Comments on: My Blinders Are Off: What Trayvon Taught Me About Parenting

By: Latina Bloggers Weekly Round-up July 18 | LatinaBloggersConnect

Latina Bloggers Weekly Round-up July 18 | LatinaBloggersConnect — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:19:34 +0000

[...] Vanessa of De Su Mamá had a reaction piece she contributed to SpanglishBaby featured on HLN’s Raising [...]

By: Blogging Trayvon Martin: Words, Art and Music Inspired By the Death the Son We All Call Our Own

Wed, 17 Jul 2013 04:34:31 +0000

[...] MY BLINDERS ARE OFF: WHAT TRAYVON TAUGHT ME ABOUT PARENTING By Vanessa Martinez Bell, Spanglish Baby This trial has taught me to wake the hell up. My kids are black, not Latino or mixed or even American. As their parents, it is our responsibility to prepare them for life. So, to hell with confidence and self image. Who cares if they speak Spanish. As a black boy in America, lessons on how to avoid chance encounters with people like Trayvon’s killer is a matter of life or death. I won’t be a foolish mom any longer. My kids deserve the life I gave them. When the time comes, right before Sex Ed and how to properly put on a condom, I’m enrolling my kids in Being Black 101: Ways to Stay Alive in America… [...]

By: Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:17:15 +0000

Gracias por su apoyo, Angelina. Your comment meant more than you know.

By: Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:14:56 +0000

Totally agree, Valeria… there is much work to do within our own community. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

By: Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:12:57 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Jennifer. I’ve done some research on the US Census and I think that when you check Hispanic, you are automatically Hipanic and not “multiracial”, no matter what other boxes you check. Hispanic isn’t considered a race, but a cultural group, or something like that. Don’t quote me on this, just thought you might find it as interesting as I did. Again, thanks for reading.

By: Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:09:22 +0000

My reaction was that of a mother raising a son who is mixed Latino and Black upon finding out the verdict of what presumably makes shooting an unarmed (black) minor legal. In Florida. I don’t know what happened that night. I didn’t follow the trial religiously. In no way do I intend to debate the legality of this case. But, I thank you for reading and your comment.

By: Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 01:03:26 +0000

Thanks for that, Eleanor. I can only image what you have gone through. If only being more aware didn’t sting so much!

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 00:36:41 +0000

Vanessa:

Well said! And you have every right to be angry. I am too. Well appalled at the verdict. But you know what? I think we shouldn’t let it get us down for too long and lose our joy. We must be aware but not become cynical. We must be smart but not overly wary of others. Much Love.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:59:52 +0000

This seems like a massive overreaction on your part. Why does the action of one person (Latino) in Florida speak for an entire nation? People need to keep this case in perspective and not put “blinders” on to the evidence presented that led to Mr. Zimmerman’s acquittal.

By: Jennifer Fischer

Jennifer Fischer — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:25:44 +0000

Thanks for writing this and sharing. My children are mixed as well. Their father’s parents were Dominican and African-American. I am white. My children, right now, have curly blond hair a tan skin that gets darker every summer. When I check off boxes for them, I check: white, African-American, Hispanic. I know, though, that others will see what they see. Right now, most people look at them and aren’t sure what they see, but that may change as they get older and their looks change and I know I have to be aware of that.