- Christina Peña
Where Do I Belong?
I have spent a long time in the shadows when it comes to talking about ethnicity because I have never entirely known the true, full story.
On my mother’s side, I can trace back some of my family members to when and how they got to America. On my father’s side, it’s not that simple. I have some trust issues with what I am told about my background.
I am told I am not Latinx enough.
I am too White.
I am not the right color to be either.
There is a voice inside my head that has always given in to what people have said about me. And recently I decided to confront them head on.
I forced my lovely brother to take a DNA test. (Fun Fact! Men get more results.) I got my results and I got scared. I didn’t want to know if what I had been preaching, and connecting with others was going to be real. BUT I have the best brother who forced me to confront my fears.
Guess what?
Besides truly being 100% that bitch. I am exactly what I thought! And more.
When I present myself to the world I hear that voice in my head that I am not. She is quite strong and persistent. These results are a way for me to say “Hey! Look! You are this and you deserve to be in this discussion.”
So here are my new statements:
I am Latinx.
I am European.
I am Native American.
I am a bunch of random cultures that I would love to learn more about.
But most importantly, I am me!
If you are like me, just know that you are allowed to identify how you want. You decide the narrative.