Carlos Andrés Gómez performs "Juan Valdez" (Live at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe)

[@marygrace3665]

His words ring true. When I was growing up in a fancy-shmancy christian school, my religion teacher was this sixty-year-old saint of a Peruvian woman named Gilda who occasionally told stories of going to the grocery store and not getting any second glances because her skin was pale and her hair was blonde (anymore it's more gray than blonde) but as soon as she opened her mouth and spoke, the cashier would look up at her and say something along the lines of, "Oh, I didn't know you were Hispanic." They wouldn't always say that, sometimes it was all in the look and didn't need to be said. I'll never forget that either.

[@kukini7]

"I don't tattoo my body, because my veins are already too full with ink." -Carlos Andrés Gómez I love this poet!

[@rockluver84]

you know how many times i get, "but if you're hispanic, how come you're white?" like dude, i don't think you understand latino culture or never paid enough attention to a history lesson

[@katiedice8568]

omg yes

[@katiemarie090]

antisociallysplendid The sad thing is, they probably did. It's just that in U.S. schools we teach that "Latino" people are brown. We also skip over all of the Latin American revolutions in the 20th century where we supported dictators who tortured and starved their people. Because we can't let all that brainwashing be for nothing!

[@andigomez1993]

Finally, someone that tells it like it is. We're all over the place, from religion to race. We come from different social classes and speak different languages. Together we are seprate from the world.

[@clevernamehere2812]

As a pale skinned hispanic. I identify with this.

[@AraAra6367]

The stand-in parent part though. THE STAND IN PARENT PART THOUGH-

[@saraq.1919]

I wish I could like this more than once. Or more than a hundred times

[@graysonrank6649]

I'm having this weird feeling about this, and it's good, but I don't really know how to describe it... I guess it's like, if I was latino, this would make me feel really proud of my heritage? I'm white, but I've grown up in an area that has a pretty high latino population. These are the kids I went to school with, the people I work with, the people in my mom's elementary school classes, the people I see every day, and though I do my best to treat everyone with respect, this gives me a really cool perspective into these people's stories. I find this video really moving.

[@KitanaJadePickett]

Wow. I watched him live at my college, University of Northern Iowa. He brought up how silent we were during his performances. I didn't realize how different it feels for it to be silent as he says this. Completely different. Moving. Thanks Carlos for being such a great and sensitive soul

[@IvannaAvina]

wow ive never loved something more than this

[@bg3929Z]

I got chills...

[@bucketofpopcorn]

you have no idea how much this poem means to me! as a kid i struggled with the idea of not looking latina enough because of my light skin, hair, and eyes.I actually used to believe I wasn't a true Mexican and while other girls wanted to look like Barbie, I wanted to be dark with raven hair. now i know i was being silly,but it still hurts a little when people mistake me as "white".i wish everyone could hear this so they can see that being latino is not about being a skin color, but is a lifestyle

[@HinataPlusle]

As a Brazilian of Japanese descent, I identify with this a lot, even though I'm not actually Hispanic.

[@peito9643]

Hermoso!

[@settheworldonfire94]

As a light-skinned, red-head Latina, this is one of the best things I have ever heard. I can't even count the amount of times someone has said awful, degrading things about the Latinx community, only to backtrack with "well I didn't mean YOU," or "well you don't look Mexican," when I mention that I am, in fact Latina. Or, when people hear my last name and ask if it's really my last name, or if I was adopted, because they think I couldn't possibly be apart of my beautiful culture because of how I look.

[@Shemustbetheone]

I love this so much

[@gilbej91]

Goosebumps. Absolute goosebumps!

[@TheSweetMotherShow]

I love him

[@jessy748]

Proud he mentioned blue-eyed Cubans, people I meet always expect cubans to have dark-skin and brown eyes and never believe me when I say I'm hispanic

[@blanca130188]

The day I meet this poet will be one of the best days of my life!

[@13thprotector64]

Preach it friend. People are people.

[@cellopk]

Too good.

[@raellewensley8436]

This is so awesome!

[@mamirola]

All I can say is thank you!

[@emanekaf3203]

Oh my god. This is so good. I got chills, and my heart beat faster...This is amazing.

[@kitsunefire1]

....I've never been one to take pride in my culture.... But damn this touched me. This might make me rethink not being proud of who I am or where I come from. I am Mexican, and though I have THREE Irish names both first middle and last, I feel this surge of cultural pride watching this. It's eye-opening, really.

[@RiotGrrl45]

Yes! Thank you for speaking of things that have been common and now its not covered because it is something "normal". We're all assimilated into a culture where it is common to overlook the judgement of someone's character. I don't care if this is 2012. It is still happening and it is time we speak about it.

[@sashaissabel]

Got goosebumps watching this. Oh my god. This was great.

