Opinions

Transcending race in the United States

In print | March 27, 2008

Last week was MULTi-week, a week for individuals to question diversity and our multicultural society. I found myself contemplating what it is like to be multi and how I can be representative of my cultures. Much of this column will be a personal reflection, rather than addressing broader topics as I have in past columns.

My mom is white, her country/ies of origin unknown. When people ask her what she is, she merely replies “American.” My dad is Mexican, and although people rarely ask him where he’s from (the majority of Hispanic people living in Texas are of Mexican descent) he has fondly tried to impart his knowledge of his indigenous ancestry and pride of his cultural history to me. For my own personal reasons that have taken many years to solidify, when people ask me what I am, I reply “Hispanic” without blinking an eye.

For anyone who has taken a good look at me, it isn’t hard to believe that often people raise a questionable eyebrow at my response. Due to iron-deficiency and distaste for outdoor activities, I have encountered people who doubt my claim, which, while a bit arrogant, is somewhat understandable. They do not know my family, they do not know where or who I am from. “No, really,” I insist, but the response is often the same. I have been accused of lying, living in cultural denial and using my last name to cheat the system. The hesitation of many people to accept me as a Latina has often left me questioning what possible relevance I could have in my community when all I can offer people is my last name.

I have come to the realization that I can contribute an understanding for the different cultural identities that exist in this world without being cynical or judgmental, while still holding strong to my cultural identity. What I have to offer as a Hispanic female with a diverse cultural background are different ideas, values and a voice. I am not ashamed of being part Mexican or part white. The pride I have for my culture and the love I have for diversity (cultural, class, gender, political, sexual orientation — the more the merrier) is unyielding. I am not trying to speak for anyone, but I hope that society in general can understand the importance of being an ally for diversity.

It’s not okay to normalize a person based on their culture. It is not okay to ostracize people of different cultural backgrounds. And for the record, this includes white people. Too often I hear of people being actively excluded from certain groups because of this. That is racism, and thinking you can generalize a person and deny them cultural significance is ignorant. There is so much personal value in examining what your culture means to you, as well as what it means to those around you.

Hopefully an opportunity to do both will present itself to you this week in a supportive and understanding environment. In the immortal words of Sly and the Family Stone, we’ve got to live together. So why not make the most of it?

Lauren is a sophomore. She can be reached at lmendoz1@swarthmore.edu.