Day 17 – Why I love Latinas (or Latino Men)

This is a dangerous post for me because there are plenty of pro's and con's about Latino men. Whether its my dad, my brother, my best guy friend or one of my lovers/boyfriends - thinking about it, they do have some things in common.

As for the pro's - Latino men depending on how they were brought up can be the most caring about family. I find this as pro even if it does make them overprotective as well, but I can say that the way my dad eyed guys near me, back then was embarrassing, now endearing. Thanks old age. (ha)

In fact I know this is something some females do not appreciate. I was standing in line and a girl behind me was talking to her older lady friend about her boyfriend. Her boyfriend wouldn't drive her somewhere because he wanted to drive his mother and he figured she can take the bus instead. She was so upset at this notion! Her reasons were actually valid - she has paid for the gas, she had paid for the trip in general however her reasoning is what struck me as odd: "I know it's his mother but I am just as, if not more, important than her, how dare he." Later on I saw she was Latina which shocked me considering most of my Latina friends, myself included, would be bending over backward to impress their boyfriend's mom - wouldn't they??

As for con's ... well there are some areas of machismo-ness that I can live without. Though not limited to Latinos, this trait seems to be present in the men in my life. I was talking to my friend who is presently with child, who was joking that her spouse was making inference to having their next round of kids. As she is barely 3 months, she was puzzled! She wasn't even thinking about their next child and then he joked "Next time, I'll do better... I'll give you twins" as if it wasn't masculine enough that they were only having one baby! Even my other friend, while discussing his future children, expressed the hope that he would not have a girl first. After lengthy discussions so I wouldn't slap him across his face, his hope was more than he raised an independent woman and he felt having older brothers would help his daughter have more protections. Its these small thoughts that make me both love and  dread Latino men.

Overall though, these are my men and I am more comfortable around them than anyone else. Wouldn't trade them and any future relationships I have for the world! Especially if they can cook...

Ha,
Z

Day 16 – What Do I know about Tainos

I don't want to go to into a history lesson because we have libraries for that! Tainos however are the native inhabitants of Puerto Rico and probably one of the more well known peoples of indigenous kinds. 

Here are some interesting facts (subject for debate):

• Formerly referred to as Arawaks
• A peace treaty signed in 1533 in the Caribbean between Taino Kasike Guarokuia (Enriquillo/Henri) and a representative of the King of Spain was recognized as the “first international treaty in the Americas between Indigenous people and Europeans" in a resolution by over 100 delegates to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Treaty Conference, held in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on Oct. 28, 1998. 
• Both women and men painted their bodies with dyes (roucou). The men wore head dress (colourful) and jewelery through in the lips and the nose.
• Tainos introduced hammocks to the European settlers
• The Tainos as far as we know had no system of writing. What we know about the Tainos comes from archaeological finds, rock and stone art. They were artists and they made a number of drawings in caves.

Though I'm sure there are more fun facts, overall the Tainos are a peoples that we Latinos respect greatly, particularly Puerto Ricans.
 Z

Day 15 – Latinos in Movies

Movies are pretty great ... I am one of those people who can watch a movie over and over again, especially if I love the movie. I have the privledge of getting to watch many movies courtesy of my sister's Netflix and we make it a point to watch movies by Latino directors and Latino actors.

A few of my go to movies:

Y Tu Mama Tambien

Amores Perros

Maria Full Of Grace

Motorcycle Diaries
This last one was particularly close to my heart. This is a movie about a young Che Guevara and how his trip around South American defined who he was going to be as an adult. I saw this when it was still an independent film at the Wescott Theatre in Syracuse with my housemates at the time. Such a great movie and can really attest to how much he wanted to feel connected to the people he eventually dedicated his life to helping.


Hope you enjoy these movies as much as I do!
Z