Luchy Gonzalez
As a growing Afro-Latina I was constantly having to pick and choose parts of myself that fit society's expectations. Living in a country that struggles with race inequalities, I was never fully accepted by the Hispanic or black youths in my school because I’m biracial. I had witnessed a denial of Dominican heritage derived from years of intolerance, violence against Black Dominicans and Haitians, and corrupt Dominican politics. The adversity I faced throughout my life because of these issues greatly shaped the woman I am today.
My mother would always say everything happens for a reason. When I was eight years old, one of my third grade classmates asked me why I spoke funny. I’m using the word classmate because I can hardly call this girl a peer. We might be the same age and of the same coloring book abilities, but we shared nothing else. We came from completely different backgrounds, …show more content…
When she asked this question, I tilted my head in confusion. Why is this girl questioning something that was my normality? It never occurred to me before that me speaking to my mother in her native language that rolled so beautifully off our tongues with such a rhythm, could ever be considered weird. Later when I got home from school and my mother inquired about my day while doing my hair in two colitas (braids) one on each side of my tender head, I asked her if she would stop speaking to me in Spanish. From this day on I subconsciously continued to whitewash my mannerisms and continence. This hurt no one but myself because I would eventually lose something dear to me, my identity. I had no idea who I really was, I only knew who I was trying to be. I tried to be someone who would be accepted and not treated with prejudice just because of her skin color. I lost my ability to speak Spanish fluently, that rhythm. I'd lost the cultural connection I’d once shared with my family. My life had become someone else's and I was a
As a growing Afro-Latina I was constantly having to pick and choose parts of myself that fit society's expectations. Living in a country that struggles with race inequalities, I was never fully accepted by the Hispanic or black youths in my school because I’m biracial. I had witnessed a denial of Dominican heritage derived from years of intolerance, violence against Black Dominicans and Haitians, and corrupt Dominican politics. The adversity I faced throughout my life because of these issues greatly shaped the woman I am today.
My mother would always say everything happens for a reason. When I was eight years old, one of my third grade classmates asked me why I spoke funny. I’m using the word classmate because I can hardly call this girl a peer. We might be the same age and of the same coloring book abilities, but we shared nothing else. We came from completely different backgrounds, …show more content…
When she asked this question, I tilted my head in confusion. Why is this girl questioning something that was my normality? It never occurred to me before that me speaking to my mother in her native language that rolled so beautifully off our tongues with such a rhythm, could ever be considered weird. Later when I got home from school and my mother inquired about my day while doing my hair in two colitas (braids) one on each side of my tender head, I asked her if she would stop speaking to me in Spanish. From this day on I subconsciously continued to whitewash my mannerisms and continence. This hurt no one but myself because I would eventually lose something dear to me, my identity. I had no idea who I really was, I only knew who I was trying to be. I tried to be someone who would be accepted and not treated with prejudice just because of her skin color. I lost my ability to speak Spanish fluently, that rhythm. I'd lost the cultural connection I’d once shared with my family. My life had become someone else's and I was a