Personal Essay: Yo Soy Boricua

I feel you lala, I'm haitian, dominican, taino indian and italian with an italian last name..I am about your complection and often i get stuff like you're too pretty too be haitian, you can't be all of that, you look black american...and growing up i was confused cause my mom is very fair skinned however her parents are mixed and my dad is brown skin with a italian father an im inbetween and until i went to school i didnt even notice or care my culture was my culture everyone in my family is mixed my family who is mostly taino decent all claims to be black because thats how people view them but i'm like yes i am black but i am so much more i have beautiful cultures and i want to embrace them all and not be defined to 1 When i try to tell people i'm afro latino they laugh and say no ur just black and im like if you look at my family, if you see how my most of my family is fluent in creole and spanish listens to compa and salsa clearly i'm not just black

Congratulations on your weding... you're beautiful inside and out... just stay true to yourself and adapt my motto which is.... "I have no control of what other people think of me and nor do I care".

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT! In my family we come in all colors, and people never get how it's possible. And I always say it's not the possibility, it's just what it is.... People fail to realize we come in ALL COLORS, and we are even darker then the average AFRICAN AMERICAN! I myself am Dominican and African American, and people always say to me you don't look black you look like your straight Hispanic, and for me it's like what are you saying Hispanic people are alot darker then me, and African American's are way Lighter then me....SO THANK YOU FOR THIS ARTICLE! We as People sometimes need to be checked...BORICUA PRIDE MAMA!!!! Representar mi amor!

Thank you so much for this LaLa. I feel as if I always have to define my background as well, some believe me and some don't and it should not be that way. I'm glad you stood up for yourself and all of us who go through the same things on a daily basis.

Love this article ! I am a proud boricua just like you,people shouldn't judge you by the way you look, latinas come in all colors .

Hi Lala,
Just wanted to let you know how great it was for you to address this issue. Both my parents are from Puerto Rico and when me and my sister go out with my mom and people hear us speak Spanish they are shocked. They think we are white. my mom has your same skin complexion and we are white and they say they never would of thought we were Puerto Rican. How are Puerto Ricans suppose to look like? I have the Latina magazine that you were in the cover of and i am so proud that like me you are a Latina and proud to say it. We are beautiful and Puerto Rican.. Pa' que lo sepan todos.
lots of love Lala.

Hi Lala, I love what you had to say in this blog. I knew you latina but I did not know you were Puerto Rican! I'm so glad to hear you are Puerto Rican! It's so funny cause I am half Spanish and half Puerto Rican. My dad is from Puerto Rico and I have all my family over there. I look like a white girl! A lot of people think I am white. Back in school people would call me a white girl and I would just let it go. I didn't care if they thought I was a white girl. I didn't want to sit there and tell them I was Latina, that I'm Spanish and Puerto Rican. I didn't care. I knew inside what my heritage is and that's all that mattered to me. You are a beautiful lady! Yo soy Boricua tambien!!! :)

Amen La La! I completely agree with you in every way possible. People do not seem to understand the difference between race and ethnicity. I love the way you put it. God Bless You!

OMGosh! This is soo true! Today I found myself involved in the exact same conversation, but im not Latina. It hurt me so bad because this is a person I tried to help that did this to me. I feel like he did this out of ugly ignorance and jealousy; sorta like a long standing secret hatred of family duels. I am your complexion and he is Akons complexion but he had the nerve to call ME dark! I was hurt by this because obviously i am not. I am black, Indian, and white. yet he had the nerves to tell me he was mixed????? But I give GOD praise because HE really used you and this site which i stumbled across to soothe my hurts and prove HIS love for me. GOD BLESS YOU and thank you soo much Lala!

OMG! This is a well said statement. I too am faced with this on a constant basis. Both my parents are mexican, from Sinaloa to be exact. People from there tend to be more on the darker scale which I got from my dad's side. I get that I'm not full blooded Mexican because of the color of my skin. I usually get that Im either Puerto Rican, or black. At one point in my life I would just buy into it, and tell them I am what you want me to be. But I soon changed that, this is who I am if you dont like it then oh well for you. Im not going to sit there and try and convince someone who I am. So thank you Lala for this article. Well appreciated.

