Educated Puerto Rican can’t even dance!
Carmen C. Brenes Jette, Ph.D. Lexington, MA “What! You don’t look Puerto Rican!” was my other choice. I wanted to convey the power of stereotypes...
Middle-school fight, brown punished, not white
Tonia Torrence Salt Lake City, UT My six words are based on experience as a mediator for the juvenile Victim/Offender mediation program for the Salt...
I’m not pretending to be Latina
Meghan Morales Seattle, WA Even though I’m mixed race (Latina with Puerto Rican & Dominican heritage & White), my lighter toned skin provides me the...
I am a happy, Latina Woman
Gabriela Rivero Oakland, CA What’s it like being a Latina living the United States? It’s not always the most easiest thing. You have people coming...
Mixed Latina two times “different”, lonely.
Mara Andino Los Angeles, CA My parents are both Puerto Rican. My mom has red hair and freckles constantly mistaken for Northern European, my dad...
Why try, if won’t go far?
Liliana Loera Madison, WI Being an undocumented Latina for about 17 years many “friends”, teachers and other people have told me why and I even...
Too mixed too choose just one!
Tess Escoto, Citrus Heights, CA. My roots are in Texas and Mexico. While some may look at me and say that I appear to be...
Does my white mom hate me?
Michelle Martinez Tempe, AZ As a mixed child of divorced parents, a White mom and Mexican dad, I overheard a lot of racist talk in...
My name and skin don’t match.
Jennifer Lopez Salt Lake City, UT Don’t match your assumptions, that is. It certainly doesn’t help to have the same name as a famous Latina,...
Working twice as hard as others.
Monica Alejo Tinley Park, IL As a Latina I have to work twice as hard as my colleagues to gain recognition.
But you aren’t white, are you?
Sally Oakland, CA I am white but I grew up in Alabama where my tan skin and my dark hair and eyes made everyone question...
Black Latina not AfricanAmerican, neither Latina
Diama Gabriel Miami, FL I’m in between waters. I’m not African American for the black Americans, and I’m not a Latina for the Latino community....
I’m not half white, still mixed.
Brandi Artez Boston, MA I’ve had this debate a lot over the years, where usually white people, will tell me that I’m wrong to consider...
Not what you think I am.
Briana Ciccarino Baltimore, MD “Are you Latina/Hispanic?” this is the question I often get when meeting new people. I appreciate the compliment and wish I...
I’m not Hispanic, thanks for asking.
Elizabeth Norris Taylor Fernandina Beach, FL I have lived my entire life with people coming up to me and asking, “what are you?” For a...
I stole scholarships from the needy.
Kristy Bryan Indianapolis, IN Race-based scholarships were meant to help increase the numbers of minorities in universities, but I felt like a fraud when I...
You don’t look like a Latina
Marie-Elena Reyes Portland, OR I have been speechless when told this (often by white women). The first time, I was angry and hurt to hear...
Little Latina girl learns to accommodate.
Aracely Coronado Philadelphia, PA As a Latina born in San Francisco, CA, educated with wealthy white kids, I learned to navigate their world, it was...
