As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, and in honor of Latinx Heritage Month, John Jay College is recognizing the vital contributions Latinx people have made to our country and our society through a series of events, web articles, and special features on our YouTube page. In our “Latinx Celebration” article series, we’re connecting with our Latinx students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and learning more about their experiences, identities, traditions, and hopes for the future.

Rafael Sebastian Flores ’22, a proud Mexican and President of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), knows what it’s like to face discrimination just for being who you are. “Growing up in the Elmhurst section of Queens, New York, I had a large diverse group of friends but realized early on that many of them believed the negative stereotypes they heard about Mexican people,” explains Flores. “They would use racial slurs and make derogatory comments toward me. They’d say things like ‘All Mexicans are illegal,’ or ‘Yeah, you’re Latino but you’re an illegal so you wouldn’t understand.’ As a kid, you don’t really get the depth of those words, you just know its hurtful because they’re making you feel like a dangerous outsider.” After speaking with his parents, Flores found the courage to cut off—and even forgive—those “friends” and learned to fully embrace, comprehend, and love his Mexican identity. “I don’t hide the fact that I’m Mexican. I feel a great pride and joy for my community, and I don’t care what negative things people have to say. I wear my Mexican identity with pride.” We chatted with Flores to learn more about his Latinx pride and how he plans to celebrate his roots during Latinx Heritage Month.   

Growing up, did you feel connected to your Mexican roots?
I was the Mexican kid born in America, so growing up, I didn’t feel Mexican enough. I felt that I didn’t know what it meant to be Mexican. Like, I didn’t know how to be Mexican. I connected with the music and the food but had some trouble with the Spanish language. When I was a kid, I did my best to speak Spanish and had a hard time with it. As I grew older though, I started to practice more, speaking it frequently at home, and my Spanish improved.

Did John Jay being a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) have an impact on your decision to come to the College?
My sister came to John Jay, so before transferring over I knew the College was diverse and the diversity was one of the reasons I came to John Jay. I was also aware of LASO and really wanted to be part of that community. I wanted to connect with other Latinx students who had similar backgrounds and experiences, and I wanted to be in a learning environment with them.

Can you describe the positive impact being part of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) has had on you?
As a Latinx person, when you enter a new space, it can be tough to feel like you belong, but when I joined LASO it felt like I was meeting long lost family. There have been people in this club who have been mentors to me, who have supported me and made sure that I stayed academically on track and took care of my mental health. That’s what I love about this club, we look out for one another, we really have each other’s backs at every turn, and we do things together. Last summer, a few of us got together and decided to get tattoos. It was a cool bonding experience for us.

How do you embrace your Latinx heritage during Latinx Heritage Month and throughout the year?
I embrace my Latinx heritage mostly through music. During the month I will literally blare any Latino song that pops into my mind. It could be anything from a reggaeton song by Bad Bunny, to Banda music to one of my favorites, Joan Sebastian. Music has the power to transport you and move you, and when I listen to Latinx music I’m just in my feelings.

In your John Jay courses, what have you learned about Latinx culture or history that impressed you, surprised you, or made you think deeper?
There was a Latin American and Latinx Studies course that I took where we learned about the Zoot Suit Riots, which happened in the summer of 1943 in Los Angeles. At the time, the population in LA was changing and Mexican-Americans were trying to define what being Mexican-American meant to them. Many were growing confident in their identity and wanted to show off that confidence by the way they dressed up. They wore suits made of baggy pants, long coats, and hats—that was their look—more commonly known as a “zoot suit.”

Well, some of the white people in the area didn’t like that the neighborhood was changing and that Mexican-Americans were growing comfortable, so they began to target and attack Mexicans who were wearing zoot suits. They’d go into Mexican neighborhoods, drag them out of their businesses and beat them. To justify their actions, the attackers would say that zoot suiters were criminals, that Mexicans were criminals, and that the zoot suits were what Mexican gangsters typically wore. When the reality was the complete opposite. Mexicans were being beaten because of who they were and what they were wearing. Learning about that was so eye-opening to me because it showed me how stereotypes are created and how those beliefs can lead to violence. It’s a real shame because when we try to establish roots, or find ourselves rising the ranks, they try to beat us down and call us “dangerous.”

What are your hopes, aspirations, and dreams for the Latinx community?
I’d love to see a Latinx president in the White House one day. It would be great if it was someone who can represent us, fight for our causes, and bring the Latinx community together. We need to work on unifying the community both on a large and small scale, like here at John Jay. Latinx people need to come together and support one another, no matter the country we come from. Together we can accomplish so much more.

Finish this sentence: I’m proud to be Latinx because…
I’m proud to be Latinx because being Mexican is one of my greatest strengths and joys. I love representing my people and our great culture.