Puerto Ricans are unique. In more ways than one.
We are a passionate, party people but in terms of immigration, we are the only Hispanic group BORN as U.S. Citizens (outside the country, non-legalization, via naturalization).
And Puerto Ricans have earned that right by fighting and dying in American wars — as several of my own family members did.
My great uncle, for example, was highly decorated in the Korean War after the Jeep he and a Colonel were driving in hit a land mine. Although severely injured himself, he carried the injured colonel 12 miles to safety.
Indeed, we are the true “Hispanic-American” segment, tied to the U.S. as territory, since 1898.
Still, even as a natural citizen, the mood towards Hispanics (of which all are corralled into the ‘immigrant’ kennel), is frightening. I look like an ‘immigrant.’
The result is a world full of hard stares and long looks. It means undercover ‘agents’ at Target follow you as you shop. It means you get pulled over for things like an ‘improperly secured license plate’ or not having your signal on in a left turn arrow lane.
And anytime I venture outside the metro, the world shifts and the sky darkens.
So now, with this speech and the venom Trump dumped on us all, as a gang really, it will effect even those ‘Hispanics’ who are here legally from birth.
Racists don’t stop to ask you if you’re Mexican or Puerto Rican, they have made up their dinosaur minds before they even speak. Or learn.
And that’s the problem. So much of Trump’s speech and the supporters who chanted his name are based in ignorance. They know nothing about Puerto Rico, it’s history, it’s wonderful people.
What they see is dark hair, dark skin and that fires up their primal senses. I am either Mexican or Arab — depending on the racists’ preferred hate.
So I live on eggshells. Although I’m very successful, I don’t want to draw attention to myself and thus drive an ‘unsuccessful’ little car.
And it’s based on something my very proud Puerto Rican dad told me once about success.
“People see a white man driving a nice car and they think he worked for it. People see a Hispanic in a nice car and think he’s a drug dealer.”
I laughed it off at the time but years later, a group of my own friends, seeing my success, yes, labeled me a drug dealer. Of course, that’s the only possible way I could ever be successful, right?
So I learned that lesson but now there is a new caveat, a new wrinkle.
If people see me now in ANY car, they think I am an illegal drug-dealing immigrant.
I’d maybe ask then that you share with your Trump supporting friends a bit of info about Puerto Ricans...before they deport us preferably.