Is stereotyping cool?
Cristina Recalde
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Columns
I was drinking a warm hot chocolate in Post 95 when the inevitable topic came up, making me lose my appetite and waste my money.
"I am sick and tired of all these dirty Latinos," she said.
"I know. Eww, so gross, I normally like when guys say I'm beautiful but not when it's a nasty Mexican saying it," said the other girl as she cringed in disgust.
This nice little chat continued for a couple of minutes when they realized I was there, conveniently sitting right in the middle. I was informed that I do not get offended by this.
"You are different. It's immigrants and dirty-looking Latinos we are talking about."
I didn't know if I should've just punched her and fight for us Latinos, a word I actually despise, or if I should try and explain to them how stupid and brainless their comments were. I went for the second option, but I was interrupted. "It's not you we are talking about."
Unfortunately, this happens every week and the worst thing is that I've learned to let it go by.
We live in a bubble here at Witt. Sometimes it is a bubble of ignorance. I am from Ecuador -I am Latin American, or as you would say I'm a Latina. And a damn proud one too.
Stereotyping is a big issue on campus and I'm sick and tired of hearing that it is not "me" people are talking about -it is me.
We are in a prestigious school, my home away from home, and we go around talking about people like they are some kind of nasty bug. Well, they are not; we are people just like you. We've all heard the speeches and agree with them in certain dates like last month's MLK convocation. Why not agree with them every day?
Next time, just use your head before making a racist comment. It hurts more than you think.
"I am sick and tired of all these dirty Latinos," she said.
"I know. Eww, so gross, I normally like when guys say I'm beautiful but not when it's a nasty Mexican saying it," said the other girl as she cringed in disgust.
This nice little chat continued for a couple of minutes when they realized I was there, conveniently sitting right in the middle. I was informed that I do not get offended by this.
"You are different. It's immigrants and dirty-looking Latinos we are talking about."
I didn't know if I should've just punched her and fight for us Latinos, a word I actually despise, or if I should try and explain to them how stupid and brainless their comments were. I went for the second option, but I was interrupted. "It's not you we are talking about."
Unfortunately, this happens every week and the worst thing is that I've learned to let it go by.
We live in a bubble here at Witt. Sometimes it is a bubble of ignorance. I am from Ecuador -I am Latin American, or as you would say I'm a Latina. And a damn proud one too.
Stereotyping is a big issue on campus and I'm sick and tired of hearing that it is not "me" people are talking about -it is me.
We are in a prestigious school, my home away from home, and we go around talking about people like they are some kind of nasty bug. Well, they are not; we are people just like you. We've all heard the speeches and agree with them in certain dates like last month's MLK convocation. Why not agree with them every day?
Next time, just use your head before making a racist comment. It hurts more than you think.
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