Minnesota Merengue: A Latina Finds Friendship on a White Campus
When I announced last spring that I was going to attend Carleton College in Minnesota, a school which is about 10% Black and Hispanic, my friends nearly passed out. I received all sorts of advice, warnings and words of encouragement. My favorite was: “Just keep in mind that you’re going there to study, not necessarily […]
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A Short Cut to Independence
For years, I needed my mom’s help to twist my long, thick hair, which fell nearly halfway down my back, into a braid or even a ponytail. I hated that morning ritual because it made me feel helpless. I hated the long hours it took to wash and dry my hair. I wanted to feel […]
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The ‘N’ Word: It Just Slips Out
“What’s up, niggaz?” “You crazy nigga, you buggin’!” “See you later, niggaz!” That’s the way my older brother and his friends used to talk to each other. I think I was around 7 when my older brother became my center of attention. He and his friends sounded so cool, and that strange, interesting word “nigger” […]
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