I Am… Yo Soy Latina!!!

Thank you so much to our reader, Christal Clonts-Cortanza, a proud Puerto Rican and Dominican from Atlanta, Georgia who submitted this powerful and beautiful poem, “I am… Yo Soy Latina!”

I Am… Yo Soy Latina!!!

I am the rhythm of the merengue, salsa, bachata, bomba, mambo beat heard deep down in the bosom of the hermoso Caribe

I am Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Gloria Estefan y Selena.

I am the ripe plantanos in your flavorful mofongo dish or the sofrito in your arroz con gandules. The rich ingredients in your abuelas sancocho.

I am the cafe con leche y chocolate in your savory desert.

I AM… YO SOY LATINA

I am the sway in your hips, the thickness of your thighs, y the fullness of your plump lips. The beauty in your exotic aura.

I am the spiral in your unmanageable mane of luscious coiled curls and unruly waist length locks.

I am the la negra rosa or the marrón colored spices of cinnamon and sugar.

I AM….YO SOY LATINA

I undeniable love, fiery passion, y steadfast strength.

I am roll your R’s y the què? To your what?

I am the beloved Guadalupe, the heart of the Santeria and the faithful believer in the blessed son born of the Virgencita Mariá

I Am Hermana, Mija, Madre, Mamí, Tiá, Hija, Abuelá, Amiga, Chica

I am Cortanźa, Lopez, Rodrigez, Parrilla, Mendez, Ortaga, Valdez y Marrero

I am Puertorriqueña, Dominicana, Cubana, Columbiana, Mexicana, Panamanian, Spaniard, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Honduran, Costa Rican, Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Uruguayan, Salvadorian, Paraguayan

I AM…..YO SOY LATINA