Racism And Being Latina: I Do Not Feel Safe.

My beautiful, younger cousin. My college-educated, public-school-teacher cousin experienced such ugliness this last weekend in a city that is mostly Mexican (San Antonio, TX). Below are her words she posted on social media this last weekend.

Yesterday I went into a Mexican restaurant off of Fischer road for the first time. The kind of authentic Mexican where the "homemade" tortillas have flour powder still on them. Yum!! Two men in their late 60 maybe 70 were loudly talking politics. I sat and listened drinking my coffee. Some of their conversation, I could hear from a table away. "I'm so sick of those Mexicans coming in stealing our jobs" "criminals and rapist", " they are so lazy pinche mojado" (yes he said this in Spanish so the waitress could understand)

The loudest one made eye contact with me and got louder "I'm sick of them Mexicans"... There is no way that these two men would be in a Mexican restaurant saying this. I thought should I say something? Then realized there is nothing I could say that would change this person hateful feelings towards others.

As he left his tip for his "mexican" waitress and went to the register to pay for his food, he ran into a friend and completely changed his angry demeanor and put on a smile and laughed. That man looking me in my eye and loudly saying from across the restaurant "I'm sick of them Mexicans" was not talking about politics this was about racism.

I am a "citizen" ... I can't even speak Spanish lol , but yesterday someone for the first time in my life made me feel hated for the color of my skin. These past few years politics has made people comfortable with so much hate.

I want to scream for the fact that these assholes felt so emboldened to walk into a Mexican restaurant (a mom and pop type place) and degrade the patrons and people working there. 

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Trump spoke repeatedly about his plans to halt illegal immigration and deport migrants he described as "vicious and bloodthirsty criminals" if he wins the Nov. 5 election. .... "On day one I will launch the largest deportation program in American history," he said. "I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered." (Reuters)

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Vance says Trump’s ‘enemy from within’ comments were directed at dissenting Americans (CNN)

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Me: I'm scared and disturbed. The guy that went into that El Paso Walmart... looking for Mexicans to kill. I don't feel safe.

My medical provider: Well, at least you don't look Mexican.

Me: ....... 

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"This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas,” Crusius posted shortly before the shooting on a website popular with white supremacists. He also said immigrants were seeking to “replace” white Americans. (Texas Tribune)

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Me: I can't believe Trump may be president, again. Like, it may actually happen.

My medical provider: How much would your life actually change though if he did get re-elected? Your life would stay the same. Nothing would probably change. 

Me: ....... 

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Later, Hinchcliffe said "these Latinos, they love making babies" and said they don't use the pull-out birth control method. (CBC)

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Fuck Trump and his racist enablers. Also, I may need a new "medical provider". 

I am Latina. I do not feel safe. 

Also, I made you a playlist of music that I listen to while making
pan de muerto. 

xoxo