Sunday, November 16, 2008

Brown is the new black ...




In case you didn't know, Latinos are now facing the same kind of discrimination that historically African Americans have been faced with. Apparently membership in the KKK has risen due to a lot of anti-immigration fear & anxiety with the immigrants coming from Mexico rather than other countries.

I also read an article this past week in the New York Times about 7 teenagers in Long Island, NY who went out looking for a "Mexican"to beat up. They found Marcelo Lucero, an legal immigrant from Ecuador who had lived in the US for 16 years. They beat him, stabbed and killed him. It's a horrible reminder of how racism is alive and well in the U.S.

According to government statistics, racism against Mexicans in the US is escalating steeply. The FBI reports that hate crimes against Latinos rose almost 40 percent between 2003 and 2006. And it's getting worse.

All this reminds me about an incident that happened to me about 2 years ago. I was shopping at my local grocery store in Orange County (before our move here to San Diego), and I was wearing an Aztec calendar medalion around my neck. While I'm standing at the checkout stand the latino guy bagging my groceries says to me in spanish, "Are you sure you want to be advertising that you're a Mexican, it's not a good idea". I guess he had the inside scoop about what was to come.

Growing up, my mother put a lot of effort into making me fit in. I suppose she was trying to protect me from the racism she received for being a latino. Her theory was that if I dressed the part and looked the part, maybe people wouldn't find out that I was a Mexican. When I was 12 she took me to get my hair dyed auburn red, I continued doing that until I was 18. The plan was to present myself as a "white" person. So whenever I went to a new school (lots of schools, 2 jr highs and 6 high schools), my mom told me when asked about my ethnicity I should say Greek, Italian or even Jewish, but never say "I'm Mexican". The other thing that she would always say is "make sure you say your name is Padilla like Vanilla". It should have been pronounced "pu-dee-ya", but if I did that then they might figure out I was a Mexican. I'm actually thinking of publishing all the creative tips used to assimilate me, or maybe I'll just call it "100 Ways to Pretend Your Not A Mexican" =)

The good news was that once I became an adult I realized I had the freedom to be myself and I stared to embrace my heritage, no matter what the reaction or consequence might be.

So, back to they story of Marcelo. Like many Latino immigrants, he came here to work hard, even for meager wages, and just wanted to make a living. It's a tradgedy that most American's don't understand what life is like on the other side of the border and that's why there's so little compassion about the issue.

During last weekend's Project Mexico trip, we took several groups of the home-building volunteers over to meet Marisol, my friend that lives in Colonia San Bernardo. I've observed that by spending some time with her and seeing her family and hearing a bit of her story opinions on this whole immigration issue can really be shaped, in a positive way.

So my hope for you, is that you get to know a hispanic, and you get extra points if they are undocumented. I know for a fact that it's an awesome experience to love someone that doesn't fit into your comfort zone.

5 comments:

Jon Hall said...

Right on, mi amor.

Rob Yackley said...

Too true. It'll be an awesome day when Paul's words to the Church in Galatia are truly lived both inside and outside the church: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28).

Anonymous said...

And then there is me - not white enough for some, not dark enough for others. The advantage being people are too confused to hate me
Stef

Dana said...

Hi Sophia,
My name is Dana Groff, I met you several times at Canyon Hills and at the Reynolds house. Maybe you don't remember me? I just want to tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I'm not sure how I ran across it, but it's awesome. I work in San Juan Capistrano teaching parenting classes to Mexican Mommies. I LOVE my job and I love these parents and their children. They are here, in our country, to better their lives and the lives of their children. Shame on people who say "send them home." They have no idea what these people have been through. We need to educate them, help the children do well in school and society, and teach them the ways of the land. I have become "great friends" with many of the undocumented parents in my program. I respect and cherish them, and I hope they do the same with me.
Kudos to you for speaking your mind!
Respectfully, Dana
check out my family website if you have time...groffstuff.blogspot.com

Sophia said...

Hi Dana! I do remember you. Thanks so much for being a part of the solution and for showing kindness to those less fortunate. I really do appreciate your comments! Thanks for stopping by =)