Behind my privilege of what is truly the white experience, I got too comfortable. Being removed from America for the last 2.5 months has only aided to the false perception of the good life, that of a little Latina from Dyckman can make it, that it's all alright.
I never forgot my roots, that I'm legit so far below the poverty line and that affirmative action at one of the top schools did more than save me. That I am so far below the poverty line I sold cupcakes for two years at school. This is that New York City state of mind hustle.
But I genuinely allowed myself to believe that the rest of America was like New York City. That in my privilege bubble of a private education at a PWI I was safe, that that was enough of a clap back against spiteful critics.
My love for travel, my goal to travel the entirety of our country has been given a reality check; I will not be treated fairly because of the color of my skin or my Spanish last name. I can encounter someone willing to bring me to my death.
And I fear for my cousins who are half Indian, because maybe some backwards person will treat them unfairly because of their last name, that when they are older they would be demonized to be "terrorists" because an Indian name to uneducated people might as well be a Muslim last name, and "by default" a terrorist.
I fear the well being of all of my friends, as to be honest, none of them are exclusively a white American.
I have been brain washed with a fat 72k scholarship and an acceptance to travel abroad to think that I actually mattered to the rest of the country.
I was naive to think I had to speak up for the whites that aren't a "threat" because the ones I've known have been somewhat kind and understanding. That they too may experience sexism and poverty. However, no matter how many kind a white person will be to me, they will never be worst off than me.
I can't believe there are people out here that are more about dollars than about chance. They won't feel my pain.
Gyptian's song "Nobody no cry when poor people die," is true to it's most extreme extent.
I solemnly declare to stand up for all of my marginalized people. We will not be alone. We will be the eyes and ears and protectors of each other.
Black lives matter.
Native lives matter.
Muslim rights matter.
Trans rights matter.
LGBTQ rights matter.
Immigrant lives matter.
First generation lives matter.
Homeless lives matter.
Latino rights matter.
Women lives matters.
Marginalized lives matter.
Trump is not my president.
