Ni de aquí, ni de allá
Ana Rodríguez,
Wayne State,
Antioch, IL
Selena’s dad explained it best in his monologue where he talks about how tough it is to be Mexican-American. He goes on to explain that, “Anglos jump all over you if you don’t speak English perfectly and Mexicans jump all over you if you don’t speak Spanish perfectly…We have to be twice as perfect as anyone else…We have to know about John Wayne and Pedro Infante…We have to know about Frank Sinatra AND Agustin Lara…We have to know about Oprah AND Cristina…Anglo food is too bland and yet we go to Mexico and we get the runs…Japanese-Americans, Italian-Americans, German-Americans, their homeland is on the other side of the ocean…OURS is right next door. Right over there…And we gotta prove the Americans how American we are… And we gotta prove to the Mexicans how Mexican we are… We gotta be more American than the Americans and more Mexican than the Mexicans…BOTH at the same time! Its EXHAUSTING!”
Indian or American? Why not both?
Nivedita P.,
Boulder, CO.
Why do we feel that a single label can divide us so easily? It’s more complicated than one word.
Why can’t I simply be me?
Jessica Seargeant,
Bellevue, WA.
I am half Japanese and half Caucasian. I’ve been told I’m not Asian enough by Asians and not “white” enough by Caucasians. I’ve been accused of choosing between my races when it suits me and advised to just say I’m “white.” Why can’t I just be both?
Sure, right, Jewish is a race
Anonymous,
Portland, ME
Although I’ve explained a thousand, people keep telling me that Jewish is a race not a religion. At this point, why both.
Why can’t I simply be me?
Jessica Seargeant,
Bellevue, WA.
I am half Japanese and half Caucasian. I’ve been told I’m not Asian enough by Asians and not “white” enough by Caucasians. I’ve been accused of choosing between my races when it suits me and advised to just say I’m “white.” Why can’t I just be both?
I’m too light, yet too dark
Jessica Tolentino,
Winchester, VA
I chose those six words because I am considered too dark in America but too white in Mexico. In the United States, when white people see me, the first question they ask is, “Where are you from?” I respond, “I was born in Winchester, Virginia,” and the next thing that comes out of their mouths is “No, but where are you from?” to which I respond, “I am Mexican.” Despite being born in the United States and speaking English, I will always be considered a Mexican rather than a Mexican American. When I visited Mexico a few years ago, I felt at home and like an outcast. When I was walking through the streets of Mexico City, people would call out “guera,” which is a term for white people. I was labeled as white and an American and left wondering, “Who am I?” Am I Mexican or American? and why do I never seem to be able to be both?
You look White, but I’m Black
Laureen Crooks,
Canada
Just another example of a child who learns the social construction of race. At six years old, I recall asking, “Why can’t I be both?”
Yes I can be both races
April Daniels,
Philadelphia, PA
I was always told I had to pick one race or the other. But I felt like I would be betraying one of my parents if I did so.
Bicultural and Bilingual should be enough.
Megan Medrano,
Houston, TX.
Growing up Latina in south Texas, I have always been surrounded with rich culture. My home was filled with both the English and Spanish language and I was encouraged to live both my Mexican and U.S. Latina identities. I did not realize how important an ethnic identity was until I came to college. Discussions of “what does being a real Mexican look like?” and “am I more Mexican or more American?” really pushed me to search for my identity. The hidden criticism that people like me face begs the question of “Am I Mexican enough to be considered Mexican and am I American enough to be considered American”. I soon came to realize that striving to be one or the other is not who I should be, but instead embrace the heritage and the country that has made who I am. I am both Mexican and American, bicultural and bilingual, and that should be enough.
Why do I have to pick?
Lisa Pearce,
La Marque, TX
Being mixed race has brought on everything from “oh, you look like you speak Spanish” to “don’t be so white”. Wanting to hold on to a culture but feeling like a fraud because I’m only “half” has been a challenge throughout my life. It has taken years to realize that I am who I am BECAUSE of both races and that is exactly who I want to be.
I am white. So?
Alan S. Doctor,
Cambria, CA.
I was born in San Francisco on 15 Sep 1930. Dad was Scotch/English and Mom was Polish with a dash of German. Both 1st generation born in USA.
My neighborhood friends were Hispanic, Oriental, white and refugee Jews from Germany. In high school I liked to walk home through the Fillmore district and fell in love with Dixie and other jazz. I would stop in front of the Negro clubs to listen and was frequently invited in. Never a problem.
I excelled in Army ROTC and graduated a Cadet Major. I enlisted Army in May 1949 and had Basic at Fort Ord, CA. The armed services were integrated by order of President Truman in 1947, I believe. The Army was struggling with this, still is. I remember a few black Trainees and one in my Platoon. He and I became friendly enough for me to go to his home in Compton, CA for a weekend and he came to my home in San Francisco for a weekend. We both had asked for training as an automotive mechanic and travelled together to the Ordnance Automotive School in Atlanta, GA. We departed Los Angeles via UP and were not treated well because we were Soldiers. We changed crews somewhere in Texas to SP. What a difference. Very good treatment.
Our duffle bags were delayed and we only had the OD uniform we travelled in. The bags showed up in 3 or 4 days and we had clean clothes. We decided to look around Atlanta and took the civilian bus downtown.. The driver stopped just outside the main gate and ushered all black troops to the back of the bus. We were shocked. I had heard about Jim Crow, but new nothing about it. The two of us could go nowhere together. After graduation I was assigned to an Ordnance unit at Ft. Riley, KA and saw more Jim Crow, Not as severe as in Atlanta.
On 15 Sep, 1950 I celebrated my 20th birthday in Pusan Korea and spent the next 12 months serving with the 1st Cavalry Division as an Infantry man and eventually as a Squad leader. We had a few black troopers and I don’t think that anyone really noticed. I was too busy trying to live. I was pleased to have people I could trust on my flanks.
I spent my 3rd year of active duty at Ft Huachuca, AZ where I served as the Bn. Personnel Sgt. Returned home to San Francisco, Got married and re-enlisted in the Army Reserve and, eventually, the Calif. Army National Guard. I retired with the rank of 1st Sgt. in 1981. There was a large number of Hispanic soldiers in the National Guard. My unit had one black officer and one black Platoon Sgt. I don’t recall any problems with anyone. We had a job to do and we worked together. My personal concern at that time was Vietnam. We were not ordered into active duty
thank God.
My unit was sent to perform Riot Control in Watts during the race riot in 1965. We spent 9 days on State Active Duty. We were definitely in harms way. I recall an interesting event at the border between Watts and Compton in a strip mall. We had a few of us there as guards for 2 days. The shop owners set up tables with food and cold drinks for us. A very nice, white haired lady who was black came to me. She took my hand in hers and said “Sgt. you keep those G—D— N—– out of Compton. They don’t belong over here.”
My wife passed from a kidney infection after 45 years with me. I am re-married to a lovely lady who moved in across the street. The rest of my life has been pretty White. In Cambria I have several Hispanic neighbors. Hard working, good people raising their families. My daughters are doing well. My amazing granddaughters who are middle school age are doing very well. My grandson is a disabled Veteran with 2 tours in Iraq. He wanted to be like Grandpa so he joined the Army.
I am 87 and counting. I hope to pass 100. Disability and pain be Damned!
You have to choose. Which one?
Aimee Mallery,
Rochester, NY.
My daughter is Native American on her father’s side. When faced with a form for daycare, I had to choose whether to label her Native American or Caucasian. They insisted she couldn’t be both.
I’m not just one, I’m both!
June Blanton,
Magnolia, TX.
I was raised between two family’s. One black and one white, please stop telling me that i’m one or the other. Why should I deny half of me to make YOU happy.
Is Jew a religion or race?
Hannah Herzog
St. Louis, MO
Guess what? It’s both (sort of). You may be of “Jewish” ethnicity without being of Jewish faith (non practicing), or you may be of Jewish faith, but may be from someplace other than Europe or Israel.
Please remember that Jews come in all colors, and of all nationalities. Those descendants of European or Middle Eastern Jews are typically referred to as having “Jewish” ethnicity, which to many is an important aspect of their families’ identities and common heritage. Identifying as Jewish, even as a non-practicing Jew, is critical to understanding my family’s social, political, cultural and spiritual history–and to acknowledging the violence, oppression, and hatred faced by so many of our families historically.
No, I dont have to choose
Olivia Divers,
Norfolk, VA.
When you’re mixed with black and white people always have this preconceived idea that you have to “pick” which of the two cultures and behaviors you pick up on. You’re expected to choose between “acting black” or “acting white”. I am both. I will always be both. I love both. No, I don’t have to choose.
