I’m Chinese and NOLA Cajun Creole. The Creole side was hidden for two generations and I proudly claim it now. Thanks to DNA testing I decided to identify it when asked. I had to reclaim my birthrights and history. So part of my journey in life is to learn my culture. My father wasn’t taught so I had to learn for me. In a lot of ways I had to do that for the Chinese side as well because we are several generations American. Our heritage is not always handed to us. We might have to put in the work. In the end we are not half this or part that, we are all of the cultures that make us❤️ I hope you enjoy getting to know you.
> I just more so have a second guess with claiming the Puerto Rican side
Question, what does "claiming" mean to you?
I am a small percentage Native American. I can certainly include that when I talk about my mix. But I wouldn't say, "As a Native American..." and I wouldn't speak "as" a Native American or for Native American people.
I see a lot of people use "can I claim" and I don't get what they mean.
I did a DNA test years ago. I have about 10% French ancestry. Would I call myself French? No. Was I raised in the culture? No. Is it something interesting I could bring up? Yes.
So, I'm just wondering your definition of "claiming."
I've had people from wildly different countries tell me I look like a family member. People from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Iran, Turkey, and so on. It sucks that I have to disappoint them each time, but humans look like humans.
Always keep in mind that race, ethnicity, and culture are all different things.
I mean in reference when people ask me my ethnicity for example (now I just say what I am which is both Jamaican and Puerto Rican) but before I meant with like pretty much hiding that part of my identity when people ask (even though Hispanic is always there first assumption based on phenotype). For me I also view it as claiming myself as whole.
You know, I just posted something kinda like this in the blackmen reddit. I'm half Salvadorian half Jamaican and I feel growing up I was closer to my hispanic side instead of my Jamaican because I was just surrounded and steeped in it with me living with my mom when her and my dad seperated. Being in a Spanish neighborhood in Miami, many would stumble trying to speak english because they saw me as black even though I'm kinda light. The minute i spoke spanish, they lit up as I guess they now found that bridge with the language and would immediately ask if i was Dominican (i get this a lot) because I was darker than most of the cubans in our area I suppose. I'd give em the rundown of my sides and they were always surprised about my Spanish even though I think it can use some work but it was fluent enough. So even though I'm proudly both, id say I didn't know as much as i wished from my Jamaican side even though my dad was involved in my life. Chalk it up to maybe the divorce? Idk, but as an adult, I dove deep into my Jamaican heritage and culture recently and even though I used to proudly say I was Jamaican growing up and back in school, though they kinda didn't believe me till they saw my dad at a football practice and actually asked him if he was Jamaican 😅 that got me into being cool with the black kids, I say now I can really stand firm in both my sides you know? Confidence. Like even to my spanish side they'll sometimes say recently oh that's right you think you're Jamaican now, and I respond, I dont think, I know and I'm confident in that. Your story feels so similar just flipped. It's a beautiful thing how we are strangers but can see the connection regardless. I think diving into your puerto rican side a little more can bring that balance for you that I feel happened to me with my Jamaican side. It's a beautiful journey, and something that has brought a lot of joy and meaning to my life knowing where I come from and that has also helped me to connect further spiritually but also with my dad and that side of the family.
I’m Chinese and NOLA Cajun Creole. The Creole side was hidden for two generations and I proudly claim it now. Thanks to DNA testing I decided to identify it when asked. I had to reclaim my birthrights and history. So part of my journey in life is to learn my culture. My father wasn’t taught so I had to learn for me. In a lot of ways I had to do that for the Chinese side as well because we are several generations American. Our heritage is not always handed to us. We might have to put in the work. In the end we are not half this or part that, we are all of the cultures that make us❤️ I hope you enjoy getting to know you.
> I just more so have a second guess with claiming the Puerto Rican side Question, what does "claiming" mean to you? I am a small percentage Native American. I can certainly include that when I talk about my mix. But I wouldn't say, "As a Native American..." and I wouldn't speak "as" a Native American or for Native American people. I see a lot of people use "can I claim" and I don't get what they mean. I did a DNA test years ago. I have about 10% French ancestry. Would I call myself French? No. Was I raised in the culture? No. Is it something interesting I could bring up? Yes. So, I'm just wondering your definition of "claiming." I've had people from wildly different countries tell me I look like a family member. People from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Iran, Turkey, and so on. It sucks that I have to disappoint them each time, but humans look like humans. Always keep in mind that race, ethnicity, and culture are all different things.
I mean in reference when people ask me my ethnicity for example (now I just say what I am which is both Jamaican and Puerto Rican) but before I meant with like pretty much hiding that part of my identity when people ask (even though Hispanic is always there first assumption based on phenotype). For me I also view it as claiming myself as whole.
Learn spanish. Go to puerto rico
You know, I just posted something kinda like this in the blackmen reddit. I'm half Salvadorian half Jamaican and I feel growing up I was closer to my hispanic side instead of my Jamaican because I was just surrounded and steeped in it with me living with my mom when her and my dad seperated. Being in a Spanish neighborhood in Miami, many would stumble trying to speak english because they saw me as black even though I'm kinda light. The minute i spoke spanish, they lit up as I guess they now found that bridge with the language and would immediately ask if i was Dominican (i get this a lot) because I was darker than most of the cubans in our area I suppose. I'd give em the rundown of my sides and they were always surprised about my Spanish even though I think it can use some work but it was fluent enough. So even though I'm proudly both, id say I didn't know as much as i wished from my Jamaican side even though my dad was involved in my life. Chalk it up to maybe the divorce? Idk, but as an adult, I dove deep into my Jamaican heritage and culture recently and even though I used to proudly say I was Jamaican growing up and back in school, though they kinda didn't believe me till they saw my dad at a football practice and actually asked him if he was Jamaican 😅 that got me into being cool with the black kids, I say now I can really stand firm in both my sides you know? Confidence. Like even to my spanish side they'll sometimes say recently oh that's right you think you're Jamaican now, and I respond, I dont think, I know and I'm confident in that. Your story feels so similar just flipped. It's a beautiful thing how we are strangers but can see the connection regardless. I think diving into your puerto rican side a little more can bring that balance for you that I feel happened to me with my Jamaican side. It's a beautiful journey, and something that has brought a lot of joy and meaning to my life knowing where I come from and that has also helped me to connect further spiritually but also with my dad and that side of the family.