I LOoooooooooove this article.. I too have faced the same judgemental questions. My mother is African-American and my father is Puerto RIcan. His Family are orginally from Puerto Rico. Everyime I tell people that I am Black Puerto Rican they just cant believe it. When I was younger i also used to question my heritage, because all i would seen was fair skin, long "good hair", hispanics and I looked nothing like them. I often wish I did. I am brown skin with middle length thick hair. It took me to realize, later in life, that there are ALL DIFFERENT types of hispanics. Some Are darker than African Americans. Which a lot of peope can not understand. My Last name is Rivera and I now were it with pride. I love that I am apart of the best of two worlds. The only thing that I regret is that I wasn't introduced to my Puerto Rican culture early in life, so now I have to pay catch up. But I LOVEEEEEEE being Puerto Rican as well as African American!!! Afro-Puerto Rican .... I AM BORICUA

Lala, Diego and her Aunt look black but her parents don't. She must have some Afro Latino grandparents.

What people need to realize is that YES there is a difference between RACE and NATIONALITY. I am pleased and saddened to see LaLa give this lesson on culture. You'd think in 2010 we'd be at a point of better understanding and cognizance when dealing with race relations. She is afro-latina. There is nothing wrong with her saying or claiming that. I don't understand why some get upset when afro-latinos claim their nationality. Its the TRUTH. Its just like the term Afro-American..well she's Afro-Puerto Rican. Its just good to see some are opening their eyes and minds to the fact that blacks are everywhere.

Love the essay. I can totally relate. Spanish is my first language and I am a dark skinned puertorican. Too dark to be a "typical" puertorican. And also my accent was too thick to be "typical" black. Your essay hit the nail on the head when you wrote :"It reflects poorly on us when we don't educate ourselves about the rest of the world and what it looks like."
Education is key. PuertoRicans come in all shapes, sizes, and COLORS.
Keep doing your thing LaLa.

I wish I had more time to follow on a daily basis. I am inspired and driven by women such as yourself. You are a beautiful, extremely relatable woman. I wisth there were more positive successful family orientated woman to look up to. You are who you are, they wish they knew who they were.

I too am boricua and I hate when people say you look black or indian. I always feel the need to remind people a puerto rican is all those things we are Spaniard, African and Taino. We dont have a common look we come in all different shapes and sizes.

I feel you girl. I work in a bank which has a very large Mexican customer base. They see my name tag and automattically ask "Are you married to a Mexican?". Seriously? I tell them no, I am not married, this is my birth name. I too get tired of having to go into detail and defend my heritage because I look so "white" Girl, I got freckles.... My mom and Grandma (who doesn't speak a drop of english) came into my job and sure enough a co-worker said they thought I was lying about my ethnicity. WHAT??? We come in all COLORS.

I feel you girl. I work in a bank which has a very large Mexican customer base. They see my name tag and automattically ask "Are you married to a Mexican?". Seriously? I tell them no, I am not married, this is my birth name. I too get tired of having to go into detail and defend my heritage because I look so "white" Girl, I got freckles.... My mom and Grandma (who doesn't speak a drop of english) came into my job and sure enough a co-worker said they thought I was lying about my ethnicity. WHAT??? We come in all COLORS.

Lala Chica Im so so so Happy you posted the Latina Boricua article. I totally agree with you Im 24 yrs Old and since little my mother she from Central America "Honduras" to be exact LOL. In Cali we rare and people really be looking crazy like "OMG you speak spanish , but you look black so on so forth. I sometimes would find my self confused like?? What should I say, so I also tried to explain my self and it just got to the point to where I say "BLATINA" LOL they get the point once they hear my tone. LOL Even my last name Martinez doctor office school just crazy how people act when your Multi-Talented the would ask me twice like I don't know my last name haha. So Lala sis I agree and feel where you are coming from. Im bout to grub to some Arroz con Pollo Frito and some Platanos and Kola Champane Soda OK!! Love you Sis. We some BEAUTIFUL BLATINAS!! (Im have to put them words on one of my Tote Bag Girl bags, I customize Totes)Thanks for sharing w/ us Lala.