[@marialievano3244]

I'm Colombian and my skin is so white that in the States people are surprised when I say I'm not American. In tumblr I have to deal with getting called a "fake latina" because I'm not olive skinned. This is ridiculously amazing. Latinos can be white, black, East Asian, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and everything in between. Latinos are a collective term, not a race.

[@OperariaCarito]

We have the same problem, amiga. It gets ridiculous.

[@marialievano3244]

***** Dude, I've seen plenty of Asian Latinos (mainly Japanese Brazilian) whose selfies in which they call themselves Latinos are bombarded by comments like "Not a Latino" or "SMH that's not a latino". And those comments mainly come from white americans. Tumblr tells people to be open-mindedm but when a black Latino or Lebanese Latino or a White Latino calls themselves Latino they believe we're lying.

[@l.u.c.a.s.]

Literal chills.

[@Tony43534]

It's funny because I'm Latino, but because I don't have an accent nor do I act like the other Latinos in my school a lot of people just think I'm American, so this really spoke to me personally

[@lycheeenby9473]

I love this :)

[@HungryArtistTV420]

Hey This is a great set bro!!!! Really good stuff, positive messages!

[@fashiongrl326]

What an awesome piece! This is sooo true. Latinos/Hispanics are as assorted as nuts in a jar! ¡Qué poderoso! I shared this on a Twitter page that I manage in honor of Hispanic History Month.

[@Hemuset]

HELL YEA

[@caspian8650]

whoa.

[@friday3am]

HATS OFF

[@aldestra2900]

This is so powerful

[@alyxpierce1558]

After going to Haiti, and hearing the racial discrimination between them and the Domincans, along with being a Causcasian who speaks better Spanish then most of my Latino friends, I absolutely love how stereotype-breaking this poem is

[@bignaturalsenergy]

Holy shit that was intense! Preach!!!!

[@ExplodingViper777]

Wow. I usually don't like slam poetry or any kind of poetry that doesn't follow a specific rhyme scheme, but this one really got me, I think.

[@nvmstaticbrain5869]

Its still valid 2019

[@SpellboundWolf]

Damn dude. That was amazing.

[@Dragonear96]

powerful

[@MadisonHill-Glover]

Slay them.

[@Abestube]

Respect. Sometimes you need to put unconscious ignorance in they place like that. And just speak the truth. Feeling this.

[@NakedEyeBlindTruth]

damn bro get that shittt, daaaaaaammmmnnnn!

[@NeaOfTheDesert]

I'm mexican but I'm so pale that EVERYONE thinks I MUST be from Alaska or somewhere really cold. And are disappointed when they realize I'm not. This speaks to me on a very spiritual level

[@fleabittengray]

the struggle is real

[@henryappiah4983]

Carlos is that guy

[@lolaloliepop]

*snaps*

[@LilianaGarcia-wt9qo]

¡No lo pudo haber dicho mejor!

[@tiffany4310]

Also, a lot of Spaniards have been known to have fair skin, blonde hair, and light colored eyes. So in that aspect, no one person can truly judge the nationality of another based on their skin tone.

[@alliembooks7228]

Tiffany Soto Spaniards are from Spain which is a white country in Europe. So yes, most are fair skinned with fair hair (think The Borgias). Hispanics/Latinxs are from non-white countries.

[@katiedice8568]

Cause spaniards are purely Europeans. Most Puerto Ricans are Africans and spaniards mixed, and Mexicans are Aztecs mixed with spaniards, that's why they're expected to be the way they are.

[@eduardocastillaortiz1266]

@@alliembooks7228 "Spain which is a white country in Europe"..... please visit Spain north, south, east and west and see also the non white people, please,,,,

[@ElizabethBones]

Woah man this is crazy good! *snaps snaps

[@dejahj5109]

one word: damn

[@TheOkamiDemon13]

this so true in many levels im from Mexico, not exactly a latino country (Mexico is northamerican but also hispanic so.. ) I have family that are white with red or almost blond hair (güeros) but arent gringos

[@rogelioestrada6208]

This happens to me sometimes I'm six foot 1 and light skin with dark hair and people think I'm italian sometimes

[@R0xi08]

mmmmmhhhmmmm !!! *snap snap*

[@ClemmyCluey]

Both of my parents are Mexican and people are super surprised when they find out that I'm Mexican too. I have light brown hair, pale skin, and hazel eyes.

[@andresgomez9136]

I'm Andres Gómez. Your very funny

[@sylviahernandez9902]

Carlos Andres Gomez do you ever say to people that your nationality is American?

[@IvyCheang]

I'm not from North America so I don't get much of the references, but I can still feel what he's saying. I wanna learn though. Can someone tell me what's the difference between Hispanic and Latino/Latina? Are they often mistaken to be other races? Why? Any and all information relating to Latin culture would be amazing. Thanks.

