act as Latin Americans, always with empathy and care. Truly, if there’s one thing that binds a region with such complex issues, is our kindness as a people. But that goes beyond our stereotypes of musicality and sports fanaticism, we see kindness and care in every interaction (be it in a churrasco or an asado), which is why my heritage reminds me of our commitment to gratefulness and care, regardless of the circumstance.

-JP

For me being Mexican or being called Latin American brings joy and warmth to my heart. My heritage has taught me that we are not all equal in this world, and we are not born with the same opportunities. However, if we, as all of the LATAM countries who were colonized stand together, and stand strong we can overcome anything. What my country has taught be is how to be strong, how to overcome the obstacles, and fight. It has taught me how to enjoy the music, how to enjoy the cuisine, how to look up in the sky and smile as the sun touches my face. 

-Nelva

Compiled by: Marie Ascencio

Marie is a third year International Relations Student at King’s College, the Broadcast Editor for International Relations Today and the Editor in Chief of El Cortao.