We all start out in this world as a blank canvas.
Some are sheltered from spilled paint,