The Reflexivity of Pain and Privilege

Abstract

A Mestizo is an indigenous person of mixed heritage. Approximately 20 million Latinos living in the United States identify as Mestizos. Nearly fifty percent identify as White, while the other half identify as Hispanic or mixed. These racial, social, and cultural identifications are largely rooted in Spanish Imperialism and European Colonialism. Furthermore, these Mestizo identifications have vast effects on assimilation and achievement. A fresh and critical perspective frames the concerns surrounding many Mestizos today, as it attempts to offer people of indigenous descent and identification a voice while they continue clearing a path for themselves and those that may soon follow.