There was once a time
Where I didn't like the brown in my eyes
I wanted blue ones
Like those of my friends

I remember how I hated my curly dark locks
I wanted straight blond maybe light brown or so I thought
Cause I wanted to be like my friends
Cause I just wanted to fit in

Growing up in the pacific northwest
I hated the fact I was of Mexican/Chilean descent
I remember once my best friend said
"Of all people……I hate Mexicans"

And I said nothing and did
Nothing….
Maybe that's why we aren't
Friends anymore

I remember being told
"you're too tall to be Mexican"
"you're too light to be Mexican"
"you don't even have an accent"

And I look at my father
He's 6 foot….and his brother 6'3
And He said to me
"all the men in our family are tall"

"See we're not all short and darker skin
some of us are tall and with a lighter mix

I've been labeled everything from every land
From Italian, Greek, Spanish, Jew, even Persian
Shit even Hawaiian.
But hardly Mexican or Chilean

And never just a man

Am I to you what you want me to be?
Does my race matter to you?
Do you need that identity?
Aren't we all from the same seed of Adam and Eve?

The human gene

I been to many cities across this great nation
And I see we still live in the mindset of segregation
I don't think we've even come close to our
………. greatness

There once was a time ……
But that time has ended for me
I'm proud of who I am
Just free to be me

R.Arriagada
2008

 

2 comments | Post comment

i came to united states in 2001, i was 16 and by now, after living around all this mixed cultures, nothing makes me more proud thn my family, my roots, and where i came from (peru) im an artist also check out my page http://www.myspace.com/josueguardiiaI
-- Josue Guardia, 11/6/09

i grew up in a family of all blond hair, blue eyes...and i'm dark hair, dark skin, and dark eyes. i never longed to be like them but i lacked an understanding of my mexican culture. but, then i met this man...and now my mexican heritage has become something i'm proud of.
-- Keefa La Puchi, 10/30/08



Previously published:

All 9 blog entries

Art Painting Controversial Spiritual Christian Uplifting Peace Unity Musicians Artists Obama Bob Marley Carlos Santana Rastafari Rasta 

RSS RSS  | Sitemap
Copyright © 2012 ▪ Terms of usePrivacy policy
 
Art lives at Zhibit.org