While we may see television commercials, social media posts, and targeted ads available in different languages during the campaign season, what about during the duration of an elected official’s term?
Short of providing translations of important messages and policy points on a website, it is evident there does in fact exist a gap between the conservative message and minority communities, specifically the Hispanic/Latino community.
Although it seems like Hispanic/Latino community typically votes blue, this can be directly tied to the lack of Hispanic/Latino representation at the forefront of the conservative movement as well as lack of messaging all together.
But why would the Hispanic/Latino community vote red instead? Well, when you consider the history of most Hispanic countries and their experiences with leftist regimes, you begin to understand the foundation for their values and political beliefs.
After living in countries in which the government was more concerned with lining its pockets or exerting its authority over the masses, we can see why this community values freedom, liberty, and democracy above all. From Cuba to Nicaragua, Venezuela and others, we have seen families emigrate to the United States in search of a better life and “The American Dream”.
Where does the conservative message that aligns itself with these ideals miss the mark? It is important to consider the language barrier that exists between the movement and the Hispanic/Latino community.
Some basic ways in which conservative organizations can begin to increase grassroots support from the Hispanic/Latino community are as simple as hosting events and townhalls in Spanish. While not all elected officials or political figures have the Spanish language skills to conduct bilingual events or events solely in Spanish, this is where we see the need to highlight other Hispanic/Latino figures that can help bridge the gap.
While we have seen people like Candace Owens and Senator Tim Scott begin to carve out a path for the Black community in the Conservative movement, the Hispanic/Latino community lacks any comparable equivalent.
While some would argue that Senator Marco Rubio is a prominent Hispanic/Latino conservative elected official, he represents only one facet of this diverse community. The Cuban diaspora in Florida differs greatly than the Puerto Rican community in New York City, and the Mexican community in Southern Texas.
Another way in which the conservative movement can make efforts to bridge the gap between the movement and the Hispanic/Latino community is by publishing its educational materials in Spanish.
From promotional brochures, to op-eds, and books, if these resources were available in Spanish, the Hispanic/Latino community would have an access point to this information and contribute to the political discourse within the movement and the nation as whole.
While these solutions may take time to yield results, it’s time to bridge the gap.
Gabriela Alexandra Hernandez 