What's the Next?
Latinx
Latino
Latina
Latine
Latin
Hispanic
The newest people of earth
Born from war
We will always be in struggle
The pain is bred within our skin
Azteca
Taino
Inca
Maya
Arawak
Blood drips from the battles and soaks deep into the earth
Drowns the dirt with the invasive genes and
Sprouts generations of resistance
African
Dingo
Mandingo
Gold coast
Ivory coast
Slaughters in the name of the savior
Jesus Cristo, who weeps on pyramids desecrated for his empire
While santeros in the Caribbean practice in secret
And mexicas dance in Little Village
North
South
Central
American
Footprints of coyotes reveal the map
Of perseverance to reach the promise of El Norte
Patiently breaking borders
Spanish
English
Spanglish
The poet paints with palabras
struggles to define the “we”
Words cannot solve the rompecabeza
Rompecabeza
Rompecabeza
Rompebeza
That is us
So the poet instead documents the love and faith
Of our people
Criollo
Mestizo
Mulata
Zambo
Negrito
Jincho
Morena
Indio
Tears are sometimes found in the sands buried with Spanish armor
And other times they are washed away by the waves
Adding to the torment of the sea
A plea for peace that has lasted over 500 years
Chicano
Chicana
Nuyorican
Flags, desperate to cover the city in our colors
Fly in forbidden promised lands
Wetback
Spic
The pride burning baking in our bellies
Erupts through our voice
As we yell in defiance of the attempt to be named
To be cornered.
To be still.
To be quiet.
Is this why we always change our name?
Is this why we have so many names?
Or will it continue to be shaped like us
Hispanic
Latin
Latino
Latina
Latine
Latinx
