A lot of it was when I was a kid and where I grew up. Jersey City.
One story that sticks out. When I was a kid I used to want to fit in with my friends and cousins. They always got a standard fade haircut. I would normally get the haircut but my mom would be with me. The first time I went alone, I was 10-12 and it was the last time I bothered. I walked in got on the chair and immediately in Spanish the shit talking started. Why is this white boy here. What does this white kid think he's doing getting this hair cut. Etc. After the cut was over I just turned to them and in Spanish explained I'm Puerto Rican and understood everything they said and it was mean. They apologized but it didn't matter. I was embarrassed and it really sucked.
It was a pretty big pivot point in my life. It's what started to make me realize that "damn you will never fit in". Your people will almost always dismiss you because of your skin.
I've also had to prove to many Hispanic people that I'm in fact Hispanic. Usually showing my father as he's more Puerto Rican skin tone while my mom is more standard Spain skin tone.
Don't get me wrong white people have also questioned me but mostly because they are shocked to see a white Jose. But the moment I just say I'm Hispanic most of them are like oh okay.
It's very much a colorism thing.
Very similar to how many white passing black people are dismissed for not being black enough.
Josepepowner3 karma
A lot of it was when I was a kid and where I grew up. Jersey City.
One story that sticks out. When I was a kid I used to want to fit in with my friends and cousins. They always got a standard fade haircut. I would normally get the haircut but my mom would be with me. The first time I went alone, I was 10-12 and it was the last time I bothered. I walked in got on the chair and immediately in Spanish the shit talking started. Why is this white boy here. What does this white kid think he's doing getting this hair cut. Etc. After the cut was over I just turned to them and in Spanish explained I'm Puerto Rican and understood everything they said and it was mean. They apologized but it didn't matter. I was embarrassed and it really sucked.
It was a pretty big pivot point in my life. It's what started to make me realize that "damn you will never fit in". Your people will almost always dismiss you because of your skin.
I've also had to prove to many Hispanic people that I'm in fact Hispanic. Usually showing my father as he's more Puerto Rican skin tone while my mom is more standard Spain skin tone.
Don't get me wrong white people have also questioned me but mostly because they are shocked to see a white Jose. But the moment I just say I'm Hispanic most of them are like oh okay.
It's very much a colorism thing. Very similar to how many white passing black people are dismissed for not being black enough.
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