Is "Latinx" A Colonizer Word?

Latino has been a word used to describe people from Latin America including the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic (can you believe some people forget about those islands in the Caribbean, Haiti too). Basic level Spanish lessons indicate that the language is gendered. In North American high schools it is taught that some words are female and other words are male. Cool, so what's the problem? Well, as a native Spanish speaker I never knew this until a friend asked me what gender tables were years ago. I thought she took something in the girls bathroom before coming to lunch; I even laughed at her question. She sincerely thought it was strange that I, a Puerto Rican born and raised, didn't know tables had a gender at all. In fact when I ask my father about tables and their gender he was confused as well; he didn't understand why that was the way Americans learned Spanish.

I think that is the foundation on why the word Latinx came about; mislearning the language. As a native speaker you probably don't see the importance of gender in our words but recognize that the word "Latino" implies all. Hearing second and third generation Latinos use the word "Latinx" feels like a verbal representation of the disconnect of first generationers and the rest that follow. Coming to the States we say we are Latinos, second and third generations say Latinx, is it because they actually don't know the language and culture unlike their grandparents and simply don't understand basic grammar? Am i just reaching?

"Why do Americans call us Latinx?", my brother asked. I had to explain that it's actually Hispanics that call ourselves that, confusing him even more. I simply had to say that American born and raised Hispanics aren't aware that Latino implies everyone, regardless if they are male or female. Expressing the detachment generations have with each other and our similar cultures and language. Even though I might or might not believe there is a cultural disconnect with first generation Latinos and other generations, especially with the Latinx word, who actually came up with the word?

I saw a discussion panel about Afro-Latina issues but the host literally said, and I kid you not, "Afro Latinx women"...... you mean Afro Latinas? None of them were non-binary, or gender fluid, or any other gender. The entire panel was seated with female identifying individuals but the host still said "Afro Latinx women". Yea, I'm just going to assume a second or third generation Latino wrote her lines. No shade. So if Latinos start accepting that word then that means non-Latinos will have to follow too. But what happens when an American tries to correct a Latino about saying "Latinx" when they don't want to?

That's where, what I like to say, the colonizer mentality comes to play. If the word Latinx becomes the standard then every single word in the Spanish language that ends with an "o" or "a" will have to be replaced with an "x". Completely changing the Spanish language to comply with second and third generation's, aka Americans (no shade), standards. What has that been called in the past? Oh yea, cultural genocide. Whoops, not sorry. Maybe I'm old and out of touch with the youngins (it's hard being in my 20's) but when an American tries to tell me I should introduce myself as a Latinx instead of a Latina, it makes me want to force them to watch reruns of Dora the Explorer until their eyes bleed. Too much? Like are you mad I'm a female? Anyway.

If someone from the Latino Community is gender fluid, non-binary, or simply does not identify as male or female (or identifies as both), then the word Latinx should be used to present oneself's. But it should not become the standard. Simply, an option. Latino, even though there is an "o" at the end, includes all if ya'll didn't know. Don't reflect a colonizer determine to change an entire culture. Looking at the Spanish language through the lenses of American eyes. Your White Feminism is not needed. Again, no shade.

(goes back to drinking my cafe and listening to Don Omar because old school is better than new school).