I know I have been speaking about race quite a bit lately and to some it might be like beating a dead horse. To me, it isn’t anything new and comes with the territory of being a minority, but one video really caught my attention. It is simply called Black and Latino. In this video it speaks of the assumptions and misconceptions of those (like me) who are Black and Latino. My father is originally from Panama and grew up speaking Spanish as well as English. To be more specific, he is a West Indian Latino meaning he also has Caribbean roots as well. In Latin America this isn’t anything mind-boggling, but here in the States many are flabbergasted when my dad fluently speaks Spanish. I will never forget one day when my family was in a restaurant and some of the servers were gossiping in Spanish about others and being sassy to not only us but to other customers as well. My dad got annoyed and went off on them in Spanish. The look on their faces is priceless. Here is this big black man just eating into them in both of their native languages. They were Mexican, which is completely different than all the other Latin countries. Don’t try and lump everything together, now. Same language, different ballgame.
I also remember calling myself Latina in middle school only to get laughed at and accused of trying not to be black from my white friends AND my black friends. I was proud of my Panamanian heritage and wanted everyone to know, but because I wasn’t a “pelo lash me back” (slang for a light-skinned and straight haired) and didn’t look Mexican I was made fun of. Of course I am black…like…DUH. However, I am also Latina. My family comes in a wide range of colors (even on my mother’s American side) and I am proud that that is my culture. Don’t you ever take away my salsa, empanadas, or red beans and rice or I will cut a chick. Viva la Raza.