On May 5th, 2022, Cinco de Mayo, State Senator Art Haywood visited Esperanza Academy to hold a press conference about an important issue for many Americans. Sen. Haywood has introduced a resolution calling for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to provide the accurate spelling of names that include diacritical marks such as accents, tildes, umlauts, etc. Senator Haywood included the Reverend Luis Cortés, the founder and CEO of Esperanza; Anu Thomas, the Executive Director of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services; and Julia Ramos and Emmely Mendoza, seniors at Esperanza Academy as guest speakers at the press conference.
Senator Haywood’s press conference was an educational experience for Esperanza’s staff and students, and also educated many viewers. Although many people may not know the importance of diacritical marks to those whose names contain them, these marks are a very important part of language, culture, heritage and identity. They reflect the history and personal identity of people whose names come from other linguistic backgrounds other than English. Reverend Cortés poignantly weighed in on the topic: He noted that the PA Department of Transportation is the state agency that provides the primary means of identification for most residents of the United States, and thus is creating issues for many who rely on the correct spelling of their name in order to have proper identification for legal purposes, passports, etc. He noted that the department is essentially renaming people by providing identification that is different from one’s birth certificate. Reverend Cortes stated, “Our state driver’s license or state ID is our primary way to move around in our country and to move…via our airlines. So this is very important, and I hope that PennDOT and the legislature will see its importance, and we can get this repaired.”
More importantly, however, than any potential logistical issues that could arise from the improper spellings of Pennsylvanians names, is the compromising of people’s identities through renaming them. Both Julia Ramos and Emmely Mendoza contributed their perspectives, adding further dimension to the discussion of diacritical marks by sharing their own views and experiences. Mendoza said, “Although it may be small, an accent mark or tilde holds history and tells stories that our relatives have worked so hard to shape and share. Accent marks within the name are a form of identity, and they show a long line of hard workers that have held their names with pride. Taking out accent marks…disconnects us from our families and the ancestors that we are so proud of.”
Since the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is currently updating their software system, they claim it could take up to 2027 to accommodate this request. Senator Haywood is pushing for a much sooner deadline of July 1st, 2024 to create the capacity to name everyone correctly. Reverend Cortés also encouraged the Department of Transportation to develop a sense of urgency, as they have fallen behind several other states who already are providing this necessary service.
Esperanza Academy is grateful to have hosted Senator Haywood, and honored to be the place where this resolution was shared with the public. This is just one example of the important advocacy work taking place in our state legislature through our elected officials, in collaboration with the community. We hope that PennDOT will understand the importance of this necessary resolution and take action to value each individual’s identity. We also urge all Pennsylvanians to register to vote and go to the polls for both primary elections and general elections whenever they are held. Senator Haywood is an example of how elected officials can work on behalf of the people they represent and serve, and it is up to community residents to select the elected officials who will work for them.