I agree with you whole heartedly. I have had that very same issue, I am mixed; Black, Puerto Rican, Jamaican and looking at me I guess you can't tell because I get the same reactions as you do, and as a teenager and young adult I became so annoyed with the disbelief. Now as a 30 year old woman I feel no need to have to explain who is Hispanic in my family and who is West Indian. I enjoyed your story very much, glad to see we share something in common even though its a topic that can be annoying!

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%! I'm a Latina myself and I hate how hollywood portrays us. From glance you wouldn't even look "black" to start with. Perhaps "mixed" with it but not literally black so those people are extremely ignorant. That needs to be changed.

Thank you LaLa for representing your heritage. Their are many shades of America out there and a woman of Puerto Rican descent is definitely a shade of that! U are intelligent, beautiful and successful. Continue doing what you do and let the rest of America catch up.
It is such a shame that there is still discrimination against darker skinned people even in the Latina culture.
With time we will break down even this barrier.

WOW. Te felicito por esa sabiduria mostrada en este articulo. Le diste una bofetada sin mano a muchas personas ignorantes entre ellas nosotros mismos los latinos. Soy Dominicano pero desde hoy me voy a identificar contigo por esa linea de pensamiento tan seria que tienes. DTB

IF YOUR PROUD TO BE BLACK AND LATINA/O, AND YOUR NOT AFRAID TO SHOW THAT PRIDE, THEN LISTEN TO THIS BROTHA!!!

www.myspace.com/balantacimarron

Some of you are missing the point. She's not denying the presence of African heritage; she's exclaiming that she's Puerto Rican.

Race relations in Latin America are just---different. This is not to say everything is kumbaya, and Blacks & Whites live together in total harmony (which she did suggest, and is not *entirely* true), but a lot of the time nationality trumps race, if that makes sense.

It's easier for lighter skinned Latinos to subscribe to the theory of racial harmony (I'm sure this conversation would be different if this article were being authored by Carlos Delgado). So don't come away from this feeling as if race relations are any better in Latin America. Different.

Though people like Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara are the most lauded, you'll find that in countries like Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, etc. there are plenty of underrepresented Black people. There are people as dark as Alek Wek in all of these places. Did you know there are Black people in Mexico? Where are they on television? Advertisements? Magazines? This problem is prevalent in both of the Americas.

Also many people are mixed for many generations over. So you'll find the lightest of the light, or the darkest of the dark as siblings w/the same parents. Until you give birth, you don't know what features will dominate. This is why LaLa looks more African than her siblings.

In the US---we look at LaLa and see a Black woman, in subscribing to the one-drop rule. Because there isn't near total miscegenation in the US, it's difficult for us to process how people who are obviously Black don't necessarily identify as such. Couple that w/the worldwide sentiment that there's something wrong w/being Black, then you'll find that a lot of people are if not deliberately, definitely subconsciously rejecting their Blackness.

I think this would be an excellent opportunity for LaLa to become more of an activist for the Afro-Latino community. Expose Hollywood and the media for these injustices, not just against herself, but for other Black Latinas.

yes I totally Understand!!!

I love this article! You eloquently addressed an issue that is going to be the problem of our generation. Pushing the boundary of what is commonly Latina or African or whatever society has conditioned people to believe! I encourage you to keep on spreading your opinion so that people will realize Latinas are a diverse people! We need more voices like yours in Hollywood so that future generations will embrace themselves and their heritage unapologetically!

Las Latinas hacemos todo mejor que los demas!!! Especialmente en Denver baby!!!!

Great choice of words, good to know another proud PUERTORICAN WOMAN lives in Denver.

Issa
95.7 THE PARTY

i still don't see what the big deal is. i always thought lala was mixed or latina. especially having the last name "vasquez". she's puerto rican. period, point, blank. i don't think she's upset over being confused for black, but the response she gets when she tells someone she is puerto rican. i've glanced over some of the comments left on this particular blog and some people still take offense to her saying she's puerto rican. i don't get it. like she said, latinos come in all shades. from sammy sosa (before the "rejuvenation"...whole other story) to jennifer lopez. some latinos are even darker than sammy and lighter than jennifer. im black and brown skinned myself and have friends who are latino and darker than me. here in the states people have such a narrow view when it comes to race and ethnicity. open up your minds or better yet, open up your eyes and read a book. props to lala for giving people a little history lesson. -duces

I don't know...was all that really necessary... maybe i give people more credit than they deserve b/c i always saw Latina when i looked at Lala did she really have to explain it seems obvious...i don't get it....

