#Latinosbreakthemold

"To me, being Latina means being myself. Being Latina means that I can dance and act, I can love math and science, and I’m free to do and be what I want to be. But within all of those things and within myself there is this rich and beautiful culture that shapes and influences the way I look at the world. There is no set definition of what it means to be Latina. I struggled for so long with that in my own self. When I was younger, I used to believe that I had to deny the Mexican part of me. If I was Mexican, and admitted that or “acted” on that, then I wouldn’t be able to succeed in my field. I grew up in a town where 95% of the population is Latino, and yet so many people would deny that part of themselves. They wanted to be American not Mexican-American. Or at least that’s how it seemed to a young me. So I tried to hide away that part of me that was Mexican. Then when I got to college I found that I wasn’t “white enough” or “Latina enough”. I was in the middle. I was stuck. I didn’t know where I fit in and what I should call myself. Looking back I realize that’s a sort of privilege I had. Because my skin is pale and I don’t look like the “stereotypical dark skinned latina” (and honestly, Latinas come in all shapes and sizes so I don’t understand why people think we all look like one image) I could get away with not acknowledging my Latina-ness. But as I went through school I realized I couldn’t deny that part of me because that is me. I am a Latina woman. I am Latina enough. So to me, being Latina means just being yourself. Being Latina is a part of you that you can’t deny, but something that runs in your veins." - Yessenia Rivas

Thank you so much to SIDETRACK Series for letting me be part of this important movement. If you haven't chekced out #Latinosbreakthemold you should. It's all about Latinos of all shapes and colors breaking the stereotypes we are given and not just in the art but in all fields. It's a wonderful project with a great message. 

I love being Latina and I love the vast cultures and communities that come along with it. 

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