I saw a writing prompt encouraging Latina bloggers to write about their immigration story for a Hispanic Heritage themed post. And, like many Tejanos, all I could think was that I didn't have one.
Who was the first in my family lineage to leave their country and decide to live permanently in the United States? As far as I know, at least 3 generations before me, there was no one on either side of my family. Whenever I asked, every one just said we were from here.
You know the saying... 'we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us.'
Maybe my ancestors were a part of the Tejanos who died defending the Alamo against the Mexican Army in 1836? It is said that there were about 4,000 Tejanos living north of the Nueces River around that time, almost 100 years before the picture above was taken.
That's my grandma in that picture, the güera on the top row. We didn't call her 'abuela' and she didn't speak Spanish to us, but I'll always remember the story that she was sent into the stores that only allowed 'Whites Only' because of her fair skin and blue eyes. I know that she and her parents were born here in South Texas, near Corpus Christi. It's where she met my grandpa, picking cotton in the fields. It's been over 10 years since she has passed and I just wish I knew more.
Maybe her family and the families of all the children in the Mexican Department were born in Texas, too? Either way, they were looked at as different, segregated into their own department. Their histories, their US birth place didn't matter. Maybe that is why they didn't pass the stories down to us?
It feels like that is where the chingona in us originates. Because we were told that our stories didn't matter, our history was not taught to us alongside the history of the United States. In fact, it is something we are still fighting for.
So, I will continue to learn myself, share my history and teach my children because our Tejano history, our story of us being a part of the United States was not just a cut and dry decision, it's layered in historical events that we are still uncovering ourselves.
This story is a part of the Texas Latino Bloggers Hispanic Heritage Month Blog Hop. We are sharing our stories all month, check out the schedule below! And follow the hashtag #TXLatinoBlog on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, too.
Que Means What - Being Latina Enough - Wednesday, 9/14
MexiMoments - Importance of Learning the Language as a Child - Thursday, 9/15
The Social Butterfly Gal - Mentoring Young Latinas - Friday, 9/16
Juan of Words - Mexican-American Culture - Monday, 9/19
Sweet Life - Food Recipes - Tuesday, 9/20
The Optimistic Heathen - Sharing Our Heritage with the Kids - Wednesday, 9/21
Modern Tejana - How to Live Your Latinidad in Mixed-Race Families - Thursday, 9/22
The Esposa Experience - Navigating the Pressures of Traditional Esposa Expectations - Friday, 9/23
The Nueva Latina - Mexican Indepence Day in Guadalajara - Saturday, 9/24
FitFunAnd.com - Self-Reflection and Latino Outdoors - Sunday, 9/25
VodkaGirlATX - Latin-Inspired Cocktails - Monday, 9/26
Momma of Dos - How Mexican I grew up! - Tuesday, 9/27
Family Love in My City - When You Don't Have An Immigration Story - Wednesday, 9/28
Creative Meli - Basic and Healthy Latin Cooking - Thursday, 9/29
Mejorando Mi Hogar - Being Latino or Hispanic - Friday, 9/30
Power to Prevail - Body Shame in Latino Culture - Monday, 10/3
Teatrolatinegro - Latin@ Theatre Show in Houston - Tuesday, 10/4
Candypo - Being a Latino Military Spouse - Wednesday, 10/5
Coppelia Marie - Am I a Bad Latina Mom? - Thursday, 10/6
The Restaurant Fanatic - Cocina Latina - Friday, 10/7
Haute in Texas - Mothering Latinas When You're Not a Latina - Monday, 10/10