Americanized Latino's vs all naturale Latinos

Speaking as a Boricua (Puerto Rican) who was born on the island andraised in Brooklyn, NY, I was blessed to have had parents that instilled love for my "Patria." I grew up in a very Puerto Rican home rich with culture and pride for my people and heritage. When I stepped outside my home I mingled with others as a productive member of society, but I NEVER forgot who I was. I was taught to respect the differences of others, but to NEVER allow anyone to discredit who and what I am as a Boricua.


I am Boricua first and foremost and my people come from a mixture of african slaves, Spaniards and Taino Indian,so I am a mixture of all three. Many of my people can pass for white (fair skin and light eyes), or black (black skin and nappy hair) but when asked they will respond, "I am 100% Puerto Rican and with much honor!


We are all blessed to live in this land and have much to be thankful for, but not to the point where we forget from whence we came and look down on those who came to these shores as we once did....WITH NOTHING!


Regardless where you are from and what language you speak, embrace your ethnicity. No, its not "old fashioned" or "embarassing", it's who youARE and its the blood that runs through your veins and NOTHING you or anyone else can do will change that....you were born with it and you will die with it. You can deny it, cover it up, try to pass, whatever...but YOU will KNOW that deep down inside there is something in you that is undeniable...your heritage.


Therewas a time when youth used to be ashamed of their culture and the Spanish language. Now they are dying to learn it....you couldn't beg them to read a book about their history, now theyhunger forit!


Isn't it sad that just because we cross a body of water we are easily willing to trade something that is ours and pricless for something that truly holds no value to who we are and truly isn't ours?


My late father said it best: "El que niega su patria, niega la madre que lo pario!" "He who denies his homeland, denies the mother who gave birth to him!"

What's that saying, oh ya. "you can take the Mexican out of Mexico but you can't take Mexico out of the Mexican." Listen, both my parents were born in Mexico. I've spent a lot of time visting to notice that MEXICAN MEN born and bred in Mexico are machista's. It doesn't matter if you've lived in the states from the time you were 15. Traditional and values set in and I have yet to date a Mexican Man born in Mexico to prove me otherwise. I am independant and self reliant. I DO NOT need a man to control my every move and tell me that my place is at home barefoot and pregnant. The man in my life must be willing to accept that a relationship is a two way communication and that decisions that need to be made take the both of you. This isn't the early 1900's where women were expected to stay home and cook and clean and take care of the children. Now a days it takes both the man and woman to maintain a good solid home. There are enough jerks (American, African-American, American Mexican, etc. ect) who were born in the US that we women have to deal with.