Trump’s Petty Power Play: A Name Change Would Only Exacerbate Wounds of Racial Bias

The recent dustup over Donald Trump’s suggestion to rename New Mexico as “New America” has sparked widespread ridicule and outrage in the state. But beneath the surface-level criticism lies a deeper issue – one that speaks to the long-simmering tensions between the state’s majority Latino population and the federal government.

New Mexicans have every reason to be skeptical of Trump’s motives, given the administration’s lawsuit against the state for providing in-state tuition and financial assistance to undocumented immigrant students, many of whom are Latino. This is just one example of policies that have long targeted people of color in New Mexico.

The history of racial bias in the state stretches back centuries. When the US acquired New Mexico as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, it marked a new era of bigoted attacks against the territory’s Spanish-speaking and Native populations. Even the process of granting statehood to New Mexico was delayed for over 60 years due to concerns about its “mixed-blood” inhabitants.

The name “New Mexico” has its roots in the 1560s, when Spanish settlers referred to it as Nueva Mexico. The name has evolved over time, but its significance remains unchanged – a testament to the state’s enduring connection to its Latin American heritage. As historian Rob Martinez pointed out, this history is not something that can be easily erased or rewritten.

New Mexicans take pride in their cultural heritage and connection to the rest of Latin America. Trump’s suggestion to change the name to “New America” would be an affront to that history and identity. The state’s residents have already shown themselves to be fiercely protective of their identity and history, rejecting previous attempts to rename the state – including a push to call it “Coolidge” in honor of President Calvin Coolidge.

This episode speaks to a larger pattern of racial bias and erasure that plagues our country. The federal government’s actions often have a disproportionate impact on communities of color – from redlining and housing discrimination to voter suppression and mass incarceration. In the face of these challenges, it’s more important than ever for New Mexicans (and people everywhere) to stand up for their cultural identities and fight against policies that seek to erase or marginalize them.

Trump is like a comic who knows he’s losing the room – but instead of taking his lumps, he tries to distract from the issue at hand. As Steven Michael Quezada put it in a recent interview, “We won’t be distracted by Trump’s name change proposal, and we won’t be swayed by any other attempt to erase our history or identity.” New Mexicans will keep fighting for what matters most: their culture, heritage, and place in this country.

In the end, it will be New Mexicans who have the last laugh – because they know that their identity is unshakeable, no matter what the federal government throws at them.