It’s amazing to me to see that, besides dealing with racism and discrimination from the Anglos, we also have to deal with it from our own people. I grew up with a Spaniard father, who had European features and a Puerto Rican mother who was light skinned with Latina features…my sister and I are products of that combination… I have light skin and european features and she is darker skinned and coarse curly hair. In the confines of our home I never knew anything different until I got older. The first time I felt discriminated and prejudiced against was when I was 9 years old. My sister and were invited to a neighbor’s pool but after 15 mins of being there, their mother threw us out calling us low lives and dirty. I grabbed my sister and ran out of there crying to my mom and Aunt telling them what happened. Needless to say my aunt and my father let them have it. They were Spaniards, and their mother was against us because my mom was Puerto Rican. How ridiculous can that be especially now when I look back and think just how ignorant that woman was, especially to have made two young girls feel dirty and ashamed. I won’t ever forget how that made me feel!
As the years went by and I got older I had to come to my sister’s defense many times because the white kids in our school would taunt her and at times physically hit her.I had to do alot of fighting when I was young in particular to protect my sister. I was never bothered much cause of my appearance and being able to blend in. In a conversation with my mom one day, she told me how there was discrimination within our own family. She recounted the story of how my great-grandmother refused to set foot in my grandmother’s house when she married a dark skinned Puerto Rican man. I have heard these stories from many Latinos throughout my life and I think it’s ridiculous and absurd. I had a neighbor who years ago told me that her dad would not speak to her for 15 years because she married a dark-skinned Puerto Rican man and she was light-skinned. This I know also happens amongst blacks cause I’ve heard the same stories. This boils my blood everytime I hear it!
In the workforce I noticed how discrimination happens amongst our own people. I would see certain latino colleagues getting ahead but if another latino in the office or in their own department was trying to get ahead they would undermine them in order for them to either not be promoted or have them fired. This is completely unacceptable to me, I have to say I admire the Asians and the Hasidic jews cause they help each other and don’t have to know the person just the fact that they are Asian or Hasidic is enough for their own to help them get ahead. If we as Latino’s instead of hating on each other would come together and help each other we would be soooooooooo far ahead right now instead of behind. We may be making hugh strides but the discirmination amongst our own sets us back…..we are the majority in this country and should behave with honor and respect instead of acting ignorant and street. They(Anglo) don’t need anymore fuel to their fire and we should not be giving it to them.
We are 22 Spanish speaking countries strong and we all have the same language in common, same culture and upbringing so instead of fighting with each other and discriminating against each other. Let’s show them that we are united and strong and proud to be Latino!!! Help your fellow latin brother or sister succeed and get ahead and stop all the Hating!!!
by Rosie G.
About Being Latino Contributors
Unfortunately, this is a sad fact of the Latino life. Another fact is that no one will change unless they want to change. However, we as individuals have a choice. We can reject the old ways of thinking and treat others as we want to be treated. We can also teach our children to do the same.
The beauty of this is that we are speaking out against racism and we’re not being hypocritical about it. Racism is racism no matter the source and we will not tolerate it.
Kudos, Rosie!
Hi Efrain, great blog post. Racism still occurs in all races even within one group. I know when I was in Puerto Rico some of my cousins and family seem to have some indifferences towards Dominicans which is something I didn’t understand. We are practcially the same but from different nationalities. The same in countries like Mexico, where telenovelas and media always have the spotlights on the light skinned,Iberian looking Mexicans but not on the darker skinned mestizos who have more Ameri-Indian features. I guess it’s just the individual not the group like the story you blogged about.
This is so true! I couldn’t have said it any better myself. It’s a shame how some latinos think they are better than other Latinos. I just don’t get it! Great post!
Great post…with unfortunate truths. The sad reality is that it happens far too often. In many Latino countries racism is also evident in politics, wealth, etc.
It is a sad state when Latinos (many making great strides) are in a position to help each other move forward but the ugliness that is racism keeps building barriers. I believe that we can all take steps to learn a little about each other and began to dispel the myths that separate us.
Hello Frank. The blog was written by Rosie Galvez and yes it is a great post. I only published the Blog. Gracias y Pa’lante!
It happens everywhere among all countries in the world where Europeans have touched. It cannot change. Old mindsets die hard…or not at all.
I totally agree with you Rosie. I definitely had my share of racism while growing up. We are all equal and your skin color or status does not make you any better. We still have a long ways to go but I have to say things have gotten a little better. We all have to work together to rebuild our communities and establish a bright future for the young ones. They are the next generation of teachers, doctors, politicians and artists. The example we set today will set them on the right path to success and happiness. I love my people, and I need my people. Lets do it together!!!
Si, pero pienso mas damaging is the idea of CLASS among Latinos. O status. I work with a community advocacy org for Hispanics y the bridge mas dificil for people cross is one of different levels of education, church affiliation y job prestige.
Totally agree especially the part about discrimination in the workforce. Experienced it myself from other Latinos and Hispanics. And yes it is so true Asian and Jewish folks show loyalty by helping each other out. Maybe I should try passing as Filipino:)