Student speakers of diverse backgrounds shared literature expressing their personal experiences as a part of the Latinx community in “Amplifying Latinx Voices,” the latest event from the “Yawp!” series on Tuesday night.
Hosted by the English department and Department of Cultural and Global Engagement, the “Yawp!” series is an open dialogue on creativity and the arts and featured readings from students and faculty.
Student speakers shared literature expressing their personal experiences as a part of the Latinx community and the importance of their cultural identity.
Olivia Barrios-Johnson, a sophomore journalism major, expressed the importance of appreciating her African American and Mexican heritage through sharing the importance of natural hair.
“As a Black woman, you are beautiful when you wear your natural hair,” Barrios-Johnson said. “As a Black woman, you do not have to conform to societal beauty standards. As a Black woman, your hair stands out because you were made to stand out. As a Black woman, your afro defies gravity, because you are out of this world.”
Barrios-Johnson also expressed the importance of Quinnipiac hosting events to give minority students a voice.
“As we all know, Quinnipiac is a predominantly white institution, so I feel like any opportunity we get to share our experiences and teach others about our upbringing is really important,” Barrios-Johnson said.
Following Barrios-Johnson’s reading, Alisa Mejia, a sophomore psychology major, read a poem inspired by her experiences growing up in the Bronx.
“Here is an ode to the lone rose that grew from the crack outside my house in the Bronx…
Here is an ode to the lone rose that helped a young girl keep in mind that there is more to the world to see past the only street she had known for years…
Here is an ode to the lone rose, here is an ode to how I rose.”
Alisa Mejia
Mejia, a member of the Quinnipiac University volleyball team, credits her teammates with helping her feel welcomed at a predominantly white institution.
“Being on a team here has been an amazing experience,” Mejia said. “Coming into that environment, I always felt very welcome. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people who are all different races. I truly am grateful for my teammates and this experience.”
The final two guest speakers spoke about their experiences as not just members of the Latinx community, but also members who are often confused as being only white or only Latinx depending on who they are speaking to.
Director of Quinnipiac University’s Center for Teaching and Learning, Assistant Teaching Professor of English, and author of novella “Taking Flight, Dr. JT Torres spoke about his experiences with cultural identity.
“Growing up in Miami, especially with my friends that I grew up with, I was definitely the white guy, but when I lived in Georgia and Alaska, suddenly I became the Latino that people would come to with questions about Latino culture,” Torres said.
JulieRose Rivera, a senior criminal justice major, expressed her experience as a white Puerto Rican.
“My experience is going to be different from the next persons’ experience,” Rivera said. “I understand growing up with a mixed culture, there is a level of privilege that other people within my culture do not get to experience.”
The Yawp! Series will continue celebrating Latinx culture throughout the month of October.
Upcoming events celebrating Latinx Heritage as well as other events hosted by Quinnipiac University’s Department of Culture and Global Engagement can be found on their Instagram page @qudcge.