I Am Not Latino

I am not Latino,

I am a human that stands for truth, justice, freedom, fairness, merit, dignity, respect, progress and determination,

My name might be Rodriguez,

But that’s only because my blood was conquered by imperialists pillaging the Caribbean with slaves in tow,

My spirit comes from the bows of those ships,

Aspoao y sazonao con un chin de alegría,

Although my iberian nose might fool you,

My heart beats to drums of Africa,

And yet my conscience was layered at birth with the bravery and boldness of the stars and stripes.

‍

I opt out of the identity title that was ascribed to me by marketers,

For I am what I stand for,

What put my passion behind,

How I carry myself,

And what and who I serve.

‍

Spare me your tribalist identity and social group,

My identity need no rationale nor label,

I am but a man,

Out to make my mark in this world,

Allying with the transformatively impactful individuals who balance both divinity and rationality on their shoulders,

Who wake up with a light and fight to serve something greater than themselves.

‍

You see, I am not Latino,

Neither are you white, black, brown, red, yellow, or trans,

I am interested in what are willing to die for,

Not what color or category you ascribe to.

‍

Please, stop telling me what you are,

Who you love,

And what club you’re in,

Instead, show me what you’re doing with your precious life,

The rest is self explanatory.

‍

I am not Latino,

I’m a human that stands for truth, justice, freedom, fairness, merit, dignity, respect, progress and determination,

‍

My name might be Rodriguez,

But that’s only because my blood was conquered by imperialists pillaging the Caribbean with slaves in tow,

My spirit comes from the bows of those ships,

Aspoao y sazonao con un chin de alegría,

Although my iberian nose might fool you,

My heart beats to drums of Africa,

And yet my conscience was layered at birth with the bravery and boldness of the stars and stripes.

‍

I opt out of the identity title that was ascribed to me by marketers,

For I am what I stand for,

What put my passion behind,

How I carry myself,

And what and who I serve.

‍

Spare me your tribalist identity and social group,

My identity need no rationale nor label,

I am but a man,

Out to make my mark in this world,

Allying with the transformatively impactful individuals who balance both divinity and rationality on their shoulders,

Who wake up with a light and fight to serve something greater than themselves.

‍

You see, I am not Latino,

Neither are you white, black, brown, red, yellow, or trans,

I am interested in what are willing to die for,

Not what color or category you ascribe to.

‍

Please, stop telling me what you are,

Who you love,And what club you’re in,

Instead, show me what you’re doing with your precious life,

The rest is self explanatory.

‍

I am not Latino,

I’m a human that stands for truth, justice, freedom, fairness, merit, dignity, respect, progress and determination,

‍

My name might be Rodriguez,

But that’s only because my blood was conquered by imperialists pillaging the Caribbean with slaves in tow,

My spirit comes from the bows of those ships,

Aspoao y sazonao con un chin de alegría,

Although my iberian nose might fool you,

My heart beats to drums of Africa,

And yet my conscience was layered at birth with the bravery and boldness of the stars and stripes.

‍

I opt out of the identity title that was ascribed to me by marketers,

For I am what I stand for,

What put my passion behind,

How I carry myself,

And what and who I serve.

‍

Spare me your tribalist identity and social group,

My identity need no rationale nor label,I am but a man,

Out to make my mark in this world,

Allying with the transformatively impactful individuals who balance both divinity and rationality on their shoulders,

Who wake up with a light and fight to serve something greater than themselves.

‍

You see, I am not Latino,

Neither are you white, black, brown, red, yellow, or trans,

I am interested in what are willing to die for,

Not what color or category you ascribe to.

‍

Please, stop telling me what you are,

Who you love,

And what club you’re in,

Instead, show me what you’re doing with your precious life,

The rest is self explanatory.