So it has come to attention that there has been a new phrase that has been officially adopted in a College textbook for a Special Topics class; Race, Ethnicity, Crime. This phrase says “Acting like you’re white”. Honestly I was astonished that this is actually a thing that a college course has implicated in their classes. When I heard the student mention this during discussion today, it hit me. I dont know how many times I’ve been told “You sound like you’re white.” or “You act like you’re white.” and quite honestly, it pisses me off.
Not that there’s anything wrong with white people because the purpose of this blog is not for that, but for the prime example of how the world views America as; White. Now let me explain to you why i believe what I believe and maybe I’ll start turning your heads in my direction … maybe.
As I sat through my lecture this afternoon it dawned on me finally about the stereotypical view that people have of this Country. For some odd reason, many people view this country as a “white country”. Where everything you do when it comes to education, speaking, careers, class, money, is deemed as “White”. As this time is such a crucial time and also a touchy time to touch on gender, race and cultures, I might as well touch on it and if I happen to offend anyone, #sorrynotsorry because right now, these are issues that need to be discussed and we are in the prime time to do it. We are the millennials and we are going to be the ones that continue this or we change this for the betterment of this country.
Growing up throughout Junior High and into High School I had 2 distinct personalities apparently. In Jr. High i was viewed as the “Beaner” which in reference means that stereotypical Mexican teen who went out to dances on Fridays, listened to nothing but Spanish music, only had Mexican friends, wore those “big, sparkly belts” around her jeans, and was always at the horse races on Sundays and not those that were held at casinos. During these years I was always called the “Rich Mexican girl”, “the girl who acted like she was too good”, etc. I know we were all raised to learn and carry stereotypes of races no matter how bad we try to argue against it. Its part of being human and the way the human brain works in wanting to categorize things into neat categories. It happened and I most definitely can own up to it. Even during my Jr. High years I was an athlete, a great student (Because God forbid you came home with anything less than a B as a Mexican girl) *stereotype* oops, but I always carried my education high and my being right up there with it because I very well knew I had goals I wanted to accomplish.
Then came High School (oh no, the high school years. Where for some reason you can’t just be yourself without a weird stereotype to follow it). Don’t get me wrong, as many of you know, HS (high school for short) was some of the toughest years of my life and I can attest to that because I know a lot of you had similar encounters. But once I got into HS, my eyes opened a whole lot more to the many doors of opportunity that were waiting to be opened. I joined organizations, focused a lot more on my sports, gained more education, made new friends, became a 2x State Champion, 1 in a group competition and the other for Public Speaking, I traveled to compete at National competitions, I applied to colleges and I graduated. Within these HS years, as a teen, I changed (like many others do when they grow a little older, learn more priorities, get closer to chasing dreams etc). I didn’t hang out with the same crowds, I made new friends (which happened to be white), I focused more on my education, my dancing, I enhanced my speaking abilities, I was able to lead and speak confidently in front of crowds (I even began listening to Country music OMG). I began shaping who I was and still am till this day. Apparently that turned into being “White”. Not because I was putting endless hours of my time and effort into one day being successful and having it all pay off, not because in my self, was what I truly wanted, but because I was simply trying to be a completely different culture/Ethnicity/Race. Yes, I matured, I grew up mentally, my fashion choice changed, instead of wearing Hollister everyday (that was the total trend back then) I liked to dress up, I liked the heels, the jewelry, blazers, etc. It was just another part of “me” I learned about and I was loving it and till this day I do.
Now to get to my point, can anyone answer this question? “Why do you have to be ‘white’ to have class? Why do you have to be ‘white’ to have an education? Why do you have to be ‘White’ to be successful? Why do you have to be ‘White’ to speak with purpose, with poise, with correct grammar and a clear voice? Why?” —I’ll wait.
Why does anyone have to be a certain Race to be successful? Why can’t Mexicans be just as successful as White people and not be considered “white”? Why can’t Black people speak with clarity and purpose without being told they’re being White? It’s a question that really got to me today and I hope it makes you all wonder just as much as I do. I mean, last time i checked, we do live in a land of opportunity, in a land where we have the ability to become educated and become SOMEONE.
So I am going to end with a quote that I hope will get everyone to really ponder this thought/question of mine. I do leave this open for anyone’s comments and suggestions.
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emmerson
Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this. God bless you all! Happy Monday and here’s to a wonderful week!
Encouraging thoughts & tiny blips of my life 