Claudia Noronha Madrigal
Mankato, MN
These words are one of my earliest memories of living in the U.S. I can’t remember for sure where I was, but I think I was submitting my driver’s license application at the DMV. I don’t remember the woman’s face or her voice. I do remember the tone, dripping with condescension, as she pointed to the box I was supposed to check to indicate my ethnicity. I replied that I’m not hispanic, just caucasian. She glared, clearly not believing me, and insisted that I should check the box. That seemingly insignificant moment stuck with me. It marked the beginning of my awareness of racism and xenophobia in the U.S.
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