salience

My skin is darker in the summer, but it still took me by surprise. Sure, there are the recognitive glances from fellow latinos, but mostly I'm happy to pass as white as often as I do. At the same time, I deal with both sides of the ethnicity coin, so I have fewer social complications, and more freedom really.

I was at Logan for the sixth time in ten days, waiting for Alex to arrive from Vancouver. I was on the moving sidewalk, making my way from central parking to terminal B. It happened to be a wet night, so I was trying to dry out as quickly as possible, avoid the inevitable chill of thorough air conditioning, and this guy in front of me turns around and starts asking me questions about the airport, like I'm an employee.

Me: ::puzzled look:: Sir, I don't work here.
Gringo: Oh, well your (Ascend) badge says Maria, and your face looks his--
Me: ::waiting for him to finish::
Gringo:: ...so I assumed...

His voice trailed off as I realized what he was saying. Embarrassed, he quickly turned around and walked away. He left me sliding along the dark evening windows, ashamed that I was offended.

And it's funny how I always just seem to forget how I look until it's brought to my attention again by incidents like these. Although time has passed, racism is still very much alive, regardless of where you are. And it's a despicable thing that we're all guilty of in some way.

I can remember wanting to be grouped with the latinos and then not wanting to be stereotyped as well. There isn't really a niche for mixed races yet, but there is a balance I both wish people could understand and I could explain.