immigrated Archives - The Race Card Project

Don’t call me gringa; Soy Colombiana.

October 4, 2022October 4, 2022 AZ, colombiana, Eugenia Kristina Draper, fair skin, Garcia, Gringa, immigrated, maiden name, Scottsdale, skin color, Spanish

Eugenia Kristina Draper,
Scottsdale, AZ

I am 100% Colombian and grew up in a fully Spanish speaking family with both parents having immgigrated to the United States from Colombia . Spanish is my first language. My maiden name is Garcia. Yet, here in the states people are surprised that I am Hispanic / Latin. They stereotype me based on my fair skin and blue eyes and blonde hair and are shocked when I turn to speak Spanish to my mother or family. The irony is that this happens in reverse in Colombia; where I don’t look like everyone else and despite speaking the language fluently, am assumed to not belong and called gringa.

Will you have an arranged marriage?

March 10, 2018March 10, 2018 arranged marriage, brown woman, Canada, DC, heritage, immigrated, Indian, Indian American, Krishna Ghodiwala, Washington

Krishna Ghodiwala,
Washington, DC.

I am an Indian American woman who was born in Canada, immigrated to the US at the age of 3, and went on to receive an excellent education that has helped me pursue a successful career in US politics and issue advocacy. My Indian heritage is a big part of my identity, but for all of the cultural wealth my ethnic and geographic backgrounds have to offer to someone eager to ask questions, this one is the most common. As a brown woman, no matter what progress I bring to the table, age-old notions of exoticism and helplessness follow me around like a sad puppy. I can’t just be another young professional woman who lives a normal and independent–emphasis on independent–life. People pry for tidbits of a drama that they couldn’t even dream of partaking in: “Do your parents know you date? Would they be mad? Do you have to marry an Indian? Will you have to get an arranged marriage?” Yes. No. No. No. Just no.

I don’t need to feel proud

February 5, 2016February 5, 2016 Family, heritage, immigrated, proud, USA, White Area, White Dude, white guy

White Dude,
White Area, USA.

Well, to be honest, I’m not “proud” of being white. I’m not ashamed, I’m not proud. I don’t hang my head or puff out my chest. It’s not a huge part of me, to be honest. It doesn’t make me. So, I understand when people are proud of their race or heritage. But my family immigrated so long ago to America that by now I’m mostly just an American white straight male with nothing to be proud of other than my humor and my knowledge.

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