What am I?

What Am I?

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Am I Hispanic or American?

I grew up here with Americans, 

But I also grew up with my Hispanic family

When I go to the Dominican Republic, I don’t feel at home

It is nothing more than a vacation and family meet-up spot to me

When my parents go to the D.R.,  it is what they call home

Whether it be the Spanish language that lives in the mouths of Dominicans

Or the various palm trees and great weather

The D.R. is home to them

For me, the streets of Boston are what I call home

Whether it be the English-speaking Bostonians

Or the various schools and sports teams of Boston

I am a Bostonian

Am I Hispanic or American?

My DNA says I’m Hispanic, 

But I, growing up in America, say otherwise

My family came here in hopes of achieving the American dream, a better life

A country where every man is born equal, right?

A country where the poor can become rich, right?

A country where everyone is equal, right?

Ask any person of color in America if they agree and you might get a different answer.

Am I Hispanic or American?

Although America definitely has its flaws, I’m grateful for the fact that I grew up here

My parents’ hard work and struggles were so that I could have an easier life here, after all

I’ve gone to better schools 

I’ve lived in a safer neighborhood.

I’ve been given more opportunities.

So, am I Hispanic or American? 

I’ll make sure that I make use of their hard work and dedication

I’ll make sure that I make use of the huge opportunity that I’ve been given in life by being born in America

I’ll make use of the fact that I am fluent in English

And, If any challenges or circumstances arise that life throws at me, I’ll throw it right back

I’ll make sure that the difficult life that my parents went through wasn’t put to waste

So once again, am I Hispanic or American?

To answer this question, I can’t escape my Hispanic or American roots, so let’s just say that I am a proud Hispanic-American.