Most
recently, I witnessed a young man speak of how he has felt segregated
from the Hispanic community because he was mixed Puerto Rican
and black, and did not know where to turn. Others have written
me with similar stories explaining how they have experienced feelings
of isolation, and discomfort once in a circle of fellow Latino
peers. One might be amazed as to how many Puerto Ricans go through
such ordeals, and how difficult it can be for especially a young
Hispanic to be coping with hardships such as this. Some may argue
that this is not that big of a deal, and that the issue is so
minor, it is not deserving to be addressed. I beg to differ. It
is most essential for an individual to find societal acceptance
from their own culture, in order to be confident in their identity,
especially when one is in their adolescence. Identity is so important
in the process of development of a young person's life. Ignorance
among all of us exists, and always will, because we are all ignorant,
it is inevitable. The key to avoiding the excess of ignorance,
is to detect it in ourselves, and correct ourselves once we realize
that our actions or beliefs are wrong.
Someone once told me, "You don't look Puerto Rican, you look mixed."
I am sure many of us have heard similar comments in our time,
yet some of us may brush it off and not think twice about what
has been said to us. In reality, when we are confronted with such
ignorance, we are given the opportunity to become instruments
of knowledge. Puerto Ricans can look as white as some of my aunts
do, with blond hair, blue eyes, and skin as white as snow. Or,
like some of my cousins, some Puerto Ricans can have darker hair,
brown eyes, and lovely almond skin. Other Puerto Ricans can lean
more towards the beautiful African descent, and carry the radiance
of such elegant and vibrant features. We are all different and
unique, yet all equally magnificent. None of us fit a mold that
was given to us from day one. The same young man I speak of in
the beginning stated that after reading one of my previous articles,
he realized that he was, "Rican in his own special way." I told
him he was wrong, he is not a special case, or any less part of
the Latino culture than any other individual. All the dimensions
of his ethnic background are equally beautiful and alive, and
neither of them should be opressed or ignored. For all of you
who have experienced the same feelings, remember that there is
no other in this world like you. There is not one person who has
the authority to tell you that you do not belong. You do belong.
