My Crowning Glory?

Growing up I never felt like I belonged in my culture, my community, the kids I was suppose to be friends with at CCD. By the time I turned 9, I hid behind a shy complex, pretending that the world scared me, so I could avoid going to the Portuguese Club on a Friday night, so I could stay at my god sister's house instead of attending a family event, that consisted more of just people that were related to me. But even those who were, are, related to me I tried to avoid. 

For such a long time, I felt like I did not belong to my culture, my community. I felt like i was in the skin of someone else. Skin that was dried out, too tight, and ready shed. This was mostly the result of the bullying that went on in CCD classes and Portuguese school, all because I didn't live in the same towns that the other kids did. They thought I was the weird because my parents chose to live in Linden, instead of Elizabeth. But I have learned that I do belong in my nationality. I guess that skin I felt so uncomfortable in was waiting for me to grow into a strong independent woman, ready to take on a matriarchal role when the time was right. 

I know that parents raise their kids in different ways. But I have learned that those children that made me feel like an I was an inadequate Portuguese child, were being raised to follow and never to lead or at least that is what I tell myself. I look back now, still seeing some of those same kids at the Portuguese Club or family events and now it's myself who is succeeding. Whose is taken under the wing of the wise being taught the secrets of the culture, learning to stand tall, head up, and shoulders back. I am being readied for the monarchy and they are all standing on the sidelines watching. I like to live by this quote "Be kind to unkind people. Sometimes they need it the most." 

If you don'y know by now what my nationality is shame on you! I have mentioned it a few times already!! I am Portuguese. My parents and my grandparents were born and raised in Portugal. If you're wondering if my parents met in their home country, the answer is no. Ironically, they met at a disco club in the town that my dad's parents' settled down in here in America. A town I often refer to as home, Elizabeth. The club my parents met at stills stand proudly on Route 1&9.       

  My Mother's Side              

My great grandmother on my mom's mother side, was from Sicily and fell in love with a Portuguese man, who was  in town on business and she chose to marry him and follow him to Portugal. My great-grandfather on my mom's dad's side is from Iceland though his story is not very clear, I know that his whole family moved to Portugal. All his siblings  built houses near his and their kids live next door to my grandpa till this day.

Other than that the details have been lost to burnt churches and lack of record keeping. My family and I have tried to track down my great-grandmothers family through Italy, but we have been unsuccessful till this day. 

In a very taboo, 21st century way, my maternal grandparents met at a butcher shop because that is where my grandfather worked. They started a unapproved courtship and my grandmother was pregnant at 19 without being married. They have been together ever since. My grandfather fought in the Portuguese Colonial War in Angola and my grandmother held down the fort, aka the Butcher shop, while he was away. 

My Father's Side 

 My dad's grandparents were from Portugal and his family can be traced back through countless generations in the small "town" more like village. His great-greatgrandparents house is still in the family. The coolest part is walking around town, knowing that generations of your past have walked the same dirt roads, up the same mountain trails, that only exist because of how often they are used. My paternal grandparents met each other while they were working in a book factory. My grandmother was being courted by another man at the time and my grandpa was not having it. He personally went to my great-grandfather and listed his reasons as to why HE should be courting my grandma. Well suffice to say, he won. They were married for 53 years, true soul mates if you believe in that stuff. When my grandma passed, we thought my grandpa was going to slip into oblivion as well. He states that the only reason he stuck around was because his grandkids still need him. They still have so much to learn and the only time he smiles these days is when we are around. 

(Left to Right: My dad, my grandma, my grandpa, my Aunt, my uncle)

Finally Me

My family history, experiences and culture have molded me into the person I am today. I am thankful for those kids who made me feel so uncomfortable because they taught me to look for perspective, to learn more about myself and where I come from. I love my family, my relatives and friends.  The people that surround us forever change us, no matter if they only stand by our sides for a short period of time.....

 

                                                  

 

The Pepsi Commercial

           Commercials, tv shows, movies, media in general has been one of the most useful outlets to express displeasure, political out cry and to begin a movement. Yesterday Pepsi released a commercial trying to bridge the gap between police and the general public, taking advantage of the Black Lives Movement protests that have occurred over the past several years. The commercial has caused a controversial uproar bringing the good and the bad in human beings.             This is where I feel like Pepsi differs. In the commercial, Pepsi did a very good job at including diverse populations and races. They had different characters expressing themselves in different ways. My favorite part was not the fact the Kendal Jenner was present and modeling, but rather how she ripped her blonde wig and wiped off her lipstick before joining in the protest that was occurring outside in the streets. So often when we think of white girls, we think blondes who are dressed up and in makeup, doing lucrative work like modeling and then Pepsi has a real life model rip off all those stereotypes before joining in on the movement.  In addition, I want to know why it was Kendal Jenner who handed the white cop a Pepsi, why not have someone of color or a different race? By not sticking to the original story, Pepsi down plays the problems of our society and all the issues we face today.If they were going to do a commercial like this one, then I feel like they should have reviewed all the facts. It just seems that they are trying to make light of a situation that is so serious, especially the part when the muslim woman takes a photo of Jenner and hugs someone else.Did you know that a photographer, Leshia Evans, captured a very similar photo of a 28 year old nurse being detained by police officers in a Black Lives Matter Movement in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

           Media and large companies have had a history of taking social movements and capitalizing on them. For example, many of us love SNL, but have you ever taken a moment to realize that they too are taking political and social follies, turning them into comedy and capitalizing on them. Instead of helping a movement, creating understanding and awareness, large companies have an outstanding record of using them to benefit.
             The Pepsi commercial is the perfect example. Here they take a protest, a social movement, turn it into a commercial and use it to highlight their product, though Pepsi did so very eloquently. Why this commercial has me asking questions I have never thought about, such as How often do companies do this, Are we seeing these commercials and linking them to the actual movements, despite the unrealistic image painted in the commercial? 
       Maybe instead of having these large companies down play real life problems, we should hold them responsible for not speaking out the truth and make them understand that portraying these serious events in a playful manner is not ok. But then again, who wants realism attached to their product?