“Representation Matters”. This has become more important to me since I became a mom. But, I was oblivious to the need for Latina representation before my daughter’s birth.
I don’t think my ignorance came from a malicious place though – I just never thought about it. I never had to think about it. I never had to think about it because, well, I’m white. I grew up in the United States (specifically the Midwest). I don’t remember ever worrying about the need for representation. I saw myself represented everywhere. I saw my race represented everywhere.
My family? White.
My community, my neighborhood, and my school? White.
Movies, TV shows, and the media? White.
I now realize how privileged I was. And still am. Sadly, not enough has changed.
Sometimes I question if I should talk about the importance of representation. I will never “get it”. I feel like when white people begin to discuss the importance of representation, at least when it comes to race, it can seem superficial. It’s as if it’s a trend or buzzword. My intention as a white mom is to not silence or overshadow Black and Brown voices. I know their words and stories will always share a perspective that I can never completely understand. I hope to use my own perspective, as the mother of a Mexican-American daughter, to bring more awareness to what a deep and personal meaning representation can have for the Hispanic and Latino communities.
My daughter is growing up as a brown girl in the Midwest who does not see herself or her culture represented.
Her family? White.
Her community, her neighborhood, and her school? (Mostly) white.
Movies, TV shows, and the media? (Mostly) white.
She is surrounded by a LACK of diversity, and I hate that. But when we are lucky enough to run into another Latina, I see the joy and validation it brings her.
Latina Representation Meets Basketball
This past year, my tween started playing basketball. She was the only girl on her team who was brand new to the sport, and also the only non-white girl on her team. But she didn’t let either of those things stop her, and she ended up falling in love with the sport. One weekend, we decided to go check out a Girl’s basketball game at a local university. We arrived and soon after we sat down in the stands, they started announcing the players.
Suddenly, this young woman with light brown skin like my daughter’s appeared on the jumbotron. The commentator said Julia Martinez would start. My daughter’s eyes lit up and she smiled big. She turned to me and said, “Mom, she looks like me. And she has a Spanish-sounding last name too. I wonder if she’s Mexican”.
Down on that court, there was a basketball player who looked like my daughter.
Down on that court, there was a basketball player who represented my daughter.
Down on that court, there was a basketball player who made my daughter feel “seen”.
At that moment, I realized my daughter badly needed to see herself in basketball. Meeting Julia brought my daughter a sense of empowerment that she craved – and deserved. I always want her to feel seen, heard, and valued – and Julia helped her with that in a way that I would never have been able to.
After that first game, we went back to see Julia play again. Then, we stayed after so my daughter could meet her favorite player. My tween doesn’t have social media yet. But, I started following Julia on Instagram so my daughter could “stalk her page”.
No matter your daughter’s skin color, Julia is an amazing role model for all young women. She’s intelligent, beautiful and athletic. She is pursuing her passion in life. This is true not only in her hobbies, but also in her future career. Family and friends are important to her, and she “breaks ankles” like she was born to do it.
Gracias Julia for changing a young girl’s life by being you and being the Latina representation so many girls need.
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