Although my son’s father and I are Latino, I feel he really isn’t. My son Nathan, born and raised in Colorado and a third-generation Latino, will never really have the opportunity to fully grasp the essence of his culture unless he’s exposed to it as his parents were.
When he was born, it didn’t seem necessary for me to expect him to learn Spanish. Who’s he really going to speak it with? His father and I didn’t speak Spanish in our home when we were married, and we always lived in a predominantly Caucasian neighborhood. His father and I are bilingual because we were raised in New York and Florida in Spanish-dominant neighborhoods. Spanish was also the primary language spoken in our homes because our parents are first-generation Latino.
I did, however; make sure Nathan knew about his ancestry, where his grandparents where originally from, how they lived, and how much he’s loved by both families. If he wants to know more, I’m available to satisfy his curiosity.
When Nathan was starting school, he was filling out admission forms and asked me what box he should check for race/ethnicity. When I answered he should check the Latino/Hispanic box, with a puzzled look he asked, “What’s a Latino?” “You’re a Latino; your mother and father are Latino,” I said. He quickly replied, “I thought I was white!” A bit sad, I suppose.
After chatting for a bit about what the Latino culture was, he checked the box, still perhaps a bit stunned and confused. Several weeks later, I overheard him saying to one of his friends that he was Cuban-Puerto Rican. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of relief because at times I question our decision to raise him as “white boy.” I always want him to remember he’s of Latino decent, but truly an American born and raised.
Further in his life he’ll be creating his own culture and traditions with his partner, who may not be Latina, or of Latino decent. It will be their choice to decide what they identify with most.
