I Don’t Fit a Label

photo-1423420634464-89006b3454a8When it comes to race and culture, I am confused just like I am with most things in life. I have so many roots that it makes it very hard for anyone to put a label on me. It makes most people uncomfortable. We like our labels; we like to know exactly what or who we are dealing with so we can know who we are supposed to be.

I am a born and bred Texan. I’m Hispanic, but not Mexican. I’m Tejano which is a dying culture most people only know about thanks to Selena. I really don’t fit in anywhere, but I am most comfortable in the small Texas town south of San Antonio where I grew up. My family speaks Spanish with a Texas twang which is weird to explain to anyone who isn’t from here.

My grandparents, mom and her siblings and a lot of my cousins were migrant workers. They were often called Mexican because of it even though they were Americans.

I didn’t really know much about racism growing up, not because I didn’t witness it or was a victim of it, but because it was so common that it never occurred to me it was anything other than normal. I grew up in a small town in South Texas where I was told I could no longer speak Spanish when I started school. I learned English and never looked back. There were only a few black kids in our school and no Asians of any kind. I wasn’t exposed to anything other than what I knew and that was country music, chasing fireflies, avoiding skunks and reading in trees.

When I was 15 I moved back to the panhandle of Texas and that’s when things changed. I was sent to a school that was mostly Black, Asian and Hispanic. The white kids were the minority, and I was in culture shock. It was the first time I didn’t know where my place was when it came to my race or culture. I had been bullied in my old school but that was because I was weird and slept around a lot. I wasn’t rich and had been abused as a child. I also didn’t have a dad which meant that I was an outcast of sorts in a small conservative town. In my new school, none of that mattered, what mattered was my race. I had no idea how to find my place. I was Hispanic but didn’t speak Spanish and I was scared of the Black kids and didn’t even know what to think of Asians at all.

I was befriended by one of the star football players who realized at some point that I was never going to make it out of high school alive is someone didn’t help me. I was extremely racist and didn’t even know it. This guy took me in and introduced me to people and the black culture. I came out of my shell and started making friends with people of all different backgrounds. I loved soaking in everything I was learning, but I still didn’t really ever know where I fit in. People made fun of the kids wearing cowboy boots which made me think that was uncool although really I loved cowboy boots- I grew up in the sticks!

I went through many phases in trying to find my identity in my life. I tried to be a Bible thumping Christian who quoted Scripture and tried to warn everyone about “the world” (in fact, I did this twice in life, once as a Baptist and then again when I became Catholic 6 years ago), I tried to be a chola once, then tried to act like a gangsta and so on. You get the point. I had an identity crisis. A lot of it stemmed from not having a dad and being sexually abused as a child, but a lot of it also came from the fact that I had no clue what my culture was exactly. Where did I belong? That was the one question that hung over my head like a dark cloud as I grew up.

I’m almost 40 years old and I’ve seen the ugliness of racism, even from the Christian community. I have been asked if I came to the US legally more times than I can count. The fact that racism still exists isn’t a shocking thing to me. I am shocked that anyone thinks it was ever gone. Being a Hispanic Catholic woman who is against abortion and pro-immigrant is not an easy thing to be, but I know I am more than any label. Who I am is a child of God first and foremost. Then I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother and then we get to the rest of it. All of these things make up who I am and I refuse to be reduced to just one of them- like the color of my skin or trying to prove to people that I have a right to live in this country. Just like anyone else, yes, my ancestors were born here too.

The dark cloud has finally lifted, and I realize my place in this world isn’t based on any label, but on the fact that I have dignity given to me by God alone.  

Leticia Adams
Latest posts by Leticia Adams (see all)

71 thoughts on “I Don’t Fit a Label

  1. The great philosopher Dr. Seuss comes rushing into my brain as I read and honor your brave words:
    “Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.”
    Applauding and celebrating your you-ness today, Leticia.

  2. “…I know I am more than any label. Who I am is a child of God first and foremost.” Amen! If we could all remember that all the time. We are beloved children of God regardless of labels others may put on us.Thank you for sharing your story Leticia. I’m so glad you are here! Blessings to you!

  3. The Bitcoin roulette incorporates a wide range of sportss and events at any one
    particular moment.

    My web page – website

  4. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t disappoint
    me as much as this particular one. After all, I know it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I truly thought you would have something helpful to talk about.
    All I hear is a bunch of crying about something you could
    possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.

    Feel free to surf to my web site: Phoenix search engine optimization

  5. This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job.
    I really enjoyed what you had to say, and
    more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

    Here is my web blog – {male male Female porn

  6. He took the ezam like any person else, but what genuinely counted
    was his interview, in which he argued that he hhad exceptional talents.

    Feel free to surf to mmy blog; 여성알바

  7. Take this time to discoiver yor interests and totally prepare for your career,
    and expand your resume and your charactter though taking
    charge of your finances.

    Here is my web page:여성알바

  8. In current years, there has been a renewed interest in industrial policy as a tool to market financial ddevelopment and innovation.

    Take a look at myy blog :: 바카라

  9. This is very interesting, You’re a very professional
    blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward
    to looking for more of your fantastic post.
    Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social
    networks

    Take a look at my blog – pornagraphy

  10. obviously like your web site but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts.

    Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the reality then again I’ll
    surely come again again.

  11. • Certification in trade related to division (e.g., hardware, kitchen, plumbing,
    electrical, lawn and garden, and lumber/constructing components).

    Feel free to visit my web-site; 여성밤알바

  12. For instance, BC.Game offers a matched eposit bonus anyplace from 180% to 240% for the initially four deposits.

    Feel free to surf to my blog website

  13. SLOT GACOR
    Slot Gacor Gampang Menang : Gate Of Olympus , Starlight Princess,
    Koi Gate , Bonanza
    Provider Slot Online Terbaik : Pragmatic Play , PG Soft
    Promo Unggulan : Event Scatter , Petir Merah , Bonus Begadang 78%
    Pembayaran : BCA , BRI , BNI , Mandiri
    E-Wallet : Dana , Ovo , Gopay , Pulsa
    Minimal Deposit : Rp 25.000,-

  14. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and
    I in finding It really useful & it helped me
    out a lot. I hope to give something again and aid others such as you aided me.

  15. Have you ever considered about including a
    little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say
    is fundamental and everything. Nevertheless think of
    if you added some great photos or videos to give your
    posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and videos, this site
    could definitely be one of the greatest in its field. Excellent blog!

  16. If I work over a particular number of hours or earn mote
    than £334 a month, my award is reduced.

    Feel ftee too visit my homepage – 밤알바

  17. They danger fines, sanctions, license losds and other complications iff they fall asleep at the wheel with player
    funds.

    Here is my blog post – here

  18. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent
    post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!

  19. Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform?
    I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create
    my own. Do you need any coding expertise to make your own blog?
    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Look into my website – paste1s.com

  20. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
    I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you some interesting things or advice.
    Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
    I desire to read more things about it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Website

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.