Who am I?

I am an Afro-Latino American. I am Giovonni Sanchez.  I am black. I am Latin. I am Gay. I am non-Binary. 

Who do I pretend to be? 

I pretend to be an all American Patriotic liberal.  

Who do people think I am?

I am an urban, flamboyant, gay black American 

Who do I wish I could be?

I wish I could be wealthy white passing individual who can have the benefits of being a brother physically but not the emotional trauma, weight of institutionalized racism, discrimination.  

How has race or ethnic identity played a role in any of these responses?

Having dealt with colorism my whole life i understand how having lighter skin and more euro centric features in many communities can give you advantages.  People subconsciously have an innate sense of trust in you because you’re less of a threat when your blackness isn’t too bold. But when your blackness is heightened some fetishize you like a Mandingo. 

Theme 2:

What was your first experience with race?

My first experience with race was with my family.  I was being made front of by my mom and stepdad about how they imagined I would look before I was born and I’d hopefully I’d be passable. 

How old were you?

6 

What emotions do you associate with the experience?

Wishing I could’ve been better looking to fulfill the expectations. I felt less than, inferior. 

Have you ever talked about the experience?

No, I haven’t. 

How have your early experiences with race shaped your worldview?

It’s caused me to feel a sympathy for being black.  It caused me to want to strive for always wanting to improve myself and find attraction to those who appear white 

Theme 3:

I had to go through decolonization of my mind to heal.  

Understanding that much of what society has taught us and the marginalized racism within history and American society causes individuals to feel feel subconscious antiblackness 

If society is telling you with scientific evidence as well as public opinion that to be black is to be inferior, socially intellectually, physically how do you find self-esteem?

Only possible way to have a positive of self identity would be to disassociate from ethnic identity. 

Negative sense of self correlates with negative sense of ethnic identity.  

African-American psychology, directly deals with empowering and bringing a steam to the African-American idea of self. Finding positive association with African-American psychology would make for it stronger sense of self and ethnic identity. 

African-American psychology, incorporates the many factors that have contributed to the creation of African-American people and our lifestyle, culture, customs, and beliefs

400 years of slavery, erasing culture, customs, language, and spiritual systems

Ubuntu is the idea of collectivism in a community/society. Every action done by the individuals of the past has set the foundation for future societies. I want to refer to it as "paying it forward" but without the idea of having to pay a price because its understood to be something that's done willingly. I feel like Ubuntu is alive still with social activism in the black American community. The Black Panthers, a political organization that was created in the late 20th century by Huey Newton in the Bay Area of Northern California. This organization empowered and supported Asian, Hispanic and other groups of color to organize and stand in solidarity against oppression. Furthermore, they shaped American history by advocating and demanding free lunch program for underprivileged K-12 students in public schools. African American and African cultural share a strong connection in oral tradition, the impact of music and spiritual oneness. The African American culture has been iconic on the world and led to cultural impact and change globally.

Theme 2: The concept that I feel has been pushed so hard and reiterated time after time in our educations systems and by White America would be Maafa. Yes as black people living in the Americas many of our roots can be traced back to slavery. Though tragic and should never be forgotten, and reparations should be paid, we have a history and legacy before enslavement and christianity and the presence of white supremacy. Sankofa, is the concept I have began to see within our own communities and the traditions of passing stories along to each generation. Recognition of civil rights leaders and creating our own narrative with how our story is told.

I feel like the concept least practiced in the African American community would be Human Authenticity. The ability to be one self free from White Supremacy. After a long period in history of us being 3/5 of a human and before then being just chattel. We still have to do a lot of healing from this trauma.

Them 3: Imani ( Faith): Believe with all your heart in our people , teachers, and parents, along with the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

I have seen this in action in the community with the concept of "kinfolk"and"kinfolk" and hoping that we will do our best to elevate one another and steer one another to success and not being another statistic. Ive been tempted to loose Imani many times in my "skinfolk" but I have kept it hoping and knowing that not all skinfolk is kinfolk and not everyone shares the same struggles nor have the same victories merely because we are melanated peoples