Magic Mirror
I find it hard to be Latina.
On a personal note, I always feel just a tad out of place.
I will never be able to blend into a crowd, because my brown skin harshly contrasts the predominant white waves wherever I go, whether I want it to or not.
I’m constantly hushed by my friends, because they don’t understand my loud nature is something I can’t help. It’s passed down to me from generation to generation.
A skinny body was never an option for me. I often find myself hating my stomach pudge, my love handles, my thighs that grow three times their size when I sit down.
My family lives 2,596 miles away and plane tickets are NOT cheap. I haven’t seen 95% of my family in five years.
On a larger scale, Latin American countries have a long history of constant struggle, which is still ongoing.
Since gaining our independence, we are like a never ending Goldilocks tale— we can’t seem to find our ‘perfect fit’.
Economically, we have bounced from system to system, none quite working. We still haven’t figured it out.
Politically, we have experienced military coups, dictatorships, unfair oligarchies— systems that have had the goal to break our spirits. Remnants of this will linger in our atmosphere for much time.
Socially, indigenous groups have been taken advantage of by larger corporations that saw them as weak and unintelligent. They are still recovering from the large amounts of abuse they’ve experienced.
I didn’t choose to be Latina.
I find it amazing to be Latina.
On a personal note, my presence is always known.
I will never be able to blend into a crowd, because my brown skin glistens wherever I go, especially when the sun is hitting juuuust right.
I’m constantly hushed by my friends, yet they will never be able to command the kind of attention I do. My expressive nature is beautiful and can make even the most mundane messages seem like intense declarations.
A skinny body was never an option for me. My grandmother made sure I was weeeelll fed with some of the most delicious Ecuadorian food you will ever try. My stomach, my love handles, my thighs are just testaments to how good I eat, and I honestly have no problem with that.
My family lives 2,596 miles away. That means my love for them, and their love for me, stretches across oceans, mountains, and rainforests. It’s a kind of love that will stand up against ANYTHING. It cannot be duplicated or bought.
On a larger scale, Latin American countries are some of the most resilient on this planet. Despite not being able to find our perfect fit, we never stop trying.
Economically, we have bounced from system to system, and regardless of still being economically underdeveloped, we still try new strategies to overcome our difficulties.
Politically, we have experienced military coups, dictatorships, unfair oligarchies— systems that have had the goal to break our spirits. Yet we still paved a way for democracy to emerge. We did NOT remain complacent with being exploited. We demanded our voices to be heard.
Socially, indigenous groups have been taken advantage of by larger corporations that saw them as weak and unintelligent, but they have proved them wrong. They have demanded to be treated fairly, taking their injustices to courtrooms, news stations, and the general public. On top of the beautiful culture they already had, they left a legacy of strength that inspires me everyday.
I didn’t choose to be Latina, but I’m learning to love it unconditionally.