On Monday, First Lady Jill Biden compared the diversity of the Hispanic community in the United States to tacos, flowers, and corner stores during a speech in San Antonio, Texas.
During an event called the “Latinx IncluXion Luncheon,” which notably used the offensive “Latinx” term in its title, Biden said that the diversity of the Hispanic community is “as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio, is your strength.”
As pointed out by The Daily Wire, the First Lady additionally appeared to mispronounce the word “bodegas” by calling them “bodigas.” Bodegas are corner stores found in New York City.
Jill Biden’s apparent attempted praise of the Hispanic community by comparing members of the community to tacos came at an event which used the offensive “Latinx” term in its title – despite only 3% of Hispanic Americans identifying with the term and the majority finding it offensive.
Even some Democrats are critical of the term. For example, Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego (IL), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, revealed in December that the term is banned in official communications in his office.
“To be clear my office is not allowed to use ‘Latinx’ in official communications. When Latino politicos use the term it is largely to appease white rich progressives who think that is the term we use. It is a vicious circle of confirmation bias,” Gallego wrote on Twitter.
“Look y’all. Hispanic, Latin American are gender neutral. So we have already gender neutral options to describe the Latino community. Adding an x and creating a new word comes off as performative,” he added. “It will not lose you an election but if your staff and consultants use Latinx in your mass communication it likely means they don’t understand the Latino community and is indicative of deeper problems.”
To be clear my office is not allowed to use “Latinx” in official communications.
When Latino politicos use the term it is largely to appease white rich progressives who think that is the term we use. It is a vicious circle of confirmation bias. https://t.co/kMty6q7UQn— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) December 6, 2021
