If you are like me, much of your physical features do not reflect the stereotypical aspects of your culture. I am of Mexican descent. Therefore, I should have very dark brown skin, be short with a big butt. Although the short part might be true, my skin color is not all that dark, and well let’s not get into the glutes part.
When someone who is meeting me for the first time asks me where I am from, I usually say Texas. If I want to be more specific, then I say Brownsville, TX. The next question I get is, ‘but where are you really from?’ I think to myself, should I take offense to that or just go with the flow and answer their question? A lot depends on the situation, but for the most part, I just repeat Texas.
My parents are both from México. They are both from the same small town in rural San Luis Potosi. Our household was never one of those stereotypical Mexican homes you see where the mom cusses out her children because they do not listen to her. The one where the mom is running around with a chancla (sandal). Most importantly, both my parents have fair skin, especially my mother.
I am extremely proud of my culture, as you can read from my other articles. I do not hesitate to say I am of Mexican descent because I am not embarrassed by where I come from. I do not say “I am Mexican” to strangers because I like to prove a point. Because I do not look white, therefore I can, in no way, be American. At least, that is the point I prove when I lead people to run into their own prejudices that a curly haired, lighter brown skin toned girl can me American.
I have been called Middle Eastern, Asian, and even European of some sort. Although I appreciate each and every culture, I can only assume the people that have thought of me as everything but Mexican have not been exposed to enough cultures to tell the difference, or they live their lives through stereotypes.
Ironically enough, I do not mind these kinds of questions and assumptions when they are worded correctly. Asking someone ‘what are you?’ or ‘where are you really from?’ is simply no way of conveying who they really are.
To be honest, I do not have it that bad because my skin is still brown and to some, I have an accent. I can only imagine what kind of situations Latinos of lighter skin, that look practically white, have run into.
This is more common than people realize it, and many times it is inevitable to assume. I can understand the confusion that non-ordinary looks bring towards people because I am human also, and it has happened to me. The difference is, I either keep quiet about it or I address it in a better way where I do not offend anyone.
Be more conscious when asking these kinds of questions because you never know what kind of response you will recieve.
