Prior to coming to Paris, I considered myself to be a very open minded individual. I saw myself as the lily-livered bleeding-heart liberal who was receptive to all thought processes and ideas. While I still believe this to a degree, throughout my time in Europe, I have been confronted with challenges that have tested this identity.
In some aspects, it has been strengthened. For example; the issue of race and ethnicity in France is widely different than what it is in the United States. Because of the varied pasts with race relations between the U.S. and France, there are some obvious differences that come with the territory. But after being taught by French professors on issues of race and immigration in France, after meeting and speaking with children and grand-children of Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian immigrants, I now see that France is a place where race is rarely dealt with in a way which furthers the conversation to a more inclusive conclusion. I have seen only fractions of the reasons why French politicians such as Marine Le Pen (France’s answer to Donald Trump and Nigel Farage), have risen to power. I have become more thankful for the diversity around me in America, the diversity that has never stopped speaking up against injustice. I still see the United States as a country that has, throughout its history, impeded in the natural rights of people of all minorities. We’ve progressed, there’s no denying, but after the past few years where this issue is once again being pushed into our national discourse – it seems as if we are regressing to a time of divisiveness and hatred that we haven’t seen since it was codified as laws. Especially after this election. ...continue reading "Being Fiercely Latino Means A Lot More to me Now."
