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Five ways to stay Latina in a gringa culture

Five ways to stay Latina in a gringa culture


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Do you remember when you were in junior high history class and you learned about the great migration of every culture and nation to Ellis Island? I remember this history lesson well because the book I was reading proudly touted the idea that the U.S. was "the great melting pot."

Even at the tender age of 12, I felt incredibly uneasy with this odd notion. For one, a melting pot sounds hot and uncomfortable but more importantly, I felt sorry for all of those poor people a century ago whom I guess somehow melted into some homogenous and disinteresting lump once they settled (or cooled) down. The melting pot idea also kindled a great fear within. I loved being a Latina even as a youth but was I going to consolidate into just another gringa (no offense) if I didn't make some kind of esfuerzo? Quite possibly yes. Here are five things I have done to keep our cultura in my heart and life.

1. Remind everyone often and proudly that you are Latina. This statement might seem obvious but I don't always look Latina and I have blond, blue-eyed friends who don't look Latina either but we are. I think something about vocalizing who we are helps us remember it too and helps knock out any sterotypes people may have about the "typical" Latina.

2. Read Latina literature. There is a lot more to read out there besides The House On Mango Street (although that is a great book). My preferred way at the moment (since I am a busy mama) is to buy a copy of Vanidades or People en Espanol every once in a while. As you flip through its pages you feel a certain familiarity with everything in it and you also wish others could learn that there are more amazing Hispanic ladies out there besides Shakira and Sofia.

3. Listen to Latino music. I love music so much because it reaches through all cultures and you are in luck. I have written a whole article here on some super Hispanic songs to get your groove back. Disfrutelo!

4. Celebrate Hispanic holidays. Besides Cinco de Mayo (which is not really celebrated much in Latin America), there are some really great Latino holidays in which you can partake. These holidays are also a great way to introduce your friends to the joy of being Latina. My personal favorite is the Dia de los Reyes (also known as Epiphany). It is celebrated on January 6 in honor of the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus and it involves a delicacy called the rosca. Within the rosca, is a small doll and the person who gets the slice with the doll also gets the honor of hosting a party on the Dia de la Candeleria in February. That's right, one festivity leads into another. Haci me gusta.

5. Speak Spanish. I saved the best for last. It's simply not going to be easy to keep up being Latina if you don't speak Spanish as much as you possibly can. Find excuses to call your grandma or cousins just for a little chisme y charla and I guarantee you that when you are done you'll feel a new swagger about you. It's because when you speak this beautiful language (can we all just agree it's a lot prettier sounding than English?) you rediscover a side of yourself that might have been a little dormant. Andale pues!

No amigas, I am not going to ever be part of a melting pot. I'd rather think of myself as a salsa (pico de gallo or perhaps mango-pineapple-peach). Each flavor seems to bring out the other flavors and yet when you look at the salsa you can definitely see every special ingredient. No melting there. Nelda is a mami to two lovely children. Her mom is from Mexico, her dad is from Germany and she enjoys being a product of three cultures. In her spare time, she likes to sing karaoke (Selena only) and dance bachata (Prince Royce anybody??).

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Nelda McAllister

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