By Roberta Nin Feliz
In an effort to appeal to young Latino voters, the Clinton campaigned released the list “7 Things Hillary has in common with your abuela.” Looking at Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, I tried to find ways my abuela, which is Spanish for grandmother, would compare to Hillary. But Hillary failed tremendously. Some of the things on the list even use Spanish and attempt to play into traditional Hispanic sayings to make a point. But ultimately Hillary’s attempt to relate to the women who have sustained households through backbreaking work failed.
The list boldly claims that Hillary “knows what’s best.” As a politician or even as Bill Clinton’s wife, I strongly doubt that claim. In terms of her politics, Hillary not only voted for the Iraq war but also has beneficial relationships with Wall Street, according to the article “President Hillary Clinton Would Be Far More Conservative Than You Think” by H.A. Goodman. Hillary has been critiqued for her shadiness in trying to appear progressive but being indeed conservative. What some call a right-leaning Democrat, Hillary definitely does not know best. And when knowing best dictates being unconditionally selfless and concerned with the well-being of all involved, Hillary has missed that mark. Not to mention, mi abuela does not engage in shady politics.
The next thing on the list says, “She reacts this way when people le faltan el respeto” with a gif of Clinton looking unamused from what is supposed to be a disrespectful comment. The phrase “le faltan el respeto” is a traditional Hispanic phrase which means “to disrespect someone.” Matriarchs in the Hispanic culture use this phrase when referring to just about anyone who is disrespectful or rude. For many grandchildren and children, when your abuela would say this, we would know to stop playing around. Hillary’s campaign cultural appropriation in using this phrase is not only a cheap way to reel in Hispanic voters but also a decontextualization of a phrase dear to many Hispanic cultures.
And as if using cultural appropriation once isn’t enough the list says, “She isn’t afraid to talk about the importance of el respeto (especially when it comes to women).” Should someone faltarle el respeto respeto a mi abuela in America, her brown skin would make her prone to racism. Should someone approach my grandmother or her children in America, we would be prone to preconceptions about our legal status in America. So when Clinton appropriates a phrase, as a white woman of privilege, that means far more than just having someone say something rude to you, she erases all that women who have used this phrase have gone through. While Clinton would be making 78 percent what a white man is making working in America, mi abuela would be making only 54 percent, according to the American Association for American Women’s report “The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (Fall 2015).” What “le faltan el respeto” means to Clinton as a white woman in America does not equate to what it would mean to my grandmother as a woman of color.
One of the Gifs even has Hillary saying she’s worked with DREAMers, those who participated in the DREAM Act, a piece of legislation that would provide undocumented youth with a path to permanent residency. But not all Hispanics are DREAMers or undocumented and if Hillary is indeed like your abuela then she should recognize that. The list ends with a picture of Hillary and Latin-American singer Marc Anthony saying “Everybody loves abuela—even this guy.” Because of course, if you can get one Hispanic celebrity to like you then you deserve the love of all Hispanics.
Hillary’s gimmicks are a shame to say the least. The list remains proof to the cultural appropriation and ignorance of the Hillary campaign. If you really want to gain Hispanic voters, make passing comprehensive immigration reform, like an active nationwide DREAM act apart of your agenda. Give undocumented people, not just children, a path to citizenship. Help close the gender-race gap between you and your Hispanic peers. If you really want to gain Hispanic voters, then you need to be committed to their cause and stop trying to gain their support by using cultural appropriation.