Americanized: “La Gringa”

When I lived in Utah, ignorant remarks wouldn’t be as blatant; people would just make dumb jokes. Usual things I’d hear would be generalizing all Hispanics as Mexicans or people assuming I’m Mexican (and I’m not; there are 20 other Spanish speaking countries), being asked if I “speak Mexican”, and getting judgmental remarks about the food I’d bring to lunch. I even knew a girl who would mock and ridicule me every time she heard me talking to my family or friends in Spanish, saying things like “Taco sombrero burrito”. 

Since there are so many more Hispanics in Utah and at the school I went to, considering the geodemographics, people were more accustomed to the kind of diversity there; so these things wouldn’t really happen. This was something that shocked me when I moved here. Hispanics are so much more foreign to people here, and I wasn’t used to feeling so out of place. Because of this, I feel it’s more important than ever for me to stay in touch with my roots and be proud of where I come from. 

But what disturbs me the most is that I know if I was brown, I would have a lot more of these stories to tell. Usually, people don’t know that I’m Latina until they hear me speak with my family, hear my parents’ accents, or learn my name; but I can’t even imagine how much worse things are for Brown Latinxs. If I wasn’t white-passing, all of those experiences could’ve potentially happened before people heard me or got to know me. I would just be immediately “spotted”. I think it’s important to acknowledge this, as colorism is very prominent and active in our society. So even with these bad experiences I’ve had, I know that some other people have it much worse.

Once, my mom and I were having a discussion with a previous music instructor I had. He asked us if there were CDs in Colombia. Even if that sounds unbelievable, this is how many people think. Our countries can be thought of as extremely underdeveloped, and those stereotypes imprint onto the people. 

As frustrating as it is to constantly hear ignorant remarks from people, it feels as if I’ve gotten “used to it”. I recall a time later in my freshman year when a kid at my lunch table told me to “get deported”; I didn’t care nearly as much as I would have before. I’d gotten so used to people saying things of the same matter and I know that if it would have happened any earlier, I would’ve been extremely upset about it. But it didn’t affect me as much anymore, and that shows a much deeper problem than a simple lack of concern. Rather, it reflects our society’s forced desensitization as a whole. 

I’ve never felt as if I had to be more American; it’s always been the opposite for me. Because of all these things I’ve experienced and what other people like me are experiencing, it’s always been instinctive that I should be proud of who I am, embrace it, and express it. But even while knowing this, I still feel hesitant. At times I feel that people get irritated if I bring up my roots multiple times and I worry that I’m “rubbing it in their faces.”

Ever since moving here, I still get scared out in public that someone will overhear my family and me talking and make rude remarks. When my dad announced that we were moving to San Francisco at the end of Sophomore year, the first thought that came into mind was that there would be more people like me. San Francisco’s Latinx population is 15%, 39% in California overall. Being that this was the first thing I thought of, it’s sad because I shouldn’t have to be grouped together with people of the same cultural background to feel comfortable with myself.

My parents always taught me to stay true to myself. They continuously remind me about how Latinxs face just as much oppression as other minorities, even though it seems as if nobody really talks about it. My dad immigrated to the US in 1994 from Costa Rica and my mom around the same time from Colombia. They constantly emphasize how lucky I am to be living here, and that their immigration gave me opportunities I would’ve never received if still living in Latin America.

Yes, I will always be called “la Gringa” by my family, being the only American born out of all of us. Yes, some Hispanics who were born and raised in their countries probably think of me as “whiter” than them. Yes, I go by Dani because I don’t like the sound of my full name (Daniela) in English. Yes, people may sometimes still talk to my mom slowly and loudly thinking it’s necessary because of her accent. And yes, it’s guaranteed that I will sometimes feel out of place with my other American friends, but that’s just what’s bound to happen when a mix of backgrounds is introduced. 

Despite all of its disadvantages, however, I am, like how my parents always say, still grateful to be living in this country.

Honestly, I don’t really know if I’ve found a balance between my two cultures and that’s okay. Cultural identity is a confusing concept to attempt to grapple. But in the end, I know that no matter what, I’ll always stay true to who I am.