Where do I come from? Who are my ancestors? What is the entire story behind my Latino heritage? These are questions I’ve asked myself time and time again. There’s no simple way to get all these answers. I can’t find my past in any history book or records from Ellis Island. My family is from El Salvador, but I know there’s a more profound truth, as there is with many Latinos.
Channeling My Latino Heritage
Three years ago, I spent three days at the Latinx Summit for Courageous Conversations. Amazing facilitators, such as Luis Versalles, pushed me to engage with my identity in ways I had never experienced before. Through tactful challenges, I became more enlightened about my heritage.
There’s much more to my cultural background than the term “Latino” suggests. I’ve come to recognize that, through blood and shared experiences, my ancestry is connected to indigenous, black, and European roots.
One of the most influential activities of the experience was facilitated by Dr. Cesar A. Cruz, an activist, and educator from California. Dr. Cruz provided us with an accelerated course on Latino history in the United States, where he wrote back our stories into the history books. He closed his time by asking us to write a letter to ourselves from our ancestors. He told us to channel our past and put words to our feelings.
Here is what I channeled from my collective ancestry. There was so much power in processing what my ancestors would want to share with me at this moment in my life. For this post, I elected to keep this in its original form – what I wrote in the time Dr. Cruz gave us to write it.
Letter From My Ancestors
Querido Oscarito,
We didn’t have much, but we had each other. We worked hard to pass along values, stories, and love across each generation. You’ve inherited it all and are ready to accomplish anything you set your mind to. I know that you’re conflicted on the inside. You know you have so much value to the world, but are afraid that you’re wrong. You want to make your family proud but are worried that you’re failing. You’ve accomplished so much, but don’t know about your place in the world. The conflict needs to end now.
Don’t carry the weight of our past with you on your shoulders. Let it carry you so you can soar. Let our legacy be your wealth. You have value. You have worth. You have us. We will always be with you – in your heart, mind, and soul. Channel us whenever you need to. You are my wildest dream. Now, I need it to be your reality.
Siempre contigo,
Tus ancestros
The Impact
As I shared my story with a partner, I felt the tears rolling down my cheeks. I didn’t expect that at all. I didn’t realize this was something I needed. When I looked around the room, I could tell it was a cathartic experience for most people.
I may not know all the details about where I come from, but I know my ancestors would be proud of who I am and how far I’ve come.
What would your ancestors say to you?
