Guatemalan Stereotypes Essay

When I was a toddler, I had blonde hair, blue eyes and white skin, and still presently do. My parents are Guatemalan, however they fit the stereotype of a Guatemalan, small, a bit chunky, and tan. My siblings also carry the same genes as my parents, but yet I stand out like the moon in a night sky. But just like the moon, the public looks at me different. Growing up in a hispanic community and having a Latino family I gained numerous titles for my abnormality. “Canche” is the George Clooney of my nicknames, it means white boy.

From my appearance, people generally presume my nationality is some sort of Caucasian origin and once I tell them I’m Guatemalan, their face fills with a shock. Individuals always questions me after my response, asking if I'm really am. I find it insulting people automatically think i'm white or even argue with me saying I'm not Latino. Do I have to look a certain way to be Guatemalan? Does my looks identify what my ethnicity is? Because my ethnicity is an American citizen, raised by Hispanic parents, born and raised in Rhode island.

I go Classical High School and the majority of the population is white, there are other nationalities, but it safe to say white dominates the other Nationalities. I understand as well why my school peers think i'm white. Not just because I blend in with the Whites, my style of clothing is not

Guatemalan, I don't wear colossal leather boots, a striped button up shirt, blue jeans and a cowboy hat. Instead my is clothing an average American-teen style, Jordans, ripped jeans, a graphic tee-shirt. Moreover my parents never taught me how to speak fluent Spanish, Struggling speaking my native tongue does not assist my battle for claiming I'm Latino.

Despite that at home everyone sees me Guatemalan, I eat Guatemalan cuisines like caldo, a soup full of boiled vegetables and meats. One of the most famous meals is frijoles y hueso con tortillas, beans and eggs with smashed up cooked corn flour. My family always cooked us this simple meal, especially when we were toddlers. Growing up with Hispanics I also under the influence on how to dance , such elegant dances are Bachata, Merengue and several graceful dance forms. Dance and food are not the only habits that embrace my hick side, I play Futbol; Guatemala’s most favored sport.

My culture is unique and I'm proud to be Guatemalan even though I was not born there.

Although I find it insulting being called titles for my looks, I still have that culture as well. Viewed as White male and having a Hispanic atmosphere is me. Throughout my life I had learned to love my inner ethic child and my broad white appearance. I can't fulfill all stereotypes in my culture because I am not fully Latino nor 100% American. My ethnicity isn't a title that the public gives me, just like my looks are not my labels. Likewise just like the moon, I am different, but I am still bright,astonishing, and still a

mystery.