Canter Duran / Mexico
Growing up, I had never associated being Hispanic as being a part of an entire culture with its own set of values, language, and heritage. I was never able to connect to my family in Mexico or other Hispanics on a cultural level. I feel that this is heavily due to the fact that I did not learn how to speak or interpret Spanish until my sophomore year of high school. Because my mom immigrated to the US knowing no English, my home was an English only speaking household so that she would learn through immersion.
Refusing to learn spanish is one of my biggest regrets in life so far. Once old enough to be able to appreciate mexican culture, the frustration of not being able to communicate as well as I’d like with members of my community has only grown with each encounter.
While I accepted my mexican identity, I did notice the way my complexion and complexion as dark or darker than mine was talked about. It was easy to pick up on the negative tone used when my aunts and uncles would tell me how tan I was compared to my siblings and parents. It was due to this colorism that I tried to seperate myself from my mexican identity at a young age. It took years of unconditioning for me to allow myself to embrace my culture and realize how beautiful and important it is to know where you come from and what that means to you.
I am very proud to be Mexican and am actively learning about my culture every day through classes, interactions, and asking my mom about her stories and the stories of those in my family. My moms family has taught me unconditional love and acceptance, to put those you love before yourself, and to defend and support your family no matter what.
Refusing to learn spanish is one of my biggest regrets in life so far. Once old enough to be able to appreciate mexican culture, the frustration of not being able to communicate as well as I’d like with members of my community has only grown with each encounter.
While I accepted my mexican identity, I did notice the way my complexion and complexion as dark or darker than mine was talked about. It was easy to pick up on the negative tone used when my aunts and uncles would tell me how tan I was compared to my siblings and parents. It was due to this colorism that I tried to seperate myself from my mexican identity at a young age. It took years of unconditioning for me to allow myself to embrace my culture and realize how beautiful and important it is to know where you come from and what that means to you.
I am very proud to be Mexican and am actively learning about my culture every day through classes, interactions, and asking my mom about her stories and the stories of those in my family. My moms family has taught me unconditional love and acceptance, to put those you love before yourself, and to defend and support your family no matter what.