I appreciate how eloquently you versed that, LaLa. I don't think I could do the same if my own familial heritage were denied or doubted; innocently or not. You represent Puerto Ricans, Black professional, married moms like myself and so many other young women (and some men, I'm sure) who needed to read your words and need to understand that, just because we as a nation has taken the lazy route by lumping people into comfortable little boxes to make THEIR lives easier, is not acceptable. You keep raising that beautiful son of yours and continue to help him recognize all the facets of his life that make him a wonderful human being! It amazes me that anyone would want to live in a world where skin colour is more important than treating one another with respect!

How is she distancing herself from her African heritage? She never said she wasn't black, all she said was she's Puerto Rican, they're not mutually exclusive you know. Also, why should she deny her heritage and in effect deny her parents to cater to your neurosis? Please get a grip, the African American community needs to put a sock in it, anyone who wants to claim their mixed or cultural heritage is taken as a slap in the face of all black people. It's not, it's totally possible to identify with both. And she never said she was white.

Also, my experience with Latinas was just the opposite from most people it seems, as my first encounter with a Latina was my Afro-Cuban grandmother in Jamaica where I was born and raised, and most of the Latin people I came across in Jamaica happened to be Afro-Cuban, so when I came to this country I sort of had to adjust my mental image of what a Latina looks like. And Lala love, I never saw you as anything other than a Latina, even before I knew definitively that you were.

Hello, ever heard of the one drop rule? Hopefully she will use her unsavory experience as a platform to a to address the racism and self-loathing of darker complexed citizen in a country where they were born in places like Puerto Rico & Brazil. If she was 3 shades darking....I get so sick of these Latina killing themself to disassociating themselve from people of African Heritage. At the end of the day you are NOT white you are considered non-white!

Yes, LaLa is speaking the facts in her post...but still it doesn't justify the fact that she is a FAKE and she isn't her own person. One minute this chick wanna act like a hood rat and be all loud and ghetto and now she wants to be a freakin Kardashian. SO she is acting all proper, miss prissy and acting like she is this high class super rich famous person.When really she is just plain old LaLa the chick who used to host TRL. Be yourself. Just because you hang with rich valley girls doesn't mean you gotta act like them to fit in and be accepted. You're not real and that is why your ex-husband spat in your face. LaLa doesn't even know who she is. If you asked her she wouldn't be able to tell you. She needs to find her true identity and stick with it. Stop trynna have Kim's identity, or other celebs identity. Be yourself.

And have anyone notice she is always saying the word "such"? LMAO since when? Kim is always saying that word and now LaLa does.

This is LaLa "The Kardashians is a such a great family"

"It was such a beautiul wedding"

"It's such a nice day to day"
"ya'll are such great family"

This is Kim Kardashian " it's such a wonderful day" and LaLa's reponse " Yeah, Kim it's such a wonderful day"

LaLa, no matter what you say, you're a wannabe.There is nothing real about you. One minute you want to be all hood and ghetto and then the next minute you want to act all prissy and proper. Will the real LaLa please stand up. You're a wannabee Kim Kardashian. You tryto act like her, talk like her,dress like her and do everything she does. Now, do you know your true identity? Do you know who you really are? Who do you want to be like when you GROW UP...Kim Kardashian or yourself?

This was a really good article, I'm glad someone famous gave their take on this subject. People have said similar things to me, one in particular, "you look black, you have locs, you can't be Spanish."

I simply put on my sunglasses and ask them if they've ever watched a baseball game.

Case closed.

BTW, Piri Thomas' Down These Mean Streets is a good book for guys experiencing this.

accurately articulated. This not only applies to the particularities of being 'afro-latina' and is not exclusive to happening in the US. I am an Asian-American, speaking 4-5 languages fluently (with the appropriate accents, depending on the language, not to mention diction), and travel between Europe and the US and am still (very often) confronted with this same predicament of the 'Other's' inability to fit me into their preconceived box.
It's frustrating to always have the infinite patience and better upbringing to put up with a (dominant) culture's dismissive ignorance. Yes, sometimes it's just curiosity, but there are days that I get tired of that, too.
I have a dream, that one day, this multikulti globale Community will be the norm and that comfortable with each other.
thanks for the clarity in how you expressed the matter.

accurately articulated.