[@christinatrujillo]

Ivy Cheang The other person answered your question on the difference between Hispanic and Latino pretty well. When Spain and Portugal colonized in the Americas, they mixed with the indigenous peoples and African slaves that were there. So the latino population is very mixed. There are black latinos, white latinos (my mom, for example, is white with blonde hair), and tan latinos. Being latino is an ethnicity, not a race. Despite this, the stereotype for latinos in the United States and Canada is dark-skinned. It's a bit offensive when people don't believe that you are latino right away because you're white or black. Most people also assume that any latino they meet is Mexican, because they're ignorant of the other 20 or so countries in Latin America. Each country in Latin America has it's own culture. Even one of the most common characteristics between Latin American countries, the language, is distinct depending on the region. There are words said in Puerto Rico, that you would never hear in Chile. Or words in Venezuela that are never said in other Spanish-speaking countries. So to accurately describe Latin culture within each country is difficult because it's a pretty large area. But hopefully I answered some of your questions.

[@Flailmorpho]

I went to school with a guy named zach morris...

[@MelissaAlarcon1]

slam DUNKED

[@ruthespiritu502]

Oh what some people actually think all Hispanics are only "dark skinned"? Y'all need to get out there and explore the world.

[@deyseccibori10]

like these one hes cute

[@tiffany4310]

I live in Texas, and my husband is Puerto Rican, and is fairly dark skinned. So the common misconception is that he's Mexican. It doesn't really bother either one of us, but the looks I get when people see us out in public together are not a comfort. When the Hispanics in our community approach him, they greet him in Spanish and totally disregard that I'm even standing there. I usually never say anything, and just blow it off since they don't really know either of us and therefore don't know any better. But I feel that they act as if I plucked flower from their forbidden field just to put on display in my white palace. When in reality nothing could be further from the truth. He's not even of their race, yet they assume either he's been assimilated to my race, or that he's been assimilated to theirs. So I can totally relate to how this guy feels when people make assumptions based on the shade of his skin, and it's a totally unfair assumption considering neither me, nor my husband, are biased in that regard.

[@truelocve]

Hell yea and it is true WE ARE AFRICANS.

[@NephilimSwansong]

Ugh god, I am the same way! There are only three people in my family who have fair skin, and I'm one of them, while my younger sister has darker skin than me!

[@MarinaVieiraSouza]

why is Brasil always left out when people talk about latin america? just cause we speak portuguese?

[@lowpolytigerfigurine]

??? He mentioned like 5 out of 12 Latino/Hispanic countries, don't take it that personally.

[@diavolaangelica]

I am a light skinned Latina, who is always presumed to be something I am not. They hear me speak and assume I'm white. When I do my makeup with a smokey eye, winged liner, and lashes; they think I'm from India ( a light skinned Indian). I wear my hair down and let my natural curls flow down my back... and they think I am from Greece. The one thing that makes me laugh though, is the look on their face when I speak Spanish. Before they can say anything, I say: I speak Italian too.

[@Halvos12]

Not taking a stand with either group but... Hispanic is an ethnonym to people of country heritage that speak the Spanish language

[@alliembooks7228]

Koppu1doragon Hispanic is also a white-supremacist term created by the US government to classify non-white spanish speakers as "white" or "Euro-American".

[@katiedice8568]

yes it's just what non Latin people think is an umbrella term for people who look like Mexicans . (Ex, Puerto Ricans and Cubans and Dominicans)

[@JapanBlue54]

um you can be an african+latin@, sorry being black doesn't override everything...and he was talking about the shadism between the the two nations and in the latin@ community in general.

[@yoyanyc1]

The problem isn't just Americans stereotyping Latinos, the problem is we do it to each other. Instead of uniting as Latinos, we categorize each other. I don't know how many times I've gotten the whole "wow you don't look Mexican" bullshit from other Latinos. The worst part is this was always in NYC, the melting pot of cultures, where you can find people from every place of the world. It would sadden me to hear people tell me, you must be from a wealthy family or say your family must have European blood. No, my family is just like the other Mexican families I know. Everyone looks different and we have indigenous blood running through our veins too. If we want Anglos to respect us as Latinos and not stereotype us then we must stop doing it to each other.

[@alyxpierce1558]

That wasn't the point that I got from this. I have been to Haiti, and the Haitians (if they go to the Dominican) have to cover up because they are frowned upon for being "too dark" and "too African" to some of the Dominicans. Carlos was calling out this racism between two neighboring countries of very close ethnicity.

[@1knurlagn]

She meant mexican but was trying to be polite

[@saturninkepa4915]

Did you meet any gay Latinos?

[@nwlovell]

Wait, he still didn't do a real Juan Valdez imitation.

[@Hfajardo97]

I agreed with everything except the dark Dominican part. Okay, so because a particular Dominican is dark, he/she is automatically African? That would make them not Latino, which isn't at all true. You kind of went against your own point there.

