Sonia Sotomayor - A Wise Latina Woman
I am obsessed at the condemnation of this comment and why it is being viewed as a negative phrase. Is it because it is that odd that the words “Wise” and “Latina” are mentioned in the same breath? Or is it because when the word “Latina/Latino” is mentioned its hardly met with any positive inference and this time it wasn’t? I kind of believe the later is what really pissed off modern white supremacy. For centuries, I’m not going years, cause you see this has been going on for way to long, if you’re non-white it’s OK to refer to you as anything else as long as it opposes positive references. Look at the evening newscasts, for years whenever there was a crime, the description of blacks and latinos were accurately depicted. If it were a white person, you just heard the word “man or woman”. I always felt the reason for these inconsistencies were whites are the majority race (so they say), therefore it is automatic when referring to the human race the white person is automatically assumed. So when Sonia went off in public and defied how the race should be mentioned in their eyes all hell broke loose. Remember they have ALWAYS had the luxury of defining us the way they want to; anything in opposition is challenged by the word they claim to hate the most, yet they practice it the most and that’s RACISM!
White people love to defend themselves as they oppose affirmative action and statements like the one made by Sonia. They love to say “we” can get past the racism if you do. Bullshit, your Daddy was racist, your Granddaddy was one and guess what it’s ingrained and you are one too. How can we get over it, when YOU’RE still on it! Sonia was not being a racist and I’m not defending her because I’m a blacktina, however, I can understand the importance of imaging yourself in a positive light. Let me briefly try to attempt to explain to white America how Sonia’s comment was not a diss to you but rather an empowerment for my race.
Sonia and like the rest of us minorities (God I hate that term) MUST ALWAYS state our ethnicity as we achieve greatness. When your race is normally associated with all the vileness of society (i.e. higher incarceration rates, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, broken homes, etc.) it then becomes essential to advertise when one of us does achieve something positive. We are a race that is trying to break cycles. We can no longer live mediocre, it’s just tiring. We must move forward, but sometimes the only way to do so is to be inspired. Sonia has inspired so many blacks and latinos by her upbringing and her overcoming of challenges which has led her to place where she stands today. Our babies need this nourishment and it our responsibility as parents biological or not to feed our babies with positive reinforcement. We can’t rely on “You” to do it. History has shown that you won’t and you never will as evident by your recent comments condemning Sonia. Just look at the Pat Buchanon’s, Bill O’Reilly’s and Rush Limbaugh’s, I purposely use them in a plural form because there are so many like them. As long as they exist we as a minority sector in this country MUST never be ashamed of our accomplishments. To quote Marianne Williamson, “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Please take this to heart, as we publicized who we are and how great we are, we are giving permission to others to do the same! That’s Powerful!!! Always remember they use to stop us from reading, they can’t stop us no more. Slander is trash and dies down easily, but the sharing of your accomplishments to your people will NEVER deteriorate as easily.
Lastly, the other reason why we MUST always advertise our accomplishments is we need to eliminate the expectations you have of us. For example, just the other day I was passing by an exclusive high rise apartment building in the city. As I looked into the lobby window I saw a black woman cleaning and a white man had stepped off the elevator. I noticed as he stepped off she diligently picked her pep as she was changing a trash bag. He passed by her without any notice in a nonchalant manner. This man was not surprise to see this woman doing this type of work. You can tell by his stride and her actions that they were both accustomed to being in these roles. This is a perfect example of how we have to change how we are viewed; we can only do this by promoting ourselves in a positive light.
Sonia’s actions were based on the above scenarios whether she knew it or not. We come from a race of hardships coupled with ingenuity. When we reference our race to our accomplishment we are essentially sending signals, actions reminiscent of our enslaved ancestors who sent signals to protect and warn. Our modern day signals do protect and warn but also encourage, inspire, uplift, inform, defy propaganda, enlighten, etc. all those variables that are constantly denied to us.
So white America you want us to stop shouting from the rooftops and call it reverse discrimination. Well Chico, you go ahead and keep doing what you do! We on the other hand will never STOP! We have bigger fish to fry and for once your majority will NOT CONTROL this minority!
Peace Out,
Blacktina
A Wise Latina Woman
