My identity has always been a bit confusing to me.
To black people, I am white b/c I am not as dark.
To white people I am colored b/c I am slightly less pale.
To the people of my country, I am American-- a gringa.
To Americans, I am nothign more than an immigrant.
To ignorant Americans, I'm the same as a Mexican. Don't you see, each country in Latin America is as diverse as each European country. Each with its own unique customs, traditions, festivities, culture. Yes, we all have the same root language. But just as the British, the Australians, and the American have different accents & different vocabulary so do we. So please, don't generalize.
We too, are of European descent. We are Spanish, Portuguese, British, Italian.
You may not know what to call me...Latina, Hispanic, Latin, Latin-American, Spanish...
(Let me clarify, Latin refers to anyone of Latin descent- this includes the French, the Italians, the Portuguese, the Spaniards. Also, I am not exactly "Spanish." True i speak the language, but I am not from Spain. My great-grandparents were Spaniards, my parents and grandparents are Latin-American.)
And I...?
I was raised here, so I believe I am American. A salute the red, white, and blue. My forefathers were Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln. Just because I speak two other languages doesn't make me any less American. I speak English as fluently as you do. My national anthem is the Star Spangled Banner..the same one written by Francis Scott Key a few hundred years ago. I celebrate the fourth of July with just as much pride. Let's face it, I'm as American as blueberry pie (i don't like apple pie, which is not "American" but British in origin).
So, please, don't set me apart from the good ol' USA. Don't treat me any differently, don't treat me like I'm something less. Welcome me, embrace me, include me.
wolfengromper
It may be true that Americans are ethnocentric. But most of us are mongrels, and consequently can't point to our heritage or ethnic background with any great amount of certainty or pride. But don't judge us all too harshly, or assume that we all feel that way about you. For if you do so, are you not guilty of stereotyping us in the same way that you feel sterotyped?
People who are strong representatives of their heritage-distinctive because of the marks that it has left on them-are one more reason why this is a great nation. I know that those who are "different" are frequently targeted by the ignorant, the narrow, the fearful, and the shallow. And admittedly, we do breed those here in America. But embrace us anyway, and as time goes by, you will meet some of the rest of us. Thanks for adding your distinctive flavor to the American mix. And thanks for not being afraid to share your faith as well. :>}
Its so sad that our country is so stereotypical. . .Its really a way fo life though because we teach our society that!
The same problem applies to anyone else of foreign decent: Middle eastern-looking people are not all Muslim, Asians are not all Chinese or Japanese, not all non-American blacks are from Africa, just like not all whites are American or British. Unfortunately, most white-Americans can't distinct between dialects when they're not their own. I know when I hear Spanish I assume the speaker was Mexican, but make no judgment beyond that. If you care to correct me, and anyone else that calls you something you're not, then I think you'll find a lot more people will hear you than you may realize.
i truely agree with you
If you were born and raised in this country, you are not British, Spanish, Mexican, African, Arabic, French, etc. You are American. People put too much emphasis on culture, and although it has it's many merits, it tends to divide more than unite.
I am a Heinz 57. Dutch, Irish, Native American, Spanish, Welsh, German, and even have a little bit of Persian (Iranian today)in there someplace. I do not consider myself more of one than the other, nor do I embrace any culture or heritage other than American.
It is wonderful to be aware of your ancestry, but if you are American, THAT is your ethnicity - no matter where your family originally hailed from.
Democracy is not a state in which people act like sheep. - Mahatma Gandhi
I also apreciate the fact that you put it so gently. My views were expressed rather dramatically, which honestly was done more for the effect of those it was written for then for Progressive U.
You'll be happy to know that when I shared it with those who it was written for I had many people apologize and even had one girl cry. She made me cry even -- and I'm not the crying type. honesty like I said in my post. I love mexico and I love all the latin-american folks I've met (plus we have a huge Argentinian group at my church and they are amazing!)
I really liked this blog because I feel that it definitely teaches us why we shouldn't judge people because of what other people might feel about some people judging them.
Read my blog!