First of all, you definitely look Latina/Hispanic to me. I'm not sure what they see when they're looking at you. I've travelled throughout the Caribbean, parts of Europe and Latin American and Latinos/Latinas come in all shapes and colors. People are just unfortunately ignorant to other cultures. It begins with education. Educate yourself on different cultures and know that people of color are also Latinas. There are black people in Mexico. I hate to say black people because they called themselves Mexican/Hispanic. Which is true. There are plenty of people who look just like you in Puerto Rico, so don't worry about what others say or think, you know who you are and whence you came. God loves us all and he also has love for those ignorant people who choose to focus on whether you are Latina or not instead of focusing on the most important things on this earth. We're all Gods children regardless if we speak a different language.

This is a very true post! However, I'm sort of disturbed that some people are pretending this ignorance is limited to America.

Yes, there are many American's who do not understand the diversity of Latin America. However, I believe part of that problem stems from the existing color caste system in Latin America. Latino's may come in all colors but they are certainly not treated as equals. Race is not just an American issue and i have seen first hand how discrimination plays out across Latin America. Perhaps the reason why the face of Latinos is always a "jennifer lopez" or "sofia vergara" here, is because those are also the faces of dominant culture over there. How many black faces do you see on the spanish language TV that's imported here?

I can personally count the number of Latina magazines I have with a black Latinas on the cover. With the exception of Zoey Saldana I can't think of any. I know they recently put Sessilee Lopez on the cover, but that's about all I can name off the top of my head.

My point is that we need to challenge ignorance everywhere--meaning we must challenge ourselves as much as we challenge others.

Also, I grew up with Puerto Ricans who were born here that were just as ignorant about black Latino's. They would call themselves Spanish and had little understanding of their culture and history. We all need to do a better job of teaching our children about race, ethnicity, culture and nationality and how they all connect. I appreciate that your taking the time to teach your son something about himself!

Lala you are right on with this article. I'm Puerto Rican but look white and always have to prove that I am "authentically" Puerto Rican. I've been called wanna-be Puerto Rican so many times and asked to prove that I speak Spanish. Most of the people that ask don't know Spanish themselves, so how would they know if I'm really speaking Spanish? lol Like you said, Hollywood needs to break away from the "typical" Latina stereotype! And even Sofia Vergara had to dye her hair darker to fit the Latina role when she first started out.

Thank you for helping to address these generalization people have about Latinas!!

Being an Afro-Latina also, I understand!
I absolutely love this article and love the fact that it was for Latina Magazine too! Spread the word!
Maybe now people will learn, and the overall lack of knowledge concerning this issue and the ignorance, will come to an end!

¡Muchas gracias!

=]

¡Besos!

xoxox

Lala, I love your article..Its true what you wrote & am happy you put a light to that issue hitting not only you but other Latin people in the world. You are & always will be as Wendy Williams would say "a friend in my head"

Xoxo :)

Lala, I feel like people that aren't born and raised or haven't spent some time in the Tri-State area, have this particular misconception. As someone that grew up in Maryland, I wasn't faced with the many complexities of Latin Americans and West Indians until I moved to the NY and saw all of the wonderful variations. It is ignorance on our part. Not ignorance by choice, but people simply aren't aware.

I'm Venezuelan, with Grenadian blood, but I identify with both cultures. It annoys me when people ask me where I'm from and hear Venezuela, they are shocked. I left Venezuela when I was young so I'm not fluent, therefore people use that as an excuse not to believe me.

There are black people all over Latin America, people are just ignorant, we can keep trying to til we're blue in the face. Some people just don't get it!

This issue will forever be an ongoing one because people do not know history. Every island from Puerto Rico to Jamaica to St. Vincent to Grenada to Trinidad all have a mixture of people thanks to Christopher Columbus and the African Slave Trade.

