White-Little-Mexican Girl

U Drive Me Un Poco Loco

So basically, this lil diary-type thing is to explain my life as a White-Passing Latina. For those that don't know, being white-passing means being of Hispanic heritage, but also being pale and appearing to be white. 

So my life is pretty easy.

Sometimes. 

In my life, I have had exactly 4 major encounters with racists. 

1.) I told a close friend I was Cuban, and he said that he'd blow up my car...as a joke. You don't joke about blowing up my family, ever. That's just wrong. VERY wrong.

2.) I was in New York with my family. They look very Hispanic. They were cursed and blessed with beautiful tan skin. I was walking down the street with them, and a man passing yelled: "Go climb back over the wall!" As if we were Mexican. Which we're not, we're Cuban and Puerto-Rican, which are very different. I yelled back: "Cállate idiota!" Which means: "Shut up idiot!" This man had the audacity to say: "You're in America now, it's time to learn English." Ouch. 

3.)During the same trip to New York, we were all having dinner and the waitress asks: "Oh are you adopted, sweetie?" And I politely said no. But seriously?! It happens more than one would think. 

4.) I was in Walmart in Kentucky early in the morning, 3 years ago. Some random teenager walks up to me and says: "Oye Mamita!" And grabbed my ass. Not fun. (This one is more sexist than racist, but I still wanted to share it)

But what really gets me going is when I say things about being Cuban,  others say: "But you don't look Cuban, so why do you act Cuban?" Or someone tries to tell me that I can't dance to Spanish music, or speak Spanish, or try and tell me I don't have THE RIGHT to say I'm Cuban because of my skin color. That is absolute bullshit. I am just as much of a Cuban as any one of my cousins. Just because my father is Irish, and I am pale, does not give anyone the right to tell me what I am, and what I'm not. My culture is who I am, and I am proud of it. My great-grandparents risked a lot to get to this country, and to build a life for themselves and their future children. I am proud to be their Great-Granddaughter. And no one can tell me otherwise. 

Thank you for listening to my PSA