Latines may face stereotypes, assumptions, or biases about their ethnicity, language, or culture.

So, IaskedtheBuzzFeed Community, “Latine individuals, share the painful microaggressions you’ve faced.”

Here’s the feedback, and some of the responses are quite shocking:

1.

lhm 2024 badge

“At work or school by coworkers, students, or teachers, it baffles me how people always feel comfortable asking about citizenship status."

Oh, and my personal fave, ‘Wow, your English is so good!'”

flinnchristian

4.

One day, a colleague stopped me and said, ‘Wow, your accent actually sounds authentic.'"

George Lopez talking to a woman in glasses at an indoor location, with posters on the wall and "Lopez vs. Tyland" text visible

Duh, I went to school with your kids and grew up bilingual."

There was no tan; it was simply a darker complexion from the region the patient migrated from.

This was the comment: ‘I love your tan.

America Ferrera speaking in an office setting with text overlay: "I am as Latina as they come." HuffPost Live watermark present

Do you have any tips for me?’

(Pale woman).

I do love code-switching to protect my people."

A woman with dark hair in a beige sweater and high-waisted jeans stands against a green background, scratching her head and looking puzzled

“My name is Roberto, not Robert, not Rob, not Bob, not Bobby.

And I still get called Rolondo, Francisco, Alberto, on top of that.

I dont mess up Michael or Jennifer.”

Two women standing in a park having a conversation. One is holding a phone to her ear, and the other is looking at her phone

lasra

9.

“Unnecessarily rolling R’s.

General PSA, same goes for no problemo…its problema.”

Man in a blue shirt sits at a glass table with an open notebook and laptop, talking on the phone and touching his temple

“I went to a mostly all-white school and was cast as the Indian character in a play.

I tried out for three roles that were not the Indian character.

I’m in my 30s now, but I often followed around stores while shopping.

Two people sit at a table using laptops and talking with each other in a modern office setting

I was told, as a compliment, that ‘youre basically white.’

If I had a dollar for every time ‘where are you really from?’

was asked, I would absolutely be a millionaire.”

Two women in a serious discussion, one holding a pen and notepad, the other listening attentively with a concerned expression

“I’m half Mexican.

I used to walk with a Mexican woman on my work breaks.

We were counting how many Mexican women were in our office.

A person wearing glasses and a flannel shirt sits at a school desk with their head resting on their hand, looking bored. Several other students are in the background

I said, ‘Six, me!’

She said, ‘Oh, you don’t count.'”

“I was a new teacher at my elementary school and walking down the corridor.

Two individuals are seated at a café table with coffee cups. One appears distressed while the other gestures animatedly, as if offering comfort or advice. Names unknown

The white male vice principal was calling, ‘Alicia, Alicia.’

It was not my name, so I kept walking.

He kept calling out, and I turned around and said, ‘I’m not Alicia.’

Two students, one focused on a test and the other looking down, sit at desks in a classroom with bookshelves in the background

He confused me with another Mexican teacher who was 50 pounds lighter, shorter and had lighter curly hair.

We looked nothing alike, even from the back.”

“I’m Mexican-American and was born and raised in California.

Three women in professional attire discuss while walking through a modern office space

I speak better English than Spanish, to be honest, but I definitely look Mexican.

We were all getting to know each other, and she asked me if I had a green card.

Often, I get asked by other races, ‘Is it tough dating a Mexican man?’

Man and woman face each other, both gesturing and appearing to argue. The man wears a pink shirt and jeans, the woman a white top and black pants

Oh yeah, like it’s so hard.

English is his primary language!”

“White teacher here.

Two women sit at a table with candles and a small bottle, engaged in conversation. One of them has visible skin redness

Students talk about what they hear on the news and repeat it at home.

As soon as I answer the stubborn old, ‘So where are you REALLY from?’

Its always followed up with that.

Two people, seated on a couch, appear stressed with heads in hands. Houseplants and a candle are on a table in front of them.

So intrusive and rude to ask.

Do better, people.”

Anonymous, 54

18.

Three students stand in a hallway. They are looking at a phone with varying reactions: one appears curious, the other two are surprised. Other students are in the background

I migrated to the US when I was 16.

I’m now 46."

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length/clarity.

A man sits on the floor, leaning against a couch, looking pensive. He is wearing a blue T-shirt and checkered pajama pants

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