Race and Ethnicity are two different things. You can be Latina and still be Black, White or even Asian. Why is that so hard to believe? You can be Jamaican and still be Asian or Guyanese and Black or Asian.

The problem is that the American education system is very narrow minded and does not teach much about the slave trade and how Africans were brought to the islands to work. They also don't mention the inhabitants that Christopher Columbus had to con to dock his ships on their island.

It's inpossible to educate everyone on this issue but as long as you know yourself, thats all that matter. I'm am Grenadian and I'm proud of my heritage, culture and still find time to educate myself on other cultures.

Thank you for speaking on this! I too am a Black Latina (Panamanian) and I have been receiving the SAME ignorant comments since I was a child. It is so sad to me that some people have no culture. But again, those people have never left the 4 corners of their block so they have no idea on what the rest of the world has to offer. I just laugh when I see the SHOCK on people's faces when my mom and I start speaking Spanish in public. LOL, we'll just pray for them..

Con Orgullo

Great essay. I am not Latina, but I was disturbed when a friend of mine told me that she wasn't aware that there are black Latinos. I've heard the same story from a few black Dominicans who have gone places and spoken Spanish, only to be looked at like they were crazy. As a black woman, I was pleasantly surprised when on a trip to Miami, several people came up to me speaking in Spanish. I know that there is a large Latino population in Miami, but I thought that people would assume I couldn't speak Spanish because of the color of my skin, but I soon learned otherwise.

mere mija sea boricua jasta que llegue al cielo

great post!

Beautifully said! I get the same thing as a Dominicana (and father Ecuatoriano). My children are of two races and many cultures. And I get tired of the looks and sometimes the questions as to why they look white while I am black. And like you, I have no time to educate everyone on the complexities of history and biology. And good luck on your wedding. I am sure it is going to be a humdinger of a good time: I wish I could be a fly on food: arroz con gandules and pasteles at a reception would be killer.

LaLa, I am so proud of you for speaking up about this matter. Most importantly, I am happy you did it in Latina magazine. Unfortunately, the magazine has fallen short on their attempts to cover the spectrum of Latinas, but most importantly Afro-Latinas. I am happy to know that there is a sista like you, in the public eye, who knows who she is an is not afraid to express this. Keep shining!

Excellent essay! All the best to you and your family.

Hi La,
This is Dad. That's an excellent article you have written. Unfortunately society has a tendency towards stereotypes. I have had similar problems because I am black, but that doesn't make me any less of a Puerto Rican. The truth is that in our rich and diverse culture, we have a mix of races; Spaniards, Africans, Taino Indians...you can throw in some French and Germans. It is that mix of cultures that has made us unique and wonderful. Puerto Ricans come in all shapes and sizes and colors.
Is anyone less of an American because they are "white" or "black" or "brown"?
We are what we are. No one can question or deny us our heritage. As you say people should do their research. It would be enlightening and help us get over the discriminatory hump that has held the world back from peace and true understanding.
Well done daughter!!
Love Dad

I totally undertand you. Im Puerto Rican and white. Everytime i meet someone, they're always ask me what I am and when i tell them we ALWAYS go into this whole converstation abou the way i look. Its gets annoying bc yeah to some ppl i look white. & they'll say a comment N end it with "white girl" i end up replying back saying, "im not a white girl", lol. Not saying that its a bad thing, but im not just only white, u kno? Then when they see my babies, its another converstation after that because my son looks puerto rican, but my twins look totally different. They look more mix, seeing how they're puerto rican n black. Anywho, good essay, way to tell them!

Truly excellent article! There are a large majority of people (in every culture) that are extremely ignorant. And being ignorant does not mean stupidity; but that knowledge or education is lacking in regard to a certain subject matter. I know teaching people (random people) comes with much responsibility but it is our responsibility to educate others on matters they have no idea about. I pray patience for all of us God has placed in certain positions to carry such responsibility.

Thanks girl, for speaking it ediquitely, Love ya mama, God Bless you and your family always... Congrats on your engagement!! BESOS from me and my boys..

