What It's Like to Be Latina At This Awful Moment in US History

I am an 'American of Spanish descent'. That's what my mom and dad taught us to say whenever asked. Spanish is my first language, and I was trained to not speak English with an accent. My mom was fair skinned, my dad was dark, but neither looked 'ethnic'- My dad's high school nickname was Spic. It's in his yearbook from 1948. I have been told that I 'Pass for white', so I am safe. IN NEW YORK.  I still speak Spanish but my current neighborhood are predominantly white republicans. The only other Hispanics are laborers, and we do converse but always in hushed tones when white people are around. 

 

I have lived in the United States my entire life. I have never been afraid to be me, to speak my language, to go out and socialize- yet this past weekend made it painfully clear, there is a war on Hispanics in this country. There is a war on civilized people in this country. White friends asked me to go to an outdoor concert this week and for the first time in my life, I panicked. It was in a Hispanic neighborhood, and we're being targeted. This could just as easily be El Paso. Some hate filled creature gunning down easy targets because we look and sound different. 

 

I am scared. I have never felt this way, and while I'd like to think I over reacted I know that's not the case. 

 

I know every day in Trump's United States, there is a very real chance that someone is going to suffer because of racism, hatred and guns. 

 

It needs to stop

 

 

Written by  a member of the new Facebook group NARA- National Anti Racism Alliance