When you think of a Latina you probably imagine a beautiful girl with a nice tan, dark hair, hourglass figure, and brown eyes. But that's just one representation. The color of someone's skin is not always representative of their race.
Growing up it was easy for people to think I was white because of my last name and light complexion. Although my dad is white, my mom is Puerto Rican and I always identified more with that side of me. My mom's mother took care of me when I was a baby and during my childhood, my grandparents were always close by. This meant that I was exposed to Puerto Rican values, food, and customs more than anything else. When asked, I tell people that I am Puerto Rican and I don't feel the need to say "Oh I'm only half." or "Well, I'm half white too.".
Over the years I have noticed a prejudice towards Latinas who's skin color doesn't match the stereotype. If you're too light you're white and too brown you're black. It's never that simple. Latinas come in every color on the spectrum and living in 2018 you would think that this would be common knowledge.
However, it is common, specifically in the Latin community, to be prejudiced towards Latinas who are considered to be "too dark". They'll be given names such as "La Negra" or "Negrita." It makes me sad to think that any women or man would be discriminated against because of their skin color and told that they are not "Latin" enough based on something they cannot change.
As a Latina, I know that our culture is extremely close to our hearts. It is represented in everything we do, which is why it is hurtful when others try to make assumptions about our ethnicity based on the pigment in our skin.
All skin colors should be celebrated in the Latin community. Although colorism has improved in recent years, it is still prevalent and it's up to us to stand up for our fellow Latinas and Latinos when we see that they are being treated as lesser than due to their skin color.
All Latinos deserve to feel recognized. No matter their color.
