There was a moment during JLo and Shakira’s dazzling and energetic Super Bowl LIV performance, where I caught myself leaning forward on my sofa seat, staring up at the screen and smiling. It’s hard to know when exactly that was, probably because it wasn’t just one moment that elicited that response. It was the whole damn thing. Watching both superstars onstage, Jennifer Lopez in particular, made me feel seen in a way that I haven’t ever felt before in American popular culture.

Growing up during the 90’s in Brooklyn, I felt shame to be Puerto Rican. The only time I had ever seen one in American pop culture was in my repeated viewings of the Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore classic, “Ghost”. Willie Lopez was a fairly important character in the film who happened to be Puerto Rican. He was the mugger who killed Sam, and turned him into…well, a ghost. I recognized his character because I knew lots of Willie Lopez’s during my formative years. Or at least some iteration of him. And it didn’t bring me much pride. In my immediate surroundings, to be Puerto Rican meant you were a criminal, drug user, poor or “promiscuous”. I didn’t want to define myself that way. I didn’t want the world to either.

Puerto Ricans have a long history in this country. The Puerto Rican diaspora has historically existed in the Central and East Coast of the U.S; and it continues to grow as a result of the island’s current tenuous economic, political and climate status. Puerto Ricans from New York City have a unique history within its five boroughs. Nuyoricans, as we are known, are some of the proudest people you will ever meet. Nuyoricans differ from Puerto Ricans from the island in ways too long and complex to get into here. But the one defining trait of Nuyoricans is in the collective sense of pride, love and longing for that small Caribbean island. I grew up with more Puerto Rican flag keychains, bracelets, shirts and paraphernalia than I care to admit. I hadn’t even visited the island itself until I was a teenager, my Spanish at that point was questionable at best and I didn’t know much of the history or music of Puerto Rico. But that sense of pride was deeply embedded.

A lot has changed since I was a kid. The world knows lots more types of Puerto Ricans than Willie Lopez. From the Supreme Court to the Broadway stage. We have created a diverse, varied, unique space for ourselves in America, though some people don’t even know that Puerto Rico is technically a part of the U.S and other people don’t even know we exist. Others simply don’t care because we are Latino. Latinos are in what can only be described as a character building moment in this country. From verbal attacks by the president, targeted mass shootings, deportations and imprisonment in literal cages, this moment will be a defining one for Latinos in America. And it should be. Which is why the Super Bowl performance felt so important.

Latinos aren’t a huge part of the NFL. And given the league’s track record with its players’ well being, who would really want to be. You need to look no further than Colin Kaepernick to realize that the NFL doesn’t care about people of color. That’s the reason why everyone from Rihanna to Cardi B turned down the chance to perform in front of an audience of nearly 100 million. Shakira and JLo received flak from those who felt they weren’t standing in solidarity with and in support of Black and Brown people. I understand that argument. But there was something incredibly empowering about their performances, that seemed to transcend those detractors.

I would imagine Shakira’s performance had the same effect on Colombians as JLo’s did on Puerto Ricans. Americans’ limited and cliche knowledge of Colombia starts and ends with the “war on drugs”. There’s no awareness of its rich cultural history, lush landscape and vibrant music and culture. All of which Shakira are an embodiment of. Her set was a mix of her rocker roots and an homage to her middle eastern lineage. It was as multicultural as the South American country itself. There is no current Latina star more globally known, respected and admired than Shakira. She was a perfect counterpart for JLo to share the stage with.

And JLo’s performance? It was fun, filled with beauty, movement and badass dance moves. There was some Salsa, some Pop and everything in between. The set pieces were breathtaking (hello Empire State Building replica) and defied the laws of physics ( Hello Hustlers – inspired stripper pole). It was political at times ( kids singing from lit up cages). And I know there’s a contingent of people who hated when ‘Born in the USA’ played while JLo strutted down the stage in a fluffy flag coat that every Nuyorican will want to wear this winter. I get it. Puerto Ricans were colonized by the US government. And the island remains held captive by politicians who could care less about its people. But when you have a president who throws paper towels at hurricane victims on a visit to a storm ravaged island, sometimes you need heavy handed symbolism to say: ”Hey our lives are just as important as yours”

Latinos are a large and diverse group, which is partly why we haven’t been able to make as much progress in this country as others. Latin America encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Spain. We’re black, white, brown and indigenous. We’re too different and too proud of our respective cultures and countries . There’s no consensus on what we should even call ourselves. Sometimes Hispanic, other times Latino and now Latinx. Often times, we highlight those things instead of realizing the power we can have when we recognize our similarities and embrace those as well. Shakira and JLo (along with J Balvin and Bad Bunny) helped do that. They paved the way for a future filled with collaborative possibility in the Spanish speaking world. All with a few shakes of their bon bons.

Some people felt the overall show was too sexual, not ‘musical enough’, or not American enough. To those people I say: no one complained when Adam Levine performed half naked, the super bowl isn’t a classical music concert and that performance represented the rich cultural tapestry that literally makes America what it is. For this Boricua from Brooklyn, it was everything I needed when I was a kid but can actually appreciate more as an adult now. We still have a long way to go for Latino representation (in tv, film and every industry in this country) but for one moment, it felt like America saw us, loved us and danced with us. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted.