And who will my children identify with?
I read the artical in the Los Angeles Times:
Latino or Hispanic? For many Americans, neither feels quite right. It got me thinking of my own identity and that of my children. In the article it states that many still identify with "mexican" or "chicano". Here is where I differ. I am born in the United States, Mami is from Ecuador, Sarge was Mexican-American. So when in school and someone asked if I was Mexican-American I would simply say "Umm...half". Sarge always made sure that I knew of both of my heritages but here I was having to peg myself as one or another. Many say "Well you are American of course", which I am but it feels awkward and strange not to identify all of my ancestors.
America, is a melting pot so I can't be the only one in this predicament. Big Cheese, the kids father is of Mexican-American background. Technically I guess you can say Thing One and Thing Two are 75% Mexican-American and 25% Ecuadorian-American. I can totally see why this can get difficult when census time comes or when you fill out surveys and such. I think that is why I liked the term Latina-American. I feel like I am not denying my roots and I am embracing my country.
Now here is one for the government to figure out a term for: My friend Chula and her husband Tosh have two children. Chula is German and Mexican-American. Tosh is Japanese and Mexican-American. So then how do you determine that? Asian-Latino American?
You just have to love the diversity! You cannot encompass all the different mixes this country has to offer.
Do you have a particular way of identifying your families ethnicity?
