Learning Session #1: Intersectionality Among Hispanics

As mentioned in our Zubi Formalizes Antiracism, Inclusion & Equity Initiative milestone, educating ourselves is key to becoming AIE (antiracism, inclusion and equity) thought leaders in the ad industry and beyond. Our primary opportunity for meeting this goal is our ongoing internal Learning Session program. In our first agency-wide Learning Session back in August, we introduced the topic of Intersectionality in the Hispanic Market.

Here were some of the key points shared by Rebecca Rosen, Zubi’s research manager:

1. Black identities include many countries of origin, shared histories, regions, skin colors, and places of birth. Some Hispanics share Black or Afro-Latino identity and consider themselves part of this diverse group.

2. The concept of Intersectionaity is not new. It was introduced in the 19th century with abolitionist Sojourner Truth, and the term was popularized by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1991.

3. Intersectionality among Hispanics (and other ethnicities) touches upon many identifiers, such as race, immigration status, socioeconomic status and so on.

4. Being marginalized because of both race and gender/sexuality has led many Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ to create communities of their own, where they can be heard and accepted.

5. The culture within Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ communities has influenced mainstream culture, such as The Harlem Renaissance.

6. To truly represent a group, we must start by understanding that group. We can then rely on fairly compensated talent from that group to help us tell authentic stories about that group in an inclusive way.