One of the things I Love about myself -- my unique mix of ethnic heritage -- is also something which presents me with a grand dilemma:  How to describe my ethnicity?

I was born in Central America to a mother who is half indigenous and half Caribbean islander.  My father is half Algerian and half Spanish-Portuguese.  Since I spent my early childhood in Latin America and my first language was Spanish, I have always considered myself a Latina.  At the same time, half of my genetics come from a father who is half European and half Algerian.  (Quite the "mut," I know )

My ad currently says Native South American and European, which is accurate, yet it doesn't account for my Algerian heritage.  

I wish there was some way to, in just a few words, describe the combination of cultures I grew up in.  At the same time, this may be one of those cases in which less is simply more!

Hope everyone's enjoyed a Merry XXX-Mas, Hanukkah, and continue to have a happy & healthy holiday season!

xoxo
Lela

Rather than try to fit into a narrow box, write out your full heritage and experiences. The truth is interesting and worth the extra words.

For example, perhaps you look like Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls or like Rosario Dawson.  Or perhapa like Zoe Saldana.  Or one of the Kardashians.

When the conquistadores  came over from Spain 300-400 years, or however long ago, they did do a lot of "intermingling" with the natives there.  There is a reason why over half of the americas speaks Spanish.  I do not know if there is an actual record in percentages, but I am sure that many natives might not truly be 100% indigenous.  

With that being said,  you could call yourself "Worldly" or "Cosmopolitan", which is not just the name of some Sex in the City drink or the title to a trashy supermarket check out magazine.

That's just my thoughts.

Have you considered "metaphor"?

I have had the pleasure of being in the company of Ms Cruz. I say that there is no way to accurately describe her as she so wonderfully does not fit in any of the categories as we traditionally know them. That is part of her uncomplicated beauty.
How about "an intoxicating mix of Latin and European cultures"?

there's a joke there about fitting into her narrow box, but i won't make it...

Is that you are incredibly gorgeous and sweet Having  so many ethnicities mixed into one makes you unique and unlike anyone else. Though i hear what you are saying about having another box to check to describle yourself....Perhaps you should describe yourself as a delightfully delicious, diverse mix of many beautiful heritages)) xo

...like i'm afro-Puerto Rican & Haitian ....   i'm not 100% latina so I don't want to pick that but I'm not african-american either. Not all the blacks in the world are african-american and I just wish TER would catch up with other options like 'Other' or 'Mixed' or Caribbean etc.

I find it annoying as well since I am Mexican, Native-American, Spanish & German.

I appreciate you wonderful people taking the time to contribute your thoughts!  Special thanks to Mr. "Fletch16" for your kind words & for taking me on that very special date recently  

Thank you for all of your contributions to my post!

xoxo
Lela

.... she's much like myself ... of different ethnicities but she's not really mixed per se racially (she's a black Latina).  Well i'm part Haitian not 100% latina by ethnicity/heritage but Zoe on the other hand is "100% latina" (Puerto Rican & Dominican) .... if she was an escort on TER she'd be under the Latina category and that's it and it'd be correct.... not much confusion about her.

I'm going strictly by looks here.  

Since latino(a) isn't a race... I don't look typically latina (hell I still get weird looks from housekeeping which are usually Mexican or Salvadoran if I ask when I talk to them in spanish OR respond in english to something they said in spanish but I digress) to most people (by typically latina I mean what most people are used to seeing on tv ie your "whiter" variety).

IMO many wouldn't think she was latina unless she told you or someone else did. She looks like technically what she is (granted she's latina by heritage/ethnicity but a pretty black woman). Drumline is the first movie I ever saw her in.  Also.... I had an Dominican ex with dreads.....no one thought he was latino by looks until they heard him speak. You'd have thought he was AA by looks (though I guess him having dreads didn't help any but I guess that's some not being able to get past the brown skin & black features when they hear or think latino(a)).


-- Modified on 12/28/2012 7:45:05 AM