Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen
Have you heard of the three gorgeous women above? Have you flipped through a Victoria's Secret Catalog, ever? Do you live under a rock? Well, if you do, and if you haven't heard, all three are Brazilian. And, guess what? They-are- white. Shocking. You know what is even more surprising? The majority of Brazilian's DO NOT live in a rainforest. The majority of Brazilian's aren't tan. The majority of Brazilian's do not have curly black hair, and, we don't speak Spanish. Mentira? Seriously, what do you know?
No one really ever asks where I am from. They assume because I am fair-skinned that I am just from, well, here. And, unless you ask, I don't feel it's necessary to share information. However, the moment in which someone asks what my name is, well, it's an entirely different story. "What's your name?", "Really, where is that from?". And, usually I just say it's Latin. Which it is. I explain how it means to be re-born and then that is that. Yet, when they look at me with this face, like, what kind of name is that. I feel the need to enlighten them that where I am from my name is actually pretty common. Renata, in the United States, kinda weird. Renata, in Brazil, probably the name of your cousin.
This is where the fun begins. The moment in which I say I am from Brazil a look of awe appears. Um, do I have something stuck in my teeth? Literally, I am stared at as though all of a sudden a third eye has sprouted in the middle of my forehead. Today was the perfect example, and, it's getting sorta old. I was told today by someone that I could NOT be Brazilian. I laughed and said, "Why not?". He responded by saying, "Because you are so white, I know a Brazilian and she is dark". So, you know ONE Brazilian and suddenly you figure ALL Brazilian's are tan? Wow, we have a genius over here, my friends. I sighed, and explained to said individual that in actuality the majority of Brazilian's are white. Incredible, right? It's like who would have thought that we don't hang from trees and have chimps as pets.
On one occasion there was an individual that actually argued with me. She was so adamant that I was not, could not, did not look like I was from Brazil. Yes, lady, you are right, I am wrong. I just like to pretend to be from Brazil, because it sounds Oh, so cool. Really? Let's set the record straight. I was in fact born in Brazil. Sao Paulo, to be exact. My mother, Brazilian. My father, well, he is also Brazilian. And, even more exciting, so are both my maternal and paternal grandparents. If that does not make me Brazilian, you tell me, what does? And, who are you?The ethnicity police? If you knew anything about Brazil, you'd know that much like the United States, it is a melting pot. A MELTING POT.
So, I laugh. At you. At them. I'll be sure to carry around my birth certificate. And, next time, I'll try to look a little more Brazilian, just for you!
xoxo
Image courtesy of www.favim.com
No one really ever asks where I am from. They assume because I am fair-skinned that I am just from, well, here. And, unless you ask, I don't feel it's necessary to share information. However, the moment in which someone asks what my name is, well, it's an entirely different story. "What's your name?", "Really, where is that from?". And, usually I just say it's Latin. Which it is. I explain how it means to be re-born and then that is that. Yet, when they look at me with this face, like, what kind of name is that. I feel the need to enlighten them that where I am from my name is actually pretty common. Renata, in the United States, kinda weird. Renata, in Brazil, probably the name of your cousin.
This is where the fun begins. The moment in which I say I am from Brazil a look of awe appears. Um, do I have something stuck in my teeth? Literally, I am stared at as though all of a sudden a third eye has sprouted in the middle of my forehead. Today was the perfect example, and, it's getting sorta old. I was told today by someone that I could NOT be Brazilian. I laughed and said, "Why not?". He responded by saying, "Because you are so white, I know a Brazilian and she is dark". So, you know ONE Brazilian and suddenly you figure ALL Brazilian's are tan? Wow, we have a genius over here, my friends. I sighed, and explained to said individual that in actuality the majority of Brazilian's are white. Incredible, right? It's like who would have thought that we don't hang from trees and have chimps as pets.
On one occasion there was an individual that actually argued with me. She was so adamant that I was not, could not, did not look like I was from Brazil. Yes, lady, you are right, I am wrong. I just like to pretend to be from Brazil, because it sounds Oh, so cool. Really? Let's set the record straight. I was in fact born in Brazil. Sao Paulo, to be exact. My mother, Brazilian. My father, well, he is also Brazilian. And, even more exciting, so are both my maternal and paternal grandparents. If that does not make me Brazilian, you tell me, what does? And, who are you?The ethnicity police? If you knew anything about Brazil, you'd know that much like the United States, it is a melting pot. A MELTING POT.
So, I laugh. At you. At them. I'll be sure to carry around my birth certificate. And, next time, I'll try to look a little more Brazilian, just for you!
xoxo
Image courtesy of www.favim.com
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