You Aren’t Mexican poetry by SAM SOTOMAYOR You aren't Mexican The year is 1939, my great grandfather has become a United States citizen after crossing the border in 1918. You aren't Mexican The year is 1944, my great grandfather is being sent off to fight in Germany, a war that he was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for. You aren't Mexican The year is 1946, my great uncle walks into a segregated school. The town of Gilbert Arizona has decided to send all of the brown students to one school and all the white students to the other. You aren't Mexican The year is 1955, my grandfather watches as one of his classmates gets hit by their teacher for speaking Spanish. You aren't Mexican The year is 1969, my grandparents can't teach their two young children Spanish because they were never taught for their own safety. You aren't Mexican The year is 1973, my dad eats homemade tortillas made by my great grandmother on the same tortilla pan that now sits in my parent's cabinets. You aren't Mexican The year is 1997, my parents welcome their second child into the world, my dad will never be able to teach either of his children Spanish because he never learned himself.
26
