“ Wow, they’re so different from each other” I hear that a lot when people first look at the boys. I’m mean it’s obvious. I remember the first time someone made a remark about Calvin’s brownness. I was at target shopping and a Dominican lady asked me if Calvin’s dad was black. Which I replied with “well, he’s Dominican”. Afro Latino would be the term used for him. I should also mention this lady was a black Dominican. ( whether we want to acknowledge or not, blackness is part of our Dominican roots) She went off to congratulate me about how I didn’t ruin the race ( a very common phrase Dominicans use) and talked about the discomfort of having black grandchildren. I slowly started to feel the emotions of what was the reality. The blackness of her own wasn’t acceptable to her. Beauty was found in my “fine” hair and indigenous brown skin... but not in the blackness of my boys skin and kinky curly hair. That conversation impacted the way I went about acknowledging Calvin’s beauty and also mine. It give me a sense of awareness that I needed for the sake of loving my son well. We had Lucas and his pale cream skin was very vivid and the difference between my boys would be noticeable, especially to Calvin. Yet I’m determine to teach this café con leche duo that both have beauty in their own skin. That though one may be perceive to be more beautiful in the eyes of our culture and let’s me honest often dangerous... that they would boldly embrace the roots that are deep in each other’s skin. They would learn to be proud of where they come from, and also dismantle the colorism that is so rooted in our culture. I’m raising two Dominican and Honduran boys, who come from a long line of black, indigenous, and European roots. How beautiful is the color they live in and see around them. I highly recommend reading “ If Dominican were a color” by Sili Recio. Such a beautiful book. #hispanicheritagemonth #dominicanos #honduras #blackness #afrolatino #colorism #culture #latino #bilingual #nationalsonday #Bilingualkids #motherhood #latinamom #boymomproblems