LALA YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GLAD I AM THAT YOU BLOGGED ABOUT THIS. I GET ANNOYED WHEN PEOPLE THINK LATINA THAT WE LOOK A CERTAIN WAY NOT ONLY LATINAS IN GENERAL BUT THEY ALSO THINK THAT RICAN, MEXICANS, CUBAN, ETC LOOK A CETRTAIN WAY . IM FULL BLOODED MEXICAN, BOTH MY PARENTS STR8 OUT OF MEXICO AND EVEN THOUGH I THINK (AS MEXICANS WOULD SAY) TENGO EL NOPAL EN LA FRENTE TRANSLATION I GOT THE CACTUS RIGH ON MY FOREHEAD (YALL KNOW HOW THE MEXICAN FLAG GOT THE CACTUS IN THE MIDDLE) ANYWAYS IM ALWAYS BEING QUESTION ABOUT MY BACKGROUND AND IT BOTHERS ME THAT THEY THINK IM LYING. PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE LATINAS COME IN ALL DIFF COLORS, SHAPES, AND ALL. EVEN JUST IN MEXICO I HAVE RELATIVES THAT "LOOK" FULL WHITE OR EVEN ASIAN. BUT LIKE I WAS SAYING THANKS LALA FOR THIS I HOPE PEOPLE READ THIS AND LEARN!!!

I understand your essay because i am puertorican but I live in the suburbs and I look white people constantly ask me what is your cultures and they always say I thought puertoricans looked this way or that way. Latinas come in all different colors and can look black or white.

I totally share your plight. I am also a Latina, flueet in spanish, who has to justify her heritage. My parents are puerto rican born, my dad is dark skinned and my mom is light. I eat everything boricuas eat and the majority of my family Is in p.r. I know what it feels like. What can we do???

I hate when people question your heritage....and i hate to say this but it is in the black community. There are many different flavors in the black and hispanic communities. Continue to be proud of who you are and where you came from. Thanks for sharing! M

All I can say is...U go girl. Keep doing ur thing and forget about what people think of u. Ur an inspiration to many Latinas. So with that said...QUE SE VAYAN PAL.... U know the rest. lol

Hello Lala im from dominican republic my respect for u and Melo

You really hit the nail on the head with this essay, so many people have been taught to believe what certain people are supposed to look like so their lack of knowledge makes them ignorant to the fact that there are differences in each and every culture. I am African American, but my family is mixed with many different things so many people, ask me whether I am Puerto Rican or Dominican. Like many I was grown up to think that all Latinas looked like J.Lo,etc. But instead of just accepting that I decided to visit a Hispanic church and learn more about the culture, and when I stepped foot into the church I looked around and saw men and women that looked just like me. Since then I have tried to educate those around me about the many differences in the Latin community, so if you're my friend I refuse to let you be ignorant about race & culture=) Keep doing you Lala and I hope that this essay brings more knowledge to individuals that are in the dark.

I go through the same thing just opposite. I'm west indian/irish but everybody thinks I'm latino. I've been in arguments with people telling me I need to be proud of what I am(latino). I tell them I am proud of who I am, I'm just not latino & I don't speak spanish. I can completely identify with what u go thru. & I knew u were latina ever since I heard u on the world party intro ur voice is easily distinguishable. Don't stress about it ur a wonderful representation of a puerto rican woman. Keep doing ur thing

I personally never thought of you as latina in any way and I apologize, since I should know better since I am of Mexican heritage, reading this article made me like you and me respect you even more as a woman, artist, person; and I do agree with you that many just look at the outside and they automatically think, and make up whatever they see; I just did. But in reality what can we do but just let them think whatever they want and impress them even more when they find out in the end who we really are. I was truly impressed by this article and I really learned a lesson; not to let my eyes fool me of what I see...p.s LaLa you're gorgeous; my brother thinks the same; )

You hit the shot. I do know how you feel. I'm also puerto rican and sometimes and questioned by it from others. I really think people should educate them selves before speaking About what they don't know nothing of. I love you lala! God bless you and yours. You are a very strong woman and I want to thank you for inspiring me.

It's just ignorance, and the learned behavior of America regarding ethnicities and color. I have found myself in similar conversations, sometimes I explain and sometimes I don't. If ignorant folk don't want to learn, we can't force them to. Just be confident in knowing who we are, be proud, and be strong.
Peace,
Lee