I was walking through Kroger when I saw this card written in Spanish. I was pleasantly surprised to see this card because in Athens, Ohio, English is the most prevalent spoken and written language in public settings. People who speak Spanish in Athens may be labeled as a part of a “minoritized group” because they do not fit within the typical “norm” associated with the English language. According to Sensoy & DiAngelo, a minoritized group is defined as, “A social group that is devalued in society and given less access to resources. This devaluing encompasses how the group is represented, what degree of access to resources it is granted, and how unequal access is rationalized.” (Page 5) Within the setting of Athens, Ohio, people who speak Spanish are labeled as members of a minoritized group because they do not have as easily available resources, such as birthday cards, as someone who speaks English would. There were hundreds of cards written in English; however, this was the only card written in Spanish. Slowly but surely, Kroger, and hopefully other stores, are taking steps to create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
-Paige H