Feministing Jamz: Honoring Selena’s legacy

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the tragic death of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, singer, designer, actress and a huge symbol of visibility, diversity, and strength for so many Latinxs today. 

A Mexican-American Tejana who sang in Spanish, Selena came into the music scene when there weren’t many other hyper-visible successful Latina role models. Many argue that she was one of the first crossover artists, soon followed by people like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, and Ricky Martin.

Christina Saenz-Alcántara notes over at Latino Rebels that the timing of her career and death are what made her the legend that she is today. 

“In the mid to late 1990s, Latino artists (singing in Spanish and English) were “entering” mainstream (and white) America. … [At the same time,] the Census started releasing data showing that Latinos were predicted to become the next “majority-minority.” In 1994, NAFTA was signed, triggering economic turbulence in Mexico. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which permitted local police to work with ICE to deport undocumented workers, was passed. States with high percentage of Latinos like Texas and California eliminated Affirmative Action at its public universities. Academics and activists began to use the word “globalization” as a negative force that destroyed economies and cultural traditions in Latin America, resulting in more migrations to the United States.”

Many young women still look to Selena as a symbol of someone who “made it” from a humble background, and an affirmation that brown women can one day see themselves equally represented in positions of influence. Read the rest of Alcántara’s article, and check out what other folks are saying about the anniversary of Selena’s death at #Selena20.

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