"Are you Italian?"
"You don't look Latina"
"You don't sound Latina"
"Then why do you look white?"
"Are you sure you're Latina?"
"You don't evens speak fluent Spanish."
"You speak English so well though."

These are just a few questions/comments people feel the need to tell me constantly. According to people I've come across, I'm too white to be a Latina. Who knew? Who knew that you could measure how Hispanic someone was?

I hate when people ask, "what are you?" Not because I'm uncomfortable being Puerto Rican, I'm just uncomfortable with the way people handle my answer. I can see them look at me and do a quick calculation in their head and most of the time the response that follows is something along the lines of the comments above. It's annoying. I didn't know that what I identify as was up for public opinion and discussion.

Let's get this straight. I am Puerto Rican! I always have been and I always will be. Just because I'm not a stereotypical Latina doesn't make me less of one. I don't eat arroz con pollo or arroz con habichuelas everyday but that doesn't make me less of a Puerto Rican. Just because I'm not fluent in Spanish doesn't make me less of a Latina. I don't have a thick accent, I don't speak broken English, none of this makes me less of a Latina.

I'm a proud Puerto Rican. I don't shout "Wepa" every two seconds, I don't have the flag posted everywhere I go but that doesn't make me less of a Puerto Rican.

I'm flabbergasted at the idea that people just can't get that through their heads. Why do I have to be mixed with Italian (why is it always Italian) for you accept me? When people tell me I look white, they tell me I should be proud of that. Why? Why should I be proud to be something I'm not?

I'm sorry I'm not the Latina you envisioned. The ones you see on T.V who play the roles of the crazy girls or the maids. Get that image out of your head. Get the image of the dark skinned girl with flowing long black curly or pin straight hair out of your head. I'm fair skinned. Yes I had long hair, but it sure wasn't curly nor straight. To be honest, I don't even know what to call it but I loved it anyway.

Latinas come in all colors and sizes. We are all beautiful and we are all "Latina enough." I don't need validation from anyone other than myself. I am a proud Latina. I am a proud Puerto Rican and that's all you need to know. I don't need someone off the street trying to make me feel less than what I am.

Yo soy boricua
I am Puerto Rican.
I am Latina
I am enough.

Got it? Good.