I love you so much for telling this story and for doing this. Thank you.
It is the story of my great grandfather, who passed back and forth across the border several times during that era, sometimes with his whole family-- and even my 2nd great grandfather who was alive too and did the same.
Both of them were "Mexican Nationals" and neither of them were Caucasian, though it said so on the border crossings after 1943.
But because they were married to women who had been born here and who were either Caucasian (my 2nd great grandmother) or passed as white (my great grandmother), and because they'd been traveling to Texas their whole lives as farm laborers- they continued their nomadic ways. I still feel the coolness on my back in the summer sun, thanks no doubt to the extra melanin but also to the epigenetic memory of their many wades through the Rio's waters.
The joke was on Texas though, because my 2nd great grandpa may have had indigenous and settler ancestry too-- but he was also definitely Black.
My mama who is 80 years old still remembers as a child the signs that read "No dogs or Mexicans". In kindergarten, she had a bilingual education that Texas children still don't get and may never now. No matter how many times she got sent home for speaking Spanish or got her knuckles rapped by the teacher.
Fuck you Carolyn and Kenny. It sucks to not know our Texas history.
“Aren’t human beings more important than the laws of Governments?” This 17 year old really understood what was important, at a time when the authorities were devoid of all compassion for these humans and their right to be treated with basic dignity. I’m from the UK, and learned so much about American history from this article, including just how ingrained the hypocrisy surrounding race has always been in the country, both as a cultural thing from “patriots” and written into law. Our human rights laws here in the UK are in vast need of improvement, but the way the US government is dehumanising vulnerable minorities at the moment is truly chilling, to the extent that we can only draw parallels with 1930’s Germany, and hope that at least some of these knuckle-dragging “patriots” will stop and think about what their ancestors fought for during WW2. I’m scared for the US as a country, and for my non-white LGBTQIA friends living there. Even those considered the “correct” race, sexuality, gender, and nationality aren’t safe, but a lot of them just don’t realise it yet. I’m especially scared for my American friends who have the integrity and basic compassion to loudly speak out against what’s happening. Keep up the amazing work, Brooke, this history lesson took me on such an epic feels trip, I feel like my parents should’ve signed a consent form! ♥️♥️
I love you. I cry laughed (and then later in the piece just cried)
😩 Those are the emotions I bring best.
It made me want to travel to the border armed with water bottles, damn.
I would have paid attention if you’d taught me history!
And would you let your boyfriend listen to it too if you have one? 🥺
I'm really hoping that Carolyn and Kenny broke up before they were able to procreate.
This was a ride. Wow. You are so entertaining. 😆
The history lesson was incredible. Well done. Everyone should see this. Thank you.
You are good at this. It is horrible though, so I hate that part. But it is amazing.
I love you so much for telling this story and for doing this. Thank you.
It is the story of my great grandfather, who passed back and forth across the border several times during that era, sometimes with his whole family-- and even my 2nd great grandfather who was alive too and did the same.
Both of them were "Mexican Nationals" and neither of them were Caucasian, though it said so on the border crossings after 1943.
But because they were married to women who had been born here and who were either Caucasian (my 2nd great grandmother) or passed as white (my great grandmother), and because they'd been traveling to Texas their whole lives as farm laborers- they continued their nomadic ways. I still feel the coolness on my back in the summer sun, thanks no doubt to the extra melanin but also to the epigenetic memory of their many wades through the Rio's waters.
The joke was on Texas though, because my 2nd great grandpa may have had indigenous and settler ancestry too-- but he was also definitely Black.
My mama who is 80 years old still remembers as a child the signs that read "No dogs or Mexicans". In kindergarten, she had a bilingual education that Texas children still don't get and may never now. No matter how many times she got sent home for speaking Spanish or got her knuckles rapped by the teacher.
Fuck you Carolyn and Kenny. It sucks to not know our Texas history.
“Aren’t human beings more important than the laws of Governments?” This 17 year old really understood what was important, at a time when the authorities were devoid of all compassion for these humans and their right to be treated with basic dignity. I’m from the UK, and learned so much about American history from this article, including just how ingrained the hypocrisy surrounding race has always been in the country, both as a cultural thing from “patriots” and written into law. Our human rights laws here in the UK are in vast need of improvement, but the way the US government is dehumanising vulnerable minorities at the moment is truly chilling, to the extent that we can only draw parallels with 1930’s Germany, and hope that at least some of these knuckle-dragging “patriots” will stop and think about what their ancestors fought for during WW2. I’m scared for the US as a country, and for my non-white LGBTQIA friends living there. Even those considered the “correct” race, sexuality, gender, and nationality aren’t safe, but a lot of them just don’t realise it yet. I’m especially scared for my American friends who have the integrity and basic compassion to loudly speak out against what’s happening. Keep up the amazing work, Brooke, this history lesson took me on such an epic feels trip, I feel like my parents should’ve signed a consent form! ♥️♥️
This is a hell of a read. Seems all too relevant these days.
It must be said though, this exchange made me laugh out loud:
“You know, I retain information much better if you video call me too less”
“Oh god no! My tits are entirely too distracting for that!”
Thank you for everything you do, Brooke.
HELL yes, you are always so on point and it’s always good to see such an important and timely topic being covered in a humanistic light!! ❤️
Loved every word! Never doubt the amazing work you do here 🙏
You're my hero!
I know I shouldn’t be surprised people are openly filled with that much hate but jesus fucking christ
$5 a month PATHETIC