Juav's Latino World

Ameritinos: The Identity Crisis Within

"Ameritinos" are defined as Latinos who are born in the United States and are American citizens by birth
but whose heritage is rooted in foreign countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean countries,
Central America, South America, and Spain. Many Ameritinos are fighting an identity crisis that is tearing
them apart. This is a complex problem that involves the Latino or Hispanic culture, personal identity,
religious, and social aspects. The problem encompasses all phases of the Ameritinos’ life.

To illustrate one aspect of the problem, I was born in the US but my parents came from Mexico. My skin
color is light brown, ‘morenito’, and I spoke Spanish before I spoke English. In grade school, I was told that
I should speak only English. If the teachers heard me speaking Spanish, I would be punished. Obviously I
was young and confused. Everybody at home spoke Spanish. In fact, I understood the Spanish better than
the English language, and I could not figure out why it was bad or inferior.

The problem can also manifest itself with teenagers in high school. I know a light brown complexion
Ameritino student in high school who had many problems in school because she did not know how to
behave socially. She wanted to be part of a group who accepted her for what she was. Because she was
American she wanted to be accepted by the white girls. So she dyed her hair blonde, and got some blue
contact lenses to look more like them. However, because of her skin color and Hispanic heritage she was
rejected by the white girls. When she turned to the other Hispanic girls for acceptance, she was turned
down by them because she looked and acted like a white girl. This can create an inferiority complex which
can lead to big social problems.

How is an Ameritino supposed to behave? In my case I am an American citizen with all my rights as one,
but I look Mexican and speak Spanish as well as English. I pledge allegiance to the American flag and
respect all of the laws of the country and state. If I am call to serve in the military, I will do so with honor to
defend my country, the United States. I am comfortable being an American and enjoying all the privileges
America has to offer. I want to be a good citizen and have a positive impact on my county, the USA.

I am not a citizen of Mexico and therefore, I am not a Mexican--If I were a Mexican citizen, I would be proud
to be one. I worked in Mexico and it is a beautiful country that is slowly becoming more democratic.--
However, I want to maintain my Hispanic heritage alive. I want to be accepted by the white community as
well as the brown community. I want to eat apple pie and ‘tres leches’ cake. I want to watch football and
‘futbol.’ I want to listen to rock and roll as well as ‘mariache’ music. I want to eat a hamburger and fries
today and ‘tamales’ tomorrow. I don’t want my Hispanic culture to fade and lose it completely. My heritage
is my roots and it gives me a unique identity. I did not grow from a tree, but I do have a family tree where I
can trace my origins.

My friend Juan told me we are a multi-culture group of people searching for identity and I believe it’s true.
We are comfortable with the white man’s way of life in America, but we also want to maintain our Hispanic
heritage. If we go to Mexico to visit or do business we feel out of place with them. In fact, in my travels to
Mexico I discover that most of Mexicans did not accept me or liked me. To them I was American and I
should return as soon as possible to the US. In the US, some white people do not accept me because I
look Mexican and they want me to return to Mexico. I am in a quandary. Many times in my business
transactions in the US, I feel like the seller looks at the person instead of his needs. He quickly forms
opinions as to his financial status, credit allowance, and income capabilities. I have had several
experiences where a salesman questions my financial status before he knew me. This ambiguous identity
position leads me to ask a very important question "Who am I?"

The reality is that I am neither white nor Mexican; I am a multi-culture American Latino, Ameritino, with a
uniqueness that encompasses both cultures. I believe that the Ameritino culture is still evolving and
becoming more important and better defined every year. This unique culture is a hybrid of the white and the
brown culture. As a hybrid it takes the best of either and synergistically blends it to become an improved
culture. The US currently has about 40 million Hispanics and that population segment continues to grow
along with the Ameritino culture. The business and the political arenas can no longer ignore the cultural
impact of the Ameritino. It is more correct to describe it as cultures, because of the origin of the Ameritino.
Did he come from South America, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or El Salvador? I believe that all of these
subcultures will eventually blend into one unique Ameritino culture accepted by the Hispanics and the white
population. This unique culture will impact the white culture, and eventually become blended with it. It is
safe to say that the white culture is already accepting some areas of the Ameritino culture.

Contributed by:
David P. Flores
February 26, 2007