A second-year student at Fresno State studied the Mexican game Loteria to understand its stereotypical imagery. She was assigned to complete the research for her final paper for a Chicano and Latin American Studies class. The professor, Dr. Luis Fernando Macias, had students think about a common tradition within the LatinX community and debate its continued existence or modification. For April Saldana, the research was a fascinating experience.
While the word "el negrito" is often used in a negative light, it is not an offensive term. The word does not have the same meaning in the United States as the word "negro." Instead, the word means black. The game is similar to bingo, with 54 cards and a draw at the end. The winning number is determined by the number of matching cards in each row.
The El Negrito Loteria has an appealing design. Its cards come with updated images and a cancionero to entertain the audience. You can also choose from one of four editions for children: infantile, child, or adult. This is especially helpful if you're shopping for your child. The Infantile version contains one hundred and fifty-four cards, a cancionero, and "la Sirena."
