Color Comprehension

Imagine what the world would be like

if we were all born color blind.

If the only thing that people judged and used to define

was the substance of the mind

and every black, blue, orange, yellow, purple, and white shade

just blended together

to make a nice shade of gray.

So that when you look at me,

that’s no Latina you’d see.

You’d see a face with two eyes and a mouth like any other

and with no race to differentiate each other

we could finally begin to transcend the bounds of color.

And we’d coexist peacefully

as the same people with the same face

the same race

the same blood running through our veins.

But then we have to ask ourselves

What would harmony be

without a history

without a family tree that could connect you to me

and me to my ancestors,

and my ancestors to their roots,

Roots that aren’t recorded

in the history books.

Roots that sprouted in the ground,

baking in the Mayan sun

that turned all the Natives brown.

Roots that trace to Europe,

to the Spanish conquests

when greed and desire

sent the Spanish to the West.

And there began a new race,

Mestizo

brown and white,

like café con leche,

more commonly known as Latino.

Despite what people say,

and common ignorance,

everybody in this country is an immigrant.

This is not just a face like any other.

These are Mexican eyes from my mother,

a Colombian smile from my father

I’m Latina and I couldn’t be prouder.

And I’m proud of you too,

for what you and your ancestors went through

to get to this moment right here.

So in my mind it’s very clear

that none of us are here

by chance.