About My Life
I am first generation, born in a border town in Texas, USA, where almost everyone spoke both English and Spanish. I learned both languages simultaneously. When I was in junior high school, I became an interpreter for parent-teacher conferences and was praised for being bilingual.
I wasn’t aware of experiencing racism and discrimination until I was an adult, and by that time I was already proud of my heritage.
I had to put up with [endure] sexism many times. My mom taught me to stand up for myself. I had also learned to be respectful to my elders, so I walked a fine line. I was taught to be strong, independent, and continually on guard, especially as a woman and a person of color. The men in my life were taught to be aggressive and strong—no crying. I have two sisters. I wonder how things would have been if I’d had a brother.
When we got hurt, we were given sodas, candy, or Popsicles and told not to cry, and I developed a pattern of using food to cope. Food was my drug of choice. (I am doing much better with that now.)
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of Chicanos/as
(Present Time 205, October 2021)