Sometimes frustration can lead us to the most transformative journeys. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up Defectors by Paola Ramos and Latinoland by Marie Arana. My frustration stemmed from a question many of us have asked: why does the Latino community cling so tightly to whiteness (se aferran tanto a lo blanco)? As I turned the pages, I wasn’t just finding answers—I was uncovering truths about identity, history, and the divisions that hold us back and as it turned out these books prompted me to have a lot of thoughts.
As I often do with thought-provoking books, I have a lot of ‘bookish thoughts recordings.’ This series will show all the bookish thoughts I had while listening to the non-fiction books that have and are helping me to understand my Latin community. But this episode has my pre-thought which for those that know me, will not be surprised, it came out more as spoken poetry.
These books have taught me that the roots of our struggles are deep, but understanding them is the first step toward change. I invite you to join me on this journey—porque esta conversación apenas comienza.
As always please let me know your thoughts. I am a big believer that learning is best in community.
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