What has your experience been like growing up mixed? What are your favorite parts about Hispanic culture and how has it influenced your life?
Caryn Cruz
(sophomore, english)
Ethnicity: Half-Mexican, Bermudian, African American and more!
Anyone who grew up as a mixed kid will probably tell you about the interesting experiences, glances, and unprovoked comments that occur as a result of simply being ethnically mixed. Additionally, there's always the sense of not feeling fully connected to the multiple cultures or racial groups you identify with. Though at times these recurring issues can be frustrating, I personally enjoy being who I am. My father, a Mexican immigrant, has taught me many valuable principles that will prepare me for the world––working hard, dedication, and respect, to name a few. Growing up, my sisters and I always eagerly listened to my father's childhood stories placed in Mexico or Los Angeles, including his struggles of learning English or simply adjusting to a completely new culture. I appreciate my Mexican heritage because I believe it has helped me become fully aware of the social issues that immigrants face everyday in America, and therefore, prompts me to speak up! I'm still learning about Hispanic culture and I will most likely continue to educate myself on the subject throughout the course of my life.
Xochitl Graham
(senior, nursing)
Ethnicity: Mexican, Jamaican and British
My experience growing up mixed has been unique. Each one faces different challenges when it comes to finding where you fit in and embracing both parts. Fortunately, my parents immersed our house in both cultures. We always had Mexican food like rice and beans and whatever else every day, spoke Spanish, and went to a Spanish church. My dad helped us get in tune and appreciate our Jamaican side by introducing us to the food and taking us to the Island etc. Even with all this, it still was a little tough to find a place to fit in at school. I went to a predominantly white elementary school, so I always felt like the odd one out. I always struggled and still do answering standardized tests about who I am and where I come from. The pressure to fit into a category came also from friends, family, and strangers alike. I was never Mexican enough, but I wasn’t considered black enough either. But over time I came to embrace both sides and be like “yes, I am Hispanic, but I am also Black and that's what makes me who I am.”
My favorite part about Hispanic culture is the community and hospitality as well as the rich history. One thing that amazes me is that in every Hispanic country that I have visited every person is just as welcoming and hospitable as the next. This has manifested itself in my life through my parents who LOVE to host and have people over. I’ve seen my mom introduce new foods to our guests from different places and you can see the appreciation and community that can be built through this.
Noah Bishop
(graduate student, physical therapy)
Ethnicity: American and Argentinian
My experience growing up was a very typical Hispanic/Latino American upbringing. However, due to my light complexion, nobody outside of my family or close circle knew I had a Hispanic upbringing or culture.
My favorite parts of my Hispanic and Latino culture are the food and the family. This has impacted my life significantly because it seems that I can never run out of good food or good family.
Jewel Talia Murray
(sophomore, pre-physical therapy)
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican, Bahamian and African American
From an early age I always had an awareness that I was of mixed heritage. In pre-kindergarten I used the peach crayon to color my mom and a brown crayon to color my dad. Also, for the holidays I celebrated Noche Buena, Christmas, and Three Kings Day by eating arroz y pollo and flan, macaroni & cheese, greens, and candied yams. I loved the mixture of my cultures and how they seemed to coexist perfectly within my household. However, when it came to school or hanging out with my friends, I always felt like others would try to put me inside of a box. I also dreaded having to check off the questionnaires that asked about my ethnicity and race because at times I doubted really where I belonged. For a while I had to figure out how exactly I fit into being Hispanic/Latina and Black, and what that meant to me. I had to realize that other’s confusion about who I was could be an opportunity to share with them my culture and heritage. Currently, whenever someone asks about where I come from I let them know boldly that I am mixed and I identify with all parts of who I am.
I am so proud of being an Afro Latina and I would not have it any other way. Everything I have experienced in regards to my race and ethnicity has made me dive deeper into learning about my cultures, traditions, home countries, and family; I am always excited to share “the best of both worlds” with others.
My favorite part about the Hispanic culture is that everything is done with great passion and love. From music and dancing, to playing fútbol or cooking, absolutely everything is completed with purpose. Being Hispanic or Latinx means you are a part of a family, and the main component that makes a family functional is love. I appreciate that the Hispanic community is so amorous because it serves as an example for me as to how Jesus wants his children to care for each other. In 1 Corinthians 16:14, the apostle Paul instructs us to “do everything in love”; and no matter what the Hispanic/Latinx community has always shown me what it truly means to be devoted to others and to the culture that binds us together.
Adam Henriquez
(freshman, computer science)
Ethnicity: Dominican and Indian
Growing up mixed has been a blessing for me. It has allowed me to experience two different cultures at the same time and given me a broad range of perspectives. Hispanic culture has taught me the importance of family, and because of this I have had the privilege of being able to see most of my family members every year for Thanksgiving.
Carolina Cruz
(senior, religion)
Ethnicity: African American, Mexican, Bermudian
Growing up mixed has allowed me to be a part of more than one ethnic “circle,” but also caused me to never fully belong in any one of them. Growing up mixed means that my culture in the home was a beautiful, complete blend of each one of my parent’s individual cultures. It means never, ever running out of tortillas, Kirk Franklin playing every Sabbath morning, visiting the wonderful streets of Mexico and stopping at every shop to enjoy elote, chicharrónes, raspados, churros, and of course carne asada tacos! Then traveling to Bermuda and swimming in the clearest oceans that are home to the most beautiful fish! There’s been so much beauty in growing up in two cultures that are so different from one another. My favorite part of my Hispanic culture, has to be the importance and prioritization of family. I love our open communication, as we have many conversations that are hard to have, with no hesitation. I love the responsibility that is placed on individual decisions, and the effect that it could have on the family as a whole. And I love how much time we spend together, that has allowed for my sisters to become my best friends, and my parents to become my biggest mentors.
Basam Mohamed El Sayed González
(freshman, architecture)
Ethnicity: Hispanic and Middle Eastern
My experience growing up mixed was an interesting ride. My mom is Hispanic and my dad is Middle Eastern and although both cultures have differences they also share many similarities. For example, both cultures value hospitality as important. But overall if I were to highlight my favorite part of being mixed it would be the rich variety of food between both cultures.
My favorite parts about the Hispanic culture and how it has influenced my life would be the sense of community that Hispanics everywhere create. In my experience through the Adventist Church, wherever you may go almost always you can find a Hispanic group that will accept you into their community, barely knowing who you are. The way that Hispanics care for each other and look out for one another while also giving back to the community is an inspiration and example in my life.
Alyssa Henriquez
(senior, English, biochemistry)
Ethnicity: Dominican and Indian
There are many times in my life that I’ve felt strangely out of place in communities that I am supposed to belong to. I think for a lot of multiracial kids, it’s hard for them to pick up their parents’ second languages because having conversations in one parent’s original tongue ostracizes the other and excludes them from your communication. Because of this, I didn’t learn Spanish when I was little and grew up feeling less “Dominican” and connected to that side of my family than I wanted to. Because of the way I look, people typically categorize me as Indian and assign me stereotypes based on that label. On both sides of my family, we have incredibly rich culture, strong family values, and amazing food. I love interacting with both sides of my family and participating in their respective traditions, and I wouldn’t trade the multicultural experience I’ve had for anything. My parents’ particular backgrounds have also given me insight into some of the prejudices and harmful stereotypes perpetuated within minority communities, and the benefits that come with breaking those barriers and interacting with people outside of your own racial/ethnic group.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.