Quien Soy Yo

My name is Jeanette, but I am more than just someone with a name. I am more than just a 21-year old young woman. My last name is Ramirez, I of course come from a Mexican family. However, I am more than that. I am the memories that I created with my family, the city that I grew up in, the color of my skin, the food that I eat.

I am the girl that would get her hair braided every night by her mother before bedtime. The girl that would pray the “angel de la guarda” and receive her “bendicion” before bedtime. I am the girl that would wake up every Sunday to menudo, tacos de barbacoa, or huevos rancheros. When I was young and I’d be sick, my mother would make me sopa de fideo, add lime on it, and cuddle with me, at 21-years old, she still does it occasionally. I am the girl that would come home from school every day and have dinner ready and served, made by my mother.

I am the girl that was born to a woman who is a warrior. A girl that was raised by a woman who taught her values, and how to love. I am the girl that was taught by her mother to always say “Buenos dias, buenas tardes, buenas noches.” I am the girl that was taught to not curse by her mother, to always act like a lady, even when things get difficult. I am the girl that would see a beautiful woman every day put makeup on, wear her high heels, and cook. I am the girl that was told by her mom every day to go to school and get good grades, because my value was more than to be a housewife. I am the girl that was told by her mother to follow her dreams. I am the daughter of a woman who gave her whole life to her husband and four daughters, to her grand-kids, I am the daughter of a woman who never gives up, who loves her family unconditionally.

I am the girl with a father that comes home with wet feet, with hands cut, and dirty clothes. I am the girl with a father that works 7 days a week, with a father that works in the heat, the snow, the rain. I am the girl with a father that drinks coffee in the morning before work, a father that would give his everything for his wife and daughters. I am the daughter of a man that would give his last meal to a stranger to help them out. I am the daughter of a man who is strong like a tree, a man that never breaks, not in sickness, not in anything. I am the daughter of a man that never gives up, a man that when he falls, he picks himself up and comes back stronger.

I am the girl with three sisters, who are united and strong. I am the girl that shares clothes with her sisters, and usually argues with them about it. I am the girl that would die for her sisters, a girl that is protected by her three older sisters, a girl who is inspired by them. I am the girl that will ask her sisters for advice, the girl who has three wonderful best friends that even if they are annoying, I love them to death.

I am a student. I am that girl that does her assignments the last minute, but still completes them on time. I am the girl that doesn’t sleep for two days when exams are coming up, the girl that goes to school and tries her best, I am the girl that doesn’t give up, that even when things get difficult school will always be a priority.

I am a woman. I am a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a friend, a student, everything. I am strength, beauty, intelligence and everything that a woman has to offer. I am a human being, with dreams and aspirations, with struggles, with good and bad times. I am Jeanette.

Blog 1

For centuries women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community as well as individuals with disabilities have been neglected and disregarded by the society of white people. Women as well as their rights have been overlooked and ignored, and of course times are different now and there is equality, for white women. In the essay, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House, written by Audre Lorde, the African-American poet and essayist describes the issues faced by African-American women, women of color, and people of the LGBT community. This essay confronts and addresses the controversy of differences between women of color and white women, and more importantly the problem with racist feminism.

In the essay, Lorde speaks about the lack of differences between racism, sexism, and homophobia. In the eyes of white Americans, all women of color, all members of a different sexual orientation, are different than them. There is a status of patriarchy within Americans. In any job setting, between an African-American woman, a white woman, and a Latina; the white woman would get hired, the white woman would earn more, the white woman would have greater opportunities, obtain a higher education. The white woman would not clean houses for a living, the white woman would not struggle with hiding her identity, she would not get fired for wearing cornrows, or would not be prohibited from speaking her native language.

There is a truth in Lorde’s statement that “if white American feminist theory need not deal with the differences between us, and the resulting difference in our oppressions, then how do you deal with the fact that the women who clean houses and tend your children while you attend conferences on feminist theory are, for the most part, poor women and women of color?” There is a separation in feminism, and that is Lorde’s overarching message. In the year of 1937, the first Disney Princess was introduced into society, she of course was white. Children of color did not have an African-American princess until 2009, which was Princess Tiana. The question is, where is the Mexican Princess? It is the year 2020, and there is yet to be one. Society has yet to introduce Mexican-Americans into their culture. The last known Mexican-American figure that was known and recognized by American culture was Selena Quintanilla. There are Mexican-American celebrities known, but not as famous and iconic as Selena. Lorde was an activist towards African-American women, towards women of color. In her essay, she spoke about the lack of union between women. Why must there be differences? Why can’t all women join together and become stronger by uniting their knowledge, skills, and visions?

There is a strong connection between Audre Lorde’s essay “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Masters’ House” and the poem “And When You Leave, Take Your Pictures With You.”  Written by poet Jo Carrillo, “And When You Leave Take Your Pictures With You,” is a poem that emphasizes the importance of working class women and the strong privilege of white Americans. Just as Lorde expressed the difficulties faced by women such as “those of us who stand outside the circle of this society’s definition of acceptable women; those of us who have been forget in the crucibles of difference—those of us who are poor… know that survival is not an academic skill,” Carrillo also expresses the difficulties and differences of women of color. Carrillo demonstrates how privileged white women are and how they feel superiority towards “us” the women “walking to the fields in the hot sun, with straw hat on head if brown, bandana if black, in bright embroidered shirts, holding brown yellow black red children.” When white women see that-- women who work, who sweat in the sun, killing themselves by working for the white, they do not like that, because “when our white sisters see us in the flesh, not as a picture they own, they are not quite as sure if they like us as much.” There is a difference, a space diving women. A woman of color will never be viewed the same as a white woman in society, white women must not survive, they must not escalate and walk in knifes to succeed, they do not go through hunger, and are not sexualized or disrespected.

Another important work that emphasizes the lack of status of Mexican-Americans and people of color is the story “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” written by author Gloria Anzaldua. This work of literature connects with Lorde’s ‘The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House,” by expressing the silence of culture. Just like African-American women must hide their culture, their essence and are forced to be invisible in society, Mexican-Americans must deal with that too. Anzaldua recalls a moment in her youth when an Anglo teacher would punish her with a sharp ruler for speaking her native tongue, Spanish, and where she was constantly told “if you want to be American, speak ‘American’ if you don’t like it go back to Mexico where you belong.” Cultures are forced to change their essence, to transform into Americans, to forget who they are and where they came from. Language is the music of culture, it is a part of someone that defines them, it is what adds flavor to your being, no one should hide who they are to become accepted in society. Everyone is equal, every culture is beautiful, and Anglo Americans must be aware of that.