What are your intersections?
I am a first generation Mexican-Salvadoran-American, straight, cisgender Identifying woman born and raised in Native Tongva Land(Los Angeles, CA).
What is your background?
I grew up in what you would call a lower class family. My mom immigrated to the States for a better life and a way to support her two daughters from a previous relationship and my father was escaping the civil war in El Salvador. My parents were garment workers in L.A for years. They worked really hard to provide for my two younger brothers and me(sometimes working up to three jobs at once). I seriously don’t know how they did it. My parents also didn’t know any English at the time! This resulted In me having to grow up really fast, figure everything out myself and having to take care of my two younger brothers. I remember getting so frustrated and upset that they couldn’t help me with my homework or that I had to do all these tasks while my brothers could just do whatever they wanted. At the time I resented them a lot but I’ve realized that they have worked so hard and gone far and beyond to give my siblings and I the best life they could. In the end, my upbringing has helped me be the independent person that I am.
How do your intersections affect you?
I’ll be honest, for the longest, I didn’t embrace being a Latinx. I didn’t grow up listening to the music or was ever really fully immersed in the Mexican or Salvadoran Culture. My parents tried to acclimate to this culture more and well, I was also afraid of being called “chunti.” When you’re growing up you want to fit in so bad to everyone else. Yet, no matter how hard you try and you’re never American enough or Latinx enough. Not only that but Colorism is so prominent and I didn’t realized how bad it was until I got older. All those comments about not staying out in the sun for too long because you’ll get darker weren’t about the possibility of getting skin cancer but about not wanting to have darker skin because it isn’t “desirable.” How toxic is that! I’m 28 and I’m finally coming to terms with who I am as a person. I’m Embracing my skin, ethnicity and culture while also trying to acknowledging the areas in which the Latinx culture needs to improve and do better! I know that I can’t exactly change the entire Latinx community, but If i can make changes within myself then maybe I can help and teach others.
I know my IG is very lifestyle and “fashion” focuses but Lately, I feel super energized on focusing a lot of my attention on my work in raising awareness and working towards more outdoor equity and outdoor access for all. Wether that’s through sharing more of what I do for a living on here or getting even more involved with the organizations and councils I’m part of. The outdoors has had such a positive impact in my life, I want to share and make all these experiences accessible to all of my fellow BIPOC who have for so long been excluded from the outdoor narratives.
I want my Latinx community to be proud of themselves and not be ashamed of were they come from. It doesn’t matter if you speak the language or not, it doesn’t make you any less, Mexican, Salvadoran, Dominican, etc. Our culture is so vibrate, charismatic and loving, it definitely something to be proud of.
Ive also been self reflecting on the privilege I do have and how I can use it to benefit other BIPOC.
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#TWintersectionalfridays: Space to explore intersections of identity and systems of oppression. Space to tell your story. Space to listen. Every Friday of 2019. // Week 18/52. 'Sally' / 8x8 in. / mixed media on paper