Stereotypes

I am a fruit. An exotic nut that can only be found in the Carribean. To an American's mind, Carribean is a getaway to another world of tropical paradise. I am of Dominican descent and I do love where my ancestors are from. I am a Dominican York, someone who is of Dominican descent, but was born in New York.

Despite of my background, I dream of escaping from trains and icky smelling petroleum that this city spews and venture through basically, paradise. I do believe tropical countries are paradise. The beaches have such white sand that gleams like a diamond and water that is so clear, stress doesn't exist. Something a day spa can't fix for a whole day.

Though I love where I'm from, it seems as though people in this country don't appreciate it. Dominicans have a stereotype of having a certain attitude and having dark skin. I am quite the opposite. I have very light skin and said I behave like a white girl. I've been confused for Jewish, Italian, White American, Puerto Rican, South American, Japanese, and Middle Eastern. I don't know where these people come up with these things, but I guess they refuse to believe I'm Dominican just by the way I am.

I can be shy or I can be a monkey. I decide on my mood and surroundings. I am a very random person. My skin color is light, and the African American and other Hispanics that went to middle and high school with me will totally agree with you, but the people in Upstate New York would disgress, because they would convince themselves first and then me that I am darker than them. Let's get this straight: WHO CARES?!?!?! God made me this way, so why can't we love what God has done? Don't you love God? If you love your friend and she made you a lovely bracelet, wouldn't you love it? It hurts when your own Dominicans refuse to believe your heritage all because you don't hail the stereotype.

The media has taken Hispanics as these people with weird accents, tan skin, and common names, like Juan and Maria. Well, my name is Tatiana, it's Russian, but, I'm not Russian, I'm Dominican, but my father speaks Russian like we speak English, but, he's still Dominican. But, but, but, silly word keeps coming into my way and making others believe that I'm making this stuff up. Would you like to stop by my house for a day? I'll make you a cup of tea. Maybe you'll see if you believe me. The media refuses to believe my side of the story because they're making crap loads of money off of this stereotype. They show us as dirty dancing people, and not that movie Dirty Dancing, the other side of dirty dancing. Where I break it down and drop it like it's hot. And that I'm a slut and have unprotected sex and end up pregnant. My high school has a day care, and the babies are the students, not the teachers.

This past Mother's Day, I was walking around the cards section to look for a lovely card to my dear Mamí. I had to get it in Spanish because she wouldn't understand it in English. Obviously. Mostly, the Spanish cards had all this Catholic crap as if every Hispanic mother believes Mary will get her to heaven. Only one card just talked about God without Catholic stuff and it was the one I got for her. She loved it. Hello, not all Hispanics are Catholic. I don't go to mass. I don't need to. I am saved through the blood of Jesus Christ and therefore, I can read the true Holy Bible and don't need a superior other than God to translate it for me.

All this rounds out to the fact that why doesn't everyone just love each other? Not caring about color, race, or anything that can separate. Though I went through racism and prejudice, I don't hate any culture. I love everyone. Love is the only thing that can take the hate away. Jesus loves everyone. God loves everyone. Let's all love. All we need is love. Take it away, Beatles...