Being Latino Culture Essay

Before arriving to college I must declare that I thought being Hispanic or Latino did not matter in any way. Everything changed the moment people display interest about my origins, culture, and roots that I somehow began to embrace it.

My experience being Latino in this country has made me more aware of how different people can be when they come from distinct nations, cultures, and ethnic groups. I think because we, Latinos, are often the target of degrading and limiting stereotypes and misrepresentation in the U.S. The stereotypes are so detrimental that we often struggle to embrace our identity, hence, it is the reason many people try to conceal it or deny it altogether.

Nonetheless, at Brandeis, I somehow reencountered that other me;
We have dealt with dictators, such as Pinochet, Batista, and Díaz. We have been fighting against poverty and underdevelopment for centuries. We have been fighting for progress and, despite of not being there yet, we are capable of virtually anything.

Now on campus, every time I am asked: where are you from? I proudly respond, “I am from Colombia. I identify as Latino.” I think it is crucial to embrace your identity because if we want to see a progress about inclusion and kill the irking stereotypes in our community, the change starts with you. Indeed, the change starts with you bringing another side of what it means to be Latino. We can do math, science, languages. We can become doctors, journalists, professors, athletes, musicians, lawyers. There is nothing that can prevent us from becoming whatever we want to do and be.

I learned that stereotypes do not dictate our destiny or define who we are. I think embracing our roots and where we come from is important for several reasons. One, if we want to change and obliterate those stereotypes, we, as
Latinos, must demonstrate that we contribute to our community. Second, we