Victor Arceo / Mexico
What makes you proud to call yourself a Hispanic?
I wasn't born in Mexico, so I don't know much about Mexican history. But i do know my parents, as Hispanics, made an effort many years ago, in the early 1970s to come to the US in search for a better opportunity for their future family. What I'm proud of is I am able to call myself Hispanic in the US, because I know it's much more of a label. Its someone paid the price so I could have greater opportunities for success. So in that it's a lot of responsibility and pride because its not just about me. Its about my parents. Its about the prices that they paid and sacrifices they made to travel over to the US. The hard work they put in, working two or three jobs just so there would be a roof over my brothers and my heads. When they first came to the US, their first home was a two car garage. So I was raised in a two door garage for probably my first year and that was my brother's and mine home. So to understand that sometimes things start with small beginnings but that price is paid with a big heart and passion from two Mexican parents. I now know my life isn't my own. I owe it to my parents to work hard, and work for greater purpose. To inspire other Hispanics who have been given the same opportunity, to not only respect it but be proud of it.
Have You Faced Any Complications or Struggles Because of Your Race?
Ya. Not complications, but growing up my parents didn't want us to go to intercity schools so they sent us to elementary-junior high schools that were predominantly white. So obviously their were some profiling that took place. Us being a minority in a majority of white individuals school. Initially being classified as Latino, being tested to see, by just the way we looked, to see if we would qualify in a normal English class. And it was just profiling to see if English was our second language or which of Spanish and English was our first. So I remember going through that. I remember my brother, knowing the same level of English as I did, would probably have to take ESL classes just because of the way that he looked. Even myself. And then even performing to the level of other students in the class, we were looked on differently because we were minority. And so that was difficult, many times growing up. Being in houses with a lot of my friends, I would get the comment of "Oh the lady that washes are closes and cleans our houses is Hispanic" or "Oh the guy that mows our lawn is Mexican." So getting those comments from my friends and their parents, to me was like "Hey, I'm just a normal kid going to school." But it was the only common ground that people could find to have communication with me somehow because we were Latino and a minority while all my friends were white and Jewish. There was something to work extra hard towards being accepted. So with that being said, I always had to work extra hard to prove myself. If it were sports, school or earning trust and friendship. Even when I had first started working I had at least two bosses pull me aside and say "Hey, I don't really like many Latinos or Hispanics, but you're the type that I do like." All because I didn't have a strong accent. Because I sounded educated. But I wasn't what they would consider someone who just crossed the border and didn't have their documents. So they accepted me but the rest of my race and culture wasn't. So having to overcome that level of adversity and challenges was difficult being young. But I wouldn't be the person that I am today, or even strive for what I do if it wasn't for those things. So as much as it was difficult before, I'm grateful for it now.
Having Two Young Kids Who Are Also Hispanic Do You Make It A Priority To Teach Them Hispanic Customs And Traditions That They Hope To Pass Down In Their Lives?
Absolutely. From the most basic stuff to our food. But we don't really force them to speak Spanish. Though we would love it if we did. My parents didn't force me to speak Spanish. I took it on when I was older and really forced myself to. But one of the things that I'm really excited about is as a family we are very much involved in the Latino community. And helping them and serving them as much as we can. So I know as years go by my children will naturally embrace the culture of the community a lot more. I think our biggest responsibility as parents is not just teaching them our normal traditions, which is important, but really seeing a purpose in helping others, especially those less fortunate. Specifically to those people rooted in our culture. We are called to serve and help everyone. But probably a good 80-90% of the people we interact with as a family, whether that be with our church or business, is specifically targeted with the Hispanic community. I think it just comes from our heart. We just want to serve them, we want to encourage them, we want to train them, we want to provide platforms with them so they can have greater opportunities even for themselves. Whether it be a business, education, ministry. So as my kids grow up, they are still young, I see in their hearts and even a spirit to give back to their own community. So as much as we can absolutely, culture, to the traditions, but most importantly really being involved in the community with the entire Latino community, not only Mexican. I have a lot of friends that are Mexican but I also have a lot of friends that are Central American, almost every country in Latin America. And my kids know that. Twenty-six states in Mexico and my kids know that. And they embrace it and they treasure it. So I see both my kids when they are older and choose their career being fully involved in the Latino community.
