My racial identity is Mexican-American as I am fully Mexican, but was born in the U.S. I was about 4 years old when I became aware of my racial identity because my mom would have me introduce myself to her to prepare me for school. I would have to say my name, birthday, age, her phone number, our address, zip code, and racial identity. Of course, she told me to not tell a stranger about my information, but she had me memorize it for school purposes only.
I remember watching movies with my mom that were full of Hispanic/Latino people like Stand and Deliver, Selena, Mi Familia, Real Women Have Curves, etc. A moment when my racial identity became important to me was when I was 13 years old and watched Ugly Betty for the first time (the American show, not the Columbian soap opera). Betty was a Mexican-American woman who went into the fashion industry as a beginner journalist who did not feel the need to hide who she is and how she looks. I liked the show a lot because I could relate to her in a lot of ways. The show would bounce back and forth with Betty’s job, and Betty’s home life. She lived with her father, older sister, and nephew. The show represented the Mexican-American lifestyle pretty well. At her very first day of work at the magazine company, she comes in with the loudest (very colorful) poncho that her father gave her from his hometown in Mexico. She was not scared of “humiliation” or “bullying” because she loved and accepted who she was, no matter who had a say about her and her life.
If you have ever watched Selena, her father says something about being Mexican-American is tricky because you have to prove that you’re Mexican to the Mexican’s, and that you’re American to the Americans.” (Don’t quote me on that ha-ha). This coincides with my life as I live pretty poorly and am surrounded by Mexicans and African-Americans who go through the same struggle, but I also go to a predominately white university where I really mind my language and actions with certain things just because a lot of people here at the university lived very different lives. Representation on television helped me feel satisfied and appreciative about being Mexican-American.
