I couldn’t help but be unimpressed by the statement, ” You can’t know where you are going unless you know where you have been”. I am the product of a mixed marriage and could, therefore, be classified by those who consider such matters, as an “African American”. I have never been to Africa and have no association with that continent. I, therefore, do not feel that in any sense of the word I can be classified as “African”. If I came from one of the nations in North Africa I might be considered an Arab. If I came from one of certain nations in South Africa, I might be considered South African to differentiate me from Black Africans. It is obvious that the term African-American is used only to identify black Americans. I then wonder why not call black Americans “black”. But if I were to be called black I would be ignoring the white member of my parentage. I have never seen a description of how to classify members of mixed heritage. The term African-European-American seems to be a correct description of my heritage but is rather asinine in its content. Since my parents were both Puerto Ricans I might be classified as Hispanic-American. However, that term seems to paint European Hispanics and new world Hispanics with the same brush and would not identify me if I were in an area where most Hispanics are of another ethnic group. As an example, Hispanics in New York City are often thought of as being Puerto Ricans even though many are Dominicans. Conversely, Hispanics in California are all thought of as being Mexicans although there are a great mixture of Spanish speaking individuals in that state.

Why do we need to be classified? In health care there is a need for classification due to the different illnesses common to certain racial or ethnic groups. Other than classification for the purpose of identification in police work, I fail to see the need for classification in any other aspect of American life.

I was born in this country, I pay taxes in this country, I have served in its military and consider myself a good citizen. Yet I cannot help but feel unwanted by those who look upon me with the description of race that may or may not apply to me. I consider my self an American by reason of heritage and my general accomplishments in life. But I am discouraged from calling myself a Puerto Rican or a college graduate or a soldier or a citizen. I am mostly identified by the tan of my skin or the roughness of my hair. Until there is a change in the way Americans look at minorities, there is no way that I can be looked upon as an American.

I have often been very impressed by the Europeans and Africans who mention their ability to understand and speak several languages. The reason for this pride is the fact that each of those continents host many languages. It is good to know that there is someone in these places that can, and do, translate other languages into the language spoken in their own countries. In the United States I have met individuals who cannot speak the language of their fore fathers. They have been forbidden to do so by parents who believe that, to be incorporated into the nation, they must speak only English. Yet there are jobs, particularly in our northern and southern borders, where knowledge of another language is an asset. I was also impressed, when I first visited the United Nations, to hear the speeches of dignitaries from other nations, being translated immediately into English. Although the abilities of these translators are lauded in their immediate surroundings, they are discriminated against, if heard in the in public speaking a language other than English. It appears as if there is a movement to find reasons for discrimination.

I am of mixed blood and can speak, read and write, Spanish. I have been in situations where my abilities have been looked upon as an asset. Yet I am not always afforded the right to be called an American. Perhaps there should be a movement to call each other “Citizen” as they did in France at the time of their revolution. To my way of thinking, this would be a better description than the ethnic and racial titles often used to describe each other.