I wasn't born in Mexico, so I don't know much about Mexican history. But i do know my parents, as Hispanics, made an effort many years ago, in the early 1970s to come to the US in search for a better opportunity for their future family. What I'm proud of is I am able to call myself Hispanic in the US, because I know it's much more of a label. Its someone paid the price so I could have greater opportunities for success. So in that it's a lot of responsibility and pride because its not just about me. Its about my parents. Its about the prices that they paid and sacrifices they made to travel over to the US. The hard work they put in, working two or three jobs just so there would be a roof over my brothers and my heads. When they first came to the US, their first home was a two car garage. So I was raised in a two door garage for probably my first year and that was my brother's and mine home. So to understand that sometimes things start with small beginnings but that price is paid with a big heart and passion from two Mexican parents. I now know my life isn't my own. I owe it to my parents to work hard, and work for greater purpose. To inspire other Hispanics who have been given the same opportunity, to not only respect it but be proud of it.
Have You Faced Any Complications or Struggles Because of Your Race?
Ya. Not complications, but growing up my parents didn't want us to go to intercity schools so they sent us to elementary-junior high schools that were predominantly white. So obviously their were some profiling that took place. Us being a minority in a majority of white individuals school. Initially being classified as Latino, being tested to see, by just the way we looked, to see if we would qualify in a normal English class. And it was just profiling to see if English was our second language or which of Spanish and English was our first. So I remember going through that. I remember my brother, knowing the same level of English as I did, would probably have to take ESL classes just because of the way that he looked. Even myself. And then even performing to the level of other students in the class, we were looked on differently because we were minority. And so that was difficult, many times growing up. Being in houses with a lot of my friends, I would get the comment of "Oh the lady that washes are closes and cleans our houses is Hispanic" or "Oh the guy that mows our lawn is Mexican." So getting those comments from my friends and their parents, to me was like "Hey, I'm just a normal kid going to school." But it was the only common ground that people could find to have communication with me somehow because we were Latino and a minority while all my friends were white and Jewish. There was something to work extra hard towards being accepted. So with that being said, I always had to work extra hard to prove myself. If it were sports, school or earning trust and friendship. Even when I had first started working I had at least two bosses pull me aside and say "Hey, I don't really like many Latinos or Hispanics, but you're the type that I do like." All because I didn't have a strong accent. Because I sounded educated. But I wasn't what they would consider someone who just crossed the border and didn't have their documents. So they accepted me but the rest of my race and culture wasn't. So having to overcome that level of adversity and challenges was difficult being young. But I wouldn't be the person that I am today, or even strive for what I do if it wasn't for those things. So as much as it was difficult before, I'm grateful for it now.
Having Two Young Kids Who Are Also Hispanic Do You Make It A Priority To Teach Them Hispanic Customs And Traditions That They Hope To Pass Down In Their Lives?
Absolutely. From the most basic stuff to our food. But we don't really force them to speak Spanish. Though we would love it if we did. My parents didn't force me to speak Spanish. I took it on when I was older and really forced myself to. But one of the things that I'm really excited about is as a family we are very much involved in the Latino community. And helping them and serving them as much as we can. So I know as years go by my children will naturally embrace the culture of the community a lot more. I think our biggest responsibility as parents is not just teaching them our normal traditions, which is important, but really seeing a purpose in helping others, especially those less fortunate. Specifically to those people rooted in our culture. We are called to serve and help everyone. But probably a good 80-90% of the people we interact with as a family, whether that be with our church or business, is specifically targeted with the Hispanic community. I think it just comes from our heart. We just want to serve them, we want to encourage them, we want to train them, we want to provide platforms with them so they can have greater opportunities even for themselves. Whether it be a business, education, ministry. So as my kids grow up, they are still young, I see in their hearts and even a spirit to give back to their own community. So as much as we can absolutely, culture, to the traditions, but most importantly really being involved in the community with the entire Latino community, not only Mexican. I have a lot of friends that are Mexican but I also have a lot of friends that are Central American, almost every country in Latin America. And my kids know that. Twenty-six states in Mexico and my kids know that. And they embrace it and they treasure it. So I see both my kids when they are older and choose their career being fully involved in the Latino community.