A new Mexican-themed restaurant in Queens, New York, has drawn controversy before even serving its first plate of tacos. That’s because the eatery was named Whitexicans and it opened earlier this month on Northern Boulevard, but not before igniting a wave of backlash online over its provocative name.
Colombian immigrants Mateo Gomez Bermudez and Manuela Mesa are the brains behind Whitexicans, and they insist the name is meant to promote unity, not division. “Whitexicans, the meaning for us is that everybody belongs here,” Gomez Bermudez told Gothamist, explaining that the name was a response to anti-immigrant sentiment and growing social divides. The two further explained that “We don’t care who you are, your sexuality, your gender, your race or anything,”
Still, hundreds of social media users on Facebook and Reddit debated whether the restaurant’s name was meant as satire or simply offensive. Community activist Cristina Furlong, co-founder of Make Queens Safer, said she wished the restaurant success but urged the owners to reconsider.
“It’s very stressful in America right now to live under the Trump administration and live with such fear that our community is going to be threatened by ICE coming in… It’s just not nice or kind to joke about what some people consider racist terminology,” explains Cristina Furlong of Make Queens Safe, transcript courtesy of Gothamist.
Mesa, one of the co-owners, however, defended their choice of terminology, pointing to the restaurant’s “All Humans Are Legal” sign at the entrance. Mesa also added that “Whitexicans is love… Whitexicans is inclusion.” For the record, Whitexicans typically refers to Hispanic people who are “almost white… but not quite,” and can sometimes be used to refer to more financially or socially privileged Mexicans who often have elitist attitudes.
Still, the name has stirred tension in a neighborhood where immigration issues hit close to home. In fact, just across the street from Whitexican, another restaurant recently raised over $100,000 to support a worker deported to Mexico, which is a reminder of the real struggles many locals face. Whether meant as satire or statement, the Whitexicans restaurant managed to do one thing unmistakably: get everyone talking.
People online are questioning the name
Bermudez, one of the restaurant’s co-owners, has claimed that the local neighborhood doesn’t seem to have an issue with it, with many taking pictures after passing by. It’s something that Bermudez considers as a good marketability for his restaurant. A vocal Hispanic critic on Whitexicans’ Facebook page, however, disagreed with the notion.
“The owners aren’t even Mexican, they’re Colombian. They’re very Ignorant to use racist terms that divide the Mexican population and promote white supremacism. It’s frustrating that in this day and age people can still be so naive and blind,” according to the Facebook user. Another one echoed his sentiment from before the opening, “Inclusive to who … white ppl who like Tacos … is this how gentrification works … honestly asking for a friend!!”
Of course, some found no harm in the naming convention and have even pointed out similar-sounding names from ongoing food truck operations, such as “Blaxican” in Atlanta. Still, that term isn’t in the same category as Whitexican, as the latter is rooted in classism instead of inclusivity. In any case, time will tell whether Whitexican will endure, as some politically-flavored restaurants have had trouble thriving in the US.
