UNWANTED
Story by F--- a Duck // Art by Fernando Amaro Jr.

Do we ever stop and think how powerful words are? What would you prefer, a slap in the face or someone yelling that you and your family should go home? I would prefer a slap in the face because pain is temporary and words can replay in your mind over and over again. When a classmate made several racial remarks about Latinos the one that stuck with me is when he stated that my family should go home, but the question I ask is where exactly would my family go?

From the ignorant statement that he made he was probably assuming that I was Mexican, but I'm only half. My father is Mexican and my mother is Salvadorian, so where would I go? Would it be Mexico or El Salvador?

If my parents were to leave the country who would take their jobs since Latinos are a large segment of people taking over the job market? One thing I can say with pride is that my parents do fall into one stereotype about Latinos, my mom is the lady who cooks your cuisine in a hotel in San Francisco, and at another hotel she is the lady you ignore once she takes you to your seat into the restaurant. My dad is unemployed, not by choice but by corporate America and will soon be the guy you will pass by while he sweeps the floor.

America, who will serve and clean the country while you drop bombs?

            Growing up my parents raised me to be strong but I never thought words would ever make me feel unwanted in country that I was born in. Do we ever stop and think how powerful words can really be?

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