[@elliotrivera3268]

Colorism is a major issue in our community hispana- our novela stars look nordic, our news-casters and hosts look Mediterranean and the only ones that look like me are robbing stores or wiping the floors in the novelas or are criminals en las noticias. Look at Sammy Sosa, my dude had to use "special cremas" to lighten his skin to zombie shades of grey to find his new "success". I have to consistently remind the boys and girls I work with who are under represented in all media and narratives that they come from kings and queens and are destined for the same, even if they are denied representation in all of the media and exito they are exposed to. Don't even get me started on how the US wants us to choose white now- that's a conversation for another day.

[@dyehenslevinkelevra7308]

Wonder why he has to mention Juan Valdez and then Colombian coffee grains, being that he cannot even claim to have any ancestry from our country, seems like a put-down insult.

[@johndeming4015]

Gets slightly judged. Proceeds to spend an entire poem judging and stereotyping the person who made what is most likely an innocent, if stupid mistake. Progress?

[@Leocomander]

Innocent to assume all Latinos are brown skinned sounds like innocently thought all asians were Chinese. But what would you understan you are white.

[@johndeming4015]

+Leocomander So, I typed kind a long response to your comment, sorry about that. The short version if you (justifiably) don't want to waste your time reading what is probably an excessively lengthy response is this: I'm sorry if my bad choice of words led you to believe I was oblivious to the insensitivity of the person being talk about in the poem. I only wish that sometimes we could cut each other a little more slack before assuming ill intent in cases like this and make clearer distinctions the mistakes of basically good people and the hatred of hardcore bigots. If, you feel inclined to hear more of my thoughts regarding the issue, however, here are a few: Well, when I used the word "innocent" that was probably a poor word choice; good catch on that one. I certainly did not intend to deny that there was some insensitivity involved. However, I think my larger point is that it was a mistake rather than an attack (at least from how it appears in the poem) and the response seems proportionally much more hostile than would really be warranted in the situation. Now granted, it's poetic license, and I get that, but it's just hard for me not to find at least some level of hypocrisy in a person calling somebody "princess", assuming she had a Latina nanny, accusing her of being a lazy mom as a result, and owning a Victorian summer home and then crying foul at somebody having preconceived notions about a racial group. My question is basically whether it's actually all that practical to try to achieve racial equality and harmony through making some people acceptable targets for ridicule and stereotyping just because of the perception of privilege. After all, I may not understand everybody's experiences, and I admit that, but I am intimately familiar with how different white people have very different levels of privilege. The indebted, penniless, unemployed but still white college student, for example, probably has a lower level of privilege than, say, Donald Trump or even a professionally employed, home owning white person. But that's kind of the problem though, isn't it? It's really hard to know what any individual person's situation is like, and when people ask one another, they run the risk of unintentionally offending people. So we develop short-cuts to try to get a general idea of what people's experiences might be like. For example, we tend to assume that if someone is African American, they face certain disadvantages due to institutional racism. It probably doesn't hold true in all cases, but it's true enough of the time for it to be a politically correct (and I don't use that term in a negative way) assumption to make. This can become problematic because those short-cuts and assumptions can very easily become stereotypes of their own. Even the length of this post is a demonstration of the eggshells I feel like I have to walk on whenever I discuss any issues of race because I feel that, as a white person, and especially a white male, almost anything i say could be construed as offensive, and I really don't want to offend anyone. I go out of my way to love just about everyone, even when I vehemently disagree with their actions or ideas. However, it is perfectly acceptable in many circles.to assume that, as a result of privilege, all white people are inherently bigoted in some form or another, or that their opinions are invalid or ignorant. Just as many Latinos unfairly have to deal with people being suspicious of their citizenship (which is sad and unjust, of course), other groups, even those who are deemed "powerful" or "privileged" also deal with unfair presuppositions and stereotypes. I do not pretend nor do I have any interest in comparing who has it worse. Instead, I just feel like I should try to be as empathetic to other people's struggles as possible, regardless of how bad they have it compared to me. That said, I do feel it is reasonable to ask in return to be given the benefit of the doubt every once in a while, especially if my behavior has not shown any outwardly demonstrable pattern of prejudice or hatred. That's the real thing that made me uncomfortable: the erosion and destruction of the idea of the benefit of the doubt in this poem. Even having said all of that, I actually did enjoy the poem and have found that some of the points made are really good. I lived in Chile for a couple of years, for example, and people there often do not look like Juan Valdez. It's an important point that is for the most part well made. I just wish the poet wouldn't have taken some of the cheap shots that he did at the beginning.

[@johndeming4015]

+John Deming Also sorry if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes that make it hard to understand what I was trying to say.

[@sitdownstandup91]

the real latins are european, Im out