I am lucky to be white. This is a fact I have had to slowly come to terms with over the years. I am lucky to be white. Before, I had never thought about how often my skin color smooths over social interactions in the US – people always assume I belong there, no one questions me because I look different, I’m not treated differently from anyone else simply because I come from a different background. I’m lucky.
But what I hadn’t counted on was that privilege, that white privilege, transferring over into the Cuban culture. Of course it’s annoying sometimes to always be singled out as American wherever I go, but I hadn’t counted on it being harder for my Mexican-American roommate to not be seen as American.
I have seen the scene play out multiple times. Cubans simply refuse to believe that she is from the US like the rest of our student group because, unlike the rest of us, she has darker skin and speaks fluent Spanish. Same struggle, different country. I look American and so people assume I belong. She doesn’t look American and so people question her.
The other day she read me part of a letter she wrote to a friend describing this issue. I asked her if I could republish it here since she so eloquently describes issues which I have never had to face. Here’s what she has to say.
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I am a proud Chicana, Mexicana and American.
Cuba has brought to surface this American patriot sentiment I wasn’t aware I had.
Whenever I am asked where I’m from I reply, “Los Estados Unidos – the United States” and they stare at me in disbelief. And they have this impulse to say, “No pero de donde eres, enserio? No, where are you really from, seriously? Tienes sangre Latina? Do you have Latina blood? Mexico? Chile? Guatemala?”
Then it turns into a pop-quiz of how many Latin American countries they can say in less than minute. After giving them a hard time, I acknowledge my Mexican native roots. Which causes them to completely forget that I said I was American. It doesn’t bother me that they are able to see my Latina features and assume that I’m Latina, since I am proud of my descent and my culture. What bothers me is how they aren’t able to see the various faces that America has to offer. America isn’t just the stereotypical white skinned, blonde haired citizen – but a conjunction of immigrants with different backgrounds and characteristics.
Skin: white, black, brown, yellow.
Hair: brown, black, blonde, red.
Height: tall, short.
Religion: Jew, Christian, Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim.
And so on. Each and every one of them American.
Now with the president elected I’m scared for those who don’t look like the image of a well-established American. Our president should be able to understand and respect the diversity of the people, but realistically speaking I don’t believe that Trump will ever be able to.
-Sara Gonzalez-Quintero
*This text was adapted slightly for blog format.
Kesia Lee 