“Hay que mejorar la raza” – Exploring Mexican Racist Slang

1. Hay que mejorar la raza (aka Let’s pretty up the family tree… with lighter branches)

• What’s the deal? This one’s like saying you should aim to marry someone super pale – because apparently, that’s “better”? Yikes. It reeks of that old colonial “white is right” attitude.
• Why it’s messed up: Imagine telling your kids the key to success is ditching their heritage for a whiter shade. Not cool, right? It’s like a slap in the face to people of color.

2. Trabajo como negro para vivir como blanco (or Grind like a Black, live like a White)

• What’s the deal? This phrase literally divides work ethic and lifestyle along racial lines. Hard pass.
• Why it’s messed up: It’s 2021, folks. Linking skin color to how hard you work or how luxe you live? We need to toss that out with yesterday’s guacamole.

3. El niño está morenito, pero aun así está bonito (translation: He’s dark, but still cute)

• What’s the deal? Sounds like a compliment, right? Nope. It’s actually saying being dark-skinned is usually a thumbs down.
• Why it’s messed up: It’s high time beauty standards got a makeover. Beauty comes in all shades, and it’s about time everyone got the memo.

4. Eres bien naco (Think: You’re so basic… in a bad way)

• What’s the deal? Thrown at folks seen as less cultured or from the ‘wrong’ side of the tracks, often with a racial twist.
• Why it’s messed up: Culture snobs much? Let’s ditch the elitism and stop equating class with color. It’s about as outdated as flip phones.

5. No tiene la culpa el indio, sino el que lo hace compadre (Don’t blame the Indigenous guy, blame his buddy for trusting him)

• What’s the deal? This backhander assumes Indigenous peeps can’t handle big responsibilities. Talk about stereotyping.
• Why it’s messed up: Underestimating someone based on their roots? That’s a hard no. Let’s give props for skills, not background checks.

So there you have it! Language is powerful, and sometimes it gets twisted into something pretty ugly. It’s on us to clean it up and kick racism to the curb. Got more phrases or thoughts? Drop them in the comments and let’s chat about flipping the script on racism!