LogFAQs > #941142110

SquantoZ posted...

Rashida Jones is black but looks white to most people. This line of thinking leads to us Puerto Ricans developing anti-blackness. Ricky Martin may look more white but who are you to decide what is in his DNA. He may still have a larger percentage of african lineage than JLo or Tito and outward appearance shouldn't be the only indicator. The fact remains that Puerto Ricans and other afro-latinos should accept the fact that being black is ingrained in our culture and that we are more than likely also descended from african slaves as well as indigenous people and spain. It's not about what you look like. It's about who you actually are.

While I agree that there is certainly an almost anti-black sentiment in PR, the reality is that each individual is still a different mix. Sure, we dont know what their DNA says, but we dont necessarily already ask non hispanic black and white americans for their DNA when they identify as white, black, or mixed.

Im not saying that we should sit back and instantly create definitive images for Puerto Ricans to say this is what a black Puerto Rican looks like or anything like that. What Im saying is that throwing any sort of arbitrary title over the whole island isnt remotely accurate, and just as American doesnt denote race, neither should hispanic.


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Slow and steady wins the race