Student Op-ed

By Juan Gamboa | Albert Walker Fuller Honorable Mention, 2025

Latin America is a region shaped by centuries of cultural fusion, yet it remains deeply divided by the colonial legacies that imposed rigid racial hierarchies and a fractured sense of identity. More than 500 years of cultural blending created a vibrant and unique civilization, but instead of embracing this richness, many Latin Americans still struggle with an identity crisis fueled by the remnants of colonialism. The internalized belief that western cultures are superior has led to a dangerous tendency—one where Latin Americans, like chameleons, adapt to dominant cultures at the cost of their own authenticity. This is particularly evident in those who emigrate, often abandoning their language, traditions, and sense of belonging in an attempt to blend into Western societies. 

Latin Americans, regardless of their physical appearance or economic background, share a common history of resilience, struggle, and cultural wealth. However, divisions persist. There are those who claim European heritage as a way to distance themselves from their Latin roots, others who reject their indigenous or African ancestry, and a growing number of individuals who exist within an undefined racial spectrum, unable to fully claim one identity or another. This confusion is not accidental; it is the direct consequence of colonial structures designed to make Latin Americans feel inferior, divided, and constantly searching for validation from the very cultures that once oppressed them. 

This fractured identity is particularly visible in privileged Latin American communities where European ancestry is more common. The desire to assimilate often goes beyond convenience—it becomes a form of self-preservation in a world that still marginalizes Latin America. But this self-erasure is precisely what continues to weaken the power of a unified Latin identity. Instead of camouflaging ourselves to fit into foreign cultures, we should be asserting the value of our own. 

Latin America is not just a geographical region; it is a cultural force that has shaped every society it has touched. Wherever we go, we influence, we create, we transform. Yet, instead of recognizing our impact, we often choose to downplay it, hiding behind Westernized identities that offer temporary privileges at the cost of long-term cultural dilution. At a time when xenophobia and mass deportations are increasing, it is easier to retreat into a European passport, a different accent, or an appearance that aligns with Western beauty standards. But this is precisely when we should be most proud of who we are. 

Being Latin American is not just about reggaeton, parties, or vibrant traditions—it is also about resilience, about generations who have endured systemic oppression and still found ways to thrive. It is about embracing our contradictions, our complexities, and our undeniable power. We cannot keep camouflaging ourselves to fit into dominant cultures. Our diversity is not a weakness; it is our greatest strength. Instead of seeking validation from the outside, we must define Latinidad on our own terms and carry it with pride wherever we go. 

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Juan Gamboa was born in Bogotá, Colombia and raised in Cali. He is an Economics and Finance senior graduating this spring. His research interests include ecological biodiversity, food resilience and food culture, being Latin American diversity what most informs his academic and personal projects. He plans to pursue graduate school in ethno-anthropological sciences and documentary filmmaking.

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The Albert Walker Fuller Prize in Communication

The Albert Walker Fuller Prize was named for the publisher and editor of The Enterprise, a newspaper that is published in Massachusetts and currently distributed throughout the Southeastern Massachusetts area. This newspaper was in the Fuller family for over a hundred years and four generations of publishers and editors-in-chief. Fuller’s aim through his activities as an editorialist was to encourage people to talk about all aspects of an issue. The Albert Walker Fuller Prize in Communication aims at continuing his commitment by awarding a prize to those editorial pieces that effectively do the same.