Puertorriqueño. Americano. Two identities. One country.
Daniel A. Ramos
Columbus, OH
The story ran about Alisha on 5/23/13 really struck accord with me. I was born in Ohio to a family that still held a very strong Puerto Rican identity in a very large Puerto Rican community west of Cleveland. When I was young I didn’t know the difference between my culture and mainstream American culture. I grew up knowing what Spanish was and understanding my parents and extended family, but didn’t think it was any different from my Italian or Eastern European friends whose families spoke their native language. Only when I went away to college did it hit me that I was considered a minority. As I gained a greater understanding of what that meant, I naturally developed a strong dual identity. I was no longer just American. But I was Puerto Rican American.
But like Alisha I also have problems speaking Spanish. After my younger brother was born, my parents stopped speaking Spanish in the household. Over time I lost my ability to speak Spanish. So in high school and college I made it a point to re-learn my parents’ language. However, while even re-learning my Spanish I still was reminded of the duality that is my cultural identity. Once in a higher level Spanish class in college my professor made a statement using me as an example that still is stuck in the back of my mind. The class was Latin American history and civilization and we were covering the section on Latin American immigration into the United States. My professor was Puerto Rican herself, and used my identity to contrast to hers, stating that while she was Puerto Rican because she was born and raised in Puerto Rico and that I was American, and not truly Puerto Rican, because I was born in the U.S. – despite being raised in a family that still kept many of the traditional Puerto Rican cultural activities and the Spanish language alive, where my grandparents and many of my aunts and uncles, including my father, were born in Puerto Rico.
Now, because Puerto Rico is an American territory, that adds an additional complicating factor on all of this. It raises several questions in my own mind. Am I less Latino because Puerto Ricans are born American citizens? Because Puerto Rico is so Americanized, what is the true Puerto Rican culture? Will Puerto Rico possibly becoming a state change my cultural identity?
Thank you Richard and Mildred Loving
Sharon Holley
Columbus, OH
Without the sacrifices of the Lovings, I may not have been able to marry the person I love.
Trapped Brown Girl with Red Blood
Michele George,
Author,
Columbus, OH.
The struggle of being born in a brown body is heavy. Society treats ‘us’ as though we choose to have brown skin, choose to be persecuted, choose to be who we are created to be. The irony is my red is blood. The blood of those that kill me and bully me for being me is read. But they only see my skin-as if my red blood means nothing. In America it doesn’t. The inhumanity of being brown in America causes constant stress and anxiety to myself and my family. You see, I’m a brown girl with red blood who has birthed 2 brown boys. I’ll stop there, because that burden makes living exhausting / yet worth it because I love my beautiful brown babies. I hope others respect their red blood
I worked hard to get here
Michael Toth
Columbus, OH
I get that yes in theory as a white male I have a head start in life, but I most certainly did not have it handed to me on a silver platter. I worked hard to get into college and am still working hard to make the massive student loan debt worth it when I get a good job. I would not even be in college if it was not for a small (and I mean less than close to covering 4 years of college) account left to me that covers the holes left by loans, grants and scholarships. I understand that concern for non-whites and non-males is important, hell I support it. But please don’t forget that just because a guy is white, that does not mean he does not need help or that he worked any less hard to get where he is.
Racial stereotypes…killing mankind…hearts blind?
Amber Jackson Baswell,
Columbus, MS.
As a military brat I was naïve, sheltered. It was only when my father was stationed in the deep South that “RACE” entered my vocabulary. I was shocked as a 15 year old (back in ’95) to see that churches, schools, hangouts, even the local beauty pageants were segregated! Blew my mind. So much emphasis on the color of ones skin when we all bleed red and what matters most in a (wo)man comes from deep within.
Successful, Black, Gay, a family’s shame…
Karim Ali,
Columbus, OH.
I suppose I have been pondering my Race Card (TM) entry for a few months. When I read the comments of Michael Sam’s father (Michael Sam Sr.) about his disappointment in his son for being gay, I was nearly in tears, as it reminded me of my own coming out with my family (namely my parents) and among my larger family, my fellow Black Americans. Mr. Sam (Sr.) was disappointed in his only son to attend college and whom will likely have a very positive impact on his family and society. Similarly, many of the men in my extended family have been incarcerated, fathered fatherless kids, dabbled in drug addiction, and crime. I have been fortunate to have achieved the highest level of education in my family (MBA/JD), I am a partner at a large Ohio law firm, I volunteer extensively and mentor many young black youths/young professional, but I still sense the immense disappointment and judgment from many in the Black community in general, and from my father in particular. My 6 words captures my personal struggle with being Black and gay.
I am a human being uniquely made
Catherine Liguore,
Columbus, OH
I am a white, conservative woman in my middle years. I grew up poor but with a lot of sacrifice, perseverance and overcoming many obstacles, I would be considered upper middle class now. I am fit, young looking for my age and dress in classic style.
I am also immediately judged for being a snob, intolerant, racist, homophobic, anti-women, anti-immigration – I guess the opposite of ‘woke’. This is undeserved – I’m being judged by the color of my skin/hair and where I live. Without even trying to get to know me! Black women are immediately hostile to me, even though I approach them as the equals we are. I don’t proselytize, I’m not hostile smug or unkind but I’m treated as such by anyone with a darker skin tone than mine – without me haven spoken a word. I don’t have political (or any) stickers on my car – I am just a human being trying to connect with other human beings. It didn’t used to be this way when I was younger. People were just people – if you were kind people were kind back.
Black people weren’t being told they are victims of a society that will never accept them do why even try, but instead told they had the potential for greatness just like we all do. Minorities with something to offer their new country came to the US to build the life they couldn’t in their home country due to war, racism, classism, corruption and they did well, instead of being told they’re entitled to enter even if they won’t be successful or don’t want to integrate.
If you don’t want to be judged don’t judge. Every person is different – seek out those who respect you and then respect them. If you want to be successful, don’t let opinions hold you back. Get an education, learn a trade, don’t have children until you’ve completed at least high school and not until you are married. Always work – and no matter how humble your job is, do your very best. Start saving when you are young – even if it’s just $20/month – save without ceasing! Stay out of jail and away from people who lead you down bad paths. Yes, you may have to embrace loneliness sometimes but stay focused, it will pay off! Don’t use drugs – not even alcohol.
None of them are harmless. Don’t smoke and try to get a little exercise every day even if it’s just a walk around the block – it helps with depression, type 2 diabetes and weight. You’ve got this – your race is not your excuse to underachieve. Many have gone before you and have done marvelous things. You can you.
Most of all – don’t judge others by how they look.
We are all of the human race.
Tommy Edward Sarmiento,
Columbus, OH.
Don’t wash anything, with color, with darkness nor with white light. All human beings have a right to express and interpret and grow within themselves ideas; ideas of love, of what we fear, what makes us think “isn’t that strange?” Freedom and equity should belong to each human. We should love unconditionally. There’s only one problem, we just don’t. Somewhere along the lines we learned another way, we learned of hatred and of inequalities and have done things that no amount of time nor reparations a can ever erase. Perhaps it’s best not to erase, seeing as though that which is not recorded and passed down cannot be learned from. There’s too much to lose from erasing racism and the unfairness and brutal actions of the past. We can only forgive and grow to achieve harmony as a human race.
Not fully White, not fully Black
Anonymous,
Columbus, OH.
I am mixed race and have always felt in the middle in terms of race. “Legally” I am Black and more often than not experience the same benefits and determents as the Black side of my family. I have also had the misfortune of being mistreated by both races for being “light skinned” or “dark”, depending on who is speaking. It is odd that being brown can mean so much depending on your company. Aside from my brother, it is also a very lonely feeling to be mixed and identify with both.
Why can’t we see white privilege?
Miriam Mayteson,
Columbus, OH.
White privilege is everywhere, but so many of us white people can’t or won’t see it. How can we change that?
Dwayne Fries; the other white Dwayne.
Dwayne Lee Fries,
Columbus, OH.
My name is Dwayne, and I’m white. Hi Dwayne!
I was unwittingly named Dwayne.
Two weeks before my taking over an inner city restaurant as a General Manager, my name was on a schedule. I heard all the stories of how everyone was like, “finally, we got a brother in charge!” Then my arrival day, “They got us again!”
I’ve served in the US Navy as an electronics technician and the US Air Force as an electrical and pneumatic technician. I’ve put in thousands of resumes and applications for more than a decade. I refuse to put I’m white on it. None of the thousands have amounted to anything. Most notable, one response came back with “While your experience is impressive, we are seeking candidates with a different background.”
I had all of the credentials to do that job easily. my background was military experience, which is illegal to discriminate against, and my black name, Dwayne.
Race is socially constructed to oppress
Carla Corroto,
Columbus, OH.
Race is a socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that DOMINANT members of a society consider important, because it benefits them in some way to do so
Racism definitely exists for a reason
Johnson,
USA.
I am sick to death of people trying to pretend like there aren’t legitimate reasons for racism. Not always, but they are there. I was raised not to be racist and people say racism is a learned behavior…yeah…I learned it myself from being around blacks. Black people can’t see it like everyone else because they’ve been raised that way their entire life so it’s completely normal and acceptable behavior to them that they cannot see objectively. To them it’s normal to be loud, obnoxious, confrontational, and inconsiderate. I know this is not all blacks but through countless personal experiences in several different areas/states/locations/situations I would argue that it’s most of them….especially when they’re around other blacks.
I have seen, numerous times, black people act like normal everyday regular people until another black person walks up and they suddenly turn into something completely different, their mannerisms, speech, accent, body language….everything changes….they go from being a black person to a n***** in 2 seconds….wtf?!? This is a trait only significant to black americans. I’ve had every other race (including African) of friends and never witnessed this with them but have with every single African-American I know.
Which leads me to another point….Your parents were born here? You were born here? You’re American!! Just because youre black doesn’t always mean you came from Africa anyway. Black people do exist on other continents you know? Dave Matthews is African American and he’s white.
Anyway here’s an example: I was in a gas station a few weeks ago here in Columbus it was around lunch time so there was a long line at the counter comprised of whites, Mexicans, Asians, Indians, and Somalians. The place is pretty quiet as people are patiently waiting in line…..
In walks 3 black people. Immediately start being loud and obnoxious, drawing attention to themselves, yelling at each other and cackling at the top of their lungs. Two of them start cussing each other out over what kind of pop to get and making absolutely sure they’re doing it loud enough for everyone to hear. Then when they get in line they all immediately start yelling and complaining to the clerks to hurry up, and loudly talking about how they’re stupid and should hire people who know how to do their job and blah blah blah….Nobody else in line was complaining at all understanding that sometimes places get busy and things might take longer than usual…not these black guys though.
Want another?? My step-mother’s Daughter-in law was raised in farmland Ohio around nothing but white people her whole life. I grew up on the south side of Chicago before moving here around the age of 16. She would always argue with me that racism was BS and black people were just the same as white people…etc.
She moves to Charlotte NC, gets a job as a waitress. Within only one month she’s been spit on, cussed out several times, and almost physically assaulted (all separate incidents) by the black clientele. Treated with respect by every other race. So after like almost 40 years of preaching anti-racism–she became a full blown racist in a matter of weeks NOT because of white people she LEARENED to be racist from blacks.
