Disadvantages Of Chicano

Earlier in the semester, we conducted a privilege exercise in which we counted the various ways in which we are privileged or disadvantaged. At the conclusion of this exercise I learned that depending on the topic, I am either disadvantaged or privileged. Being raised in a loving home, where we always had food in the fridge and could walk the streets at night safely, greatly puts me at an advantage in society and it’s a privilege that I recognize. However on the flip side of the spectrum, being a bisexual Chicano in a time in which the topic of immigration is hot, has put me at a disadvantage. Regardless of which privileges and disadvantages that I may have, all of them come together to culminate in my self-identity and if they were any different,

One of which is the color of my skin and my ethnicity; Mexican. To some in this country, especially of the more extreme element, Mexican is like a curse word. Despite being a third generation Chicano, I feel as though I am a foreigner in my own land at times. And this can be especially dangerous now, considering you can drive an hour or two out of Denton into far-right rural areas, and be in extremely hostile territory in a time when immigration reform is a headline on every news channel. There are just simply some places where I cannot go out of fear of both my safety and dignity, even stepping foot in some places here in Denton you could feel the tense energy. This is all due to my race, which has sadly put me at a disadvantage in a society that is still controlled by white men. Another disadvantage I’ve had to face was pertaining to my sexuality, as I identify as bisexual. Though admittedly, society has been quickly getting better when it comes to this topic, I’ve still had to face issues because of my sexuality. This disadvantage was more noticeable when I lived in El Paso, which is predominantly Catholic. Whilst living in El Paso, there were times when people would be frightened by me despite my non-threatening build, due to how I identify. The amount of times I had to hear that I was confused or in a phase got so tired

And with my self-identity comes the privileges and disadvantages that I had growing up. I was raised in a working class household, which humbled me yet didn’t make me overly frugal to the point of not wanting to spend a single cent. As well, the safety of my neighborhood really instilled a sense of optimism in humanity, to the point of being almost naive, and this optimism has become a major part of my personality. Again, on the flip side of the spectrum being Chicano is the greatest part of my identity. I am first and foremost a Chicano, and with being Chicano brings various unique experiences and an immersive culture. Something you hear a lot, especially growing up in predominantly Latino areas is “Viva la Raza!”; or Long Live the Race in English, and this expresses immense pride in who we are as people, despite historically being subjugated and marginalized. You can break our bodies, but never our spirit. It’s such a unique experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything, even if I could be the most privileged member of society. If my privileges and disadvantages were any different, I would not be the same person by any means. My identity, my characteristics and my personality have all been molded by the trials and booms