I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. When I arrived in Pennsylvania, I presented myself as Puerto Rican. I did not have the experience of being and feeling part of a group united by the experience of being marginalized. I soon realized that although I am an American citizen by birth, I was not considered as such. That feeling developed in me an awareness that motivated my efforts to educate those who were unaware of the contributions of Latinos to the community.
My pride as a Latin woman grew and strengthened before the ignorance that to my surprise was of great proportion. The interesting part was that the lack of information also occurred among our own Latinos. For that reason and many others, I dedicated myself for 17 years to publicize my experience as a Puerto Rican and learn about the history of my Latino brothers. In that process I learned that there is more that unites us than what separates us.
Celebrating where we are from and knowing the history that unites us as a race is a unique experience. There is no better tool against the lack of knowledge than the firm and convincing voice that comes from the pride of knowing who we are. This month let us join our voices to celebrate and let it be known that we are an integral part of the history of the American Nation. Let us not miss the opportunity to proudly fly our flags.
María M. García BA, MA
