Am I a coconut? When someone first meets me they have a hard time figuring out what category to put me in when it comes to race and/or ethnicity. I have naturally dark hair, dark eyes, tan skin, and dark, full eyebrows. A lot of people assume I am of Middle Eastern decent; however, once they learn my last name is Jackson, it’s like they have been thrown a curveball. I happen to be Mexican-American, and a lot of people just don’t seem to believe me when I first tell them. As if they need more convincing.
Through the years, my race has always seemed to be a topic of discussion when people are first getting to know me, whether it be at school or work. “So you’re Mexican with the last name Jackson?” Yes, and no, my dad wasn’t adopted and neither was his dad or his dad before him. It just happens to be the name that has been passed down throughout my family's lineage. “You’re like the whitest Mexican girl I know.” Uhm, well OK? I don’t take that as an insult, but I also don’t take it as a compliment. Both of my parents are fluent in Spanish, and while I am not, I can still roll my r’s. I can go to an authentic Mexican restaurant and order my food in Spanish with ease, but I can’t tell you a story or carry on a long conversation in Spanish. I prefer to listen to country music or pop culture, but I can still dance to cumbia with my family. I like burgers and pizza, but I love my homemade tamales and menudo. I am every bit of Mexican as I am American; however, I am not white. I once had an experience while serving, where a table waived me over and one guy pointed to his buddy and said, “He thinks your Greek, I say Hispanic, whose right?" I wanted to ask them why it even mattered. They took time out of their dinner to ask someone, who wasn’t even their waitress, somewhat of a personal question out of plain curiosity.
Why should it matter what people look like? Why do people feel the need to pry, and why do they feel the need to try and categorize me or anyone else for that matter? We live in a day and time where things such as race and ethnicity shouldn’t matter, and it shouldn’t matter if you think my attitude or characteristics don't go along with my race. There’s no guide or requirements that say you need to do x, y, or z in order to correspond with your race. I was raised to be proud of my heritage and proud to be Mexican-American, and it’s as if people are trying to diminish that when the comment is made of me being a “coconut” or “the whitest Mexican girl they know.”
