Where I am From, A Poem
September 03, 2012
This is a poem by Jorge A. read at the open mic event by la Coalicion Latino Americana and United for a Dream in Charlotte, North Carolina, performed at the welcoming of the No Papers No Fear Ride for Justice on September 3, 2012.
Where I am from
I am from Gabriel and Ignacia feeding me mis frijoles machucados con arroz y queso.
Yo soy de tortillas hechas a mano que se acen en picadas
I am from playing loteria and losing all my money
I am from my father lisening to Ana Gabriel, Marco Antonio Solis, and “bidi bidi bom bom” to my mother playing Los Tigres del Norte
I am from “Jorge levantate para la escuela, no te voy a decir otra ves.”
I am from my sister saying “you’re so stupid omg pinche pendejo.”
I am from finding Comet, Clorox, and Fabuloso under the bathroom sink
I am from going to ATL every summer to visit family
I am from losing my whole family in México when I moved to Cali to losing my brother and sister when I moved here
I am from being pushed by the cops because they wanted my brother, from losing my father almost a year now to deportation and standing in the streets alone waiting for my mother to come for me
I am from now being eligible to be able to work and go to college and get a driver’s license
I am from finally being able to provide for my family and two beautiful little nieces.