Guatemalan Stereotypes Essay

When I was a toddler, I had blonde hair, blue eyes and white skin, and still presently do. My parents are Guatemalan, however they fit the stereotype of a Guatemalan, small, a bit chunky, and tan. My siblings also carry the same genes as my parents, but yet I stand out like the moon in a night sky. But just like the moon, the public looks at me different. Growing up in a hispanic community and having a Latino family I gained numerous titles for my abnormality. “Canche” is the George Clooney of my nicknames, it means white boy.

From my appearance, people generally presume my nationality is some sort of Caucasian origin and once I tell them I’m Guatemalan, their face fills with a shock. Individuals always questions me after my response, asking if I'm really am. I find it insulting people automatically think i'm white or even argue with me saying I'm not Latino. Do I have to look a certain way to be Guatemalan? Does my looks identify what my ethnicity is? Because my ethnicity is an American citizen, raised by Hispanic parents, born and raised in Rhode island.

I go Classical High School and the majority of the population is white, there are other nationalities, but it safe to say white dominates the other Nationalities. I understand as well why my school peers think i'm white. Not just because I blend in with the Whites, my style of clothing is not

Although I find it insulting being called titles for my looks, I still have that culture as well. Viewed as White male and having a Hispanic atmosphere is me. Throughout my life I had learned to love my inner ethic child and my broad white appearance. I can't fulfill all stereotypes in my culture because I am not fully Latino nor 100% American. My ethnicity isn't a title that the public gives me, just like my looks are not my labels. Likewise just like the moon, I am different, but I am still bright,astonishing, and still a