Gringo, you can’t teach my child!!
William B. Cogswell,
Salinas, CA.
You’re to White to be Mexican
Chris Ingram
West Covina, CA
I grew up with Latinos all my life, I feel more comfortable around a Hispanic person than any other person. But unfortunately to some kids I hung around, I was considered different, I was the “Guero” or the “Gringo”. But on the inside I was Brown as dirt. I talked the same, walked the same, spoke the same, and to tell me I was to white to be part of your ethnic background, it was unbelievable. However, as I grew up and moved to a predominately white college, I was considered basically the opposite, I was white on the outside but brown on the inside by most of the Latinos on campus, and was considered to brown on the inside to be considered white, regardless of whats on the outside. Its not the perfect scenario, but there never is, and I’m ok with that.
Not Everyone Whose Hispanic Speaks Spanish
Isaiah Santiago
Philadelphia, PA
My names Isaiah Santiago and I am Puerto Rican. Being Puerto Rican and being different is always something that I’ve dealt with in my life. I’ve always been called things like gringo(white boy) or just a fake Puerto Rican. All of this comes back to me not speaking Spanish. Everyone always assumes since I’m Hispanic I know Spanish, which is not true at all. I am 100% Puerto Rican and both of my parents speak Spanish but i do not. I just never learned over the years and i probably won’t but that doesn’t mean i don’t take pride in my culture it just means i don’t speak Spanish nothing more nothing less.
Dark White Guy, Please Stay Mute
Joe DiPietro
Oakland, CA
As a short, dark white guy who’s been called “kike,” “spic,” and “raghead” by white guys, “gringo” or “anglo” by Hispancis, “dago” and “WOP” by blacks, I’ve learned what voice I have in the discussion about race and ethnicity. None. Yeah, I know–I haven’t lived the oppression. I’ll be a good boy and shut up now. Hope that pleases everyone.
