I Feel Betrayed by My People

Isabella Reynoso ’28

Contributing Writer

Today is a day of mourning; not only for me but for the entire Hispanic community. I fear there is no one to blame besides ourselves for there are people in our community who celebrate this year’s election results.

Just four years ago my Hispanic mother and I sat on our ottoman inches away from the TV screen hugging each other as the elected Vice President, Kamala Harris, addressed the nation the night of her victory. We both felt a relief we hadn’t felt in four years. I thought the darkest days for my community were over. Unfortunately, I was wrong. 

My community has been blinded by years of colorism and colonialism and the veil has yet to come off. We seem to lack the resilience to rip the veil that has held us captive for so long. We search for a way to uplift each other yet in the process we leave some behind. The truth is no one wins unless we all win. We have turned against one another, for we no longer look for peace but for self interest. Fortunately and unfortunately, that’s what democracy is for, to vote for those who represent you. But, when you are not a white male, you don’t have the privilege to vote for your own self interest. To my Hispanics who have the privilege of voting; our civic duty is not just serving ourselves but our community. NBC News reported that 45% of Hispanic voters voted for Trump. If you were one of them you have betrayed your people. You failed to uphold the responsibility of being your peoples’ voice. 

Today I mourn for immigrants. For the parents and children of immigrants. I mourn for women. For my queer friends. I mourn for my family. The Hispanic community has lost sight of unity. It prides itself in upholding tradition and closeness, yet it seems as though that pride wore off in the voting booth. Does Catholic sin not apply to politics? We turned our backs on God as we stepped into the city hall to vote for a man who does not see our community as an equal. How can the members of my community look my parents in the eye when they voted for a man who thinks they are sub par, savages and animals? How can members of my community tell the females in their life that they love them and care for them when they voted for a man who raped one of us? Clearly, it is not only colonialism and colorism that blinds us, but misogyny as well. The women who voted for this man seem to forget the females who rely on them for safety and for representation.  

No child should fear being torn away from their parents. No immigrant should be afraid of being pulled over. No immigrant should have to watch local news to see the recent ICE raid that happened in our area. Yet our community has chosen this for themselves.

My community seeks validation from the white man as we run away from the only other communities who share our fear and anger; the Black community, the South Asian community, the LGBTQ community. We turn our backs on them in order to stand closer to white Americans who do not want to hear our stories at the dinner table. It is important we keep our culture and our morale at the forefront for that is what has kept us together for so long.

My community has voted against their own interest. Against their own mothers, fathers and daughters. They come from mothers and fathers who created America — an America who has now turned their backs on them. An America who now rewards their work with deception and fear. My community we must not forget the terror our members suffered under a Trump administration; when leaving your own house was a danger and turning on the news was distressing. When images and videos of 5,500 children being separated from their families played in the background as families prayed for safety and security before every meal. For this reason, I have a heavy heart today. 

I’ve done what I could and it wasn’t enough. I turn to my community in hopes that one day we learn to use our voice to fight for our culture. We must resist leaders who do not see for how we are; the backbone of the nation they claim to love. Loving your country is loving the people who keep it moving. To my Hispanic community; learn to observe the struggles our community continues to experience and vote for leaders who elevate our community, not demoralize it. Today I mourn for my people who deserve better; for it is a sad day for America.