Growing up a Black Latina

Growing up in New York City in the 80's as a Black Latina was very different then it is now. When I talk to my mom (who grew up in the 60's) Grandmother (40's) and Great Grandmother (20's) our experiences are all very similar. We all were confronted with being dark and looking one way and opening our mouths and people realizing we were of a race other then what they expected us to be. Countless times we would be shopping or out and about, and someone would speak Spanish, when a family member of mine would inject I would get a kick out of it as a child because I would love to see the expression on the individuals face to see my “black grandma” speaking Spanish. My Grandfather was Jamaican and Moroccan and my Grandmother is Puerto Rican. Although my grandma was Hispanic and not African American like my grandfather she was still looked upon differently and in my book concerned a Black Latina because she was dark skin. Most people think of NYC being a diverse melting pot that it would be more accepting of a double minority. A friend informed me to my surprise, that NYC is in fact more segregated then we realize. With areas like Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem and Spanish Harlem (need I say more) it is very apparent that there is division. Luckily in the chaos of my parent’s separation, they both went back to their respective neighborhoods and I was fortunate to grow up in Harlem with my mother, and spent weekends in Spanish Harlem with my father. I was fortunate to have the best of both worlds! It helped shape my identity both culturally and emotionally in coping with the tug of war I dealt with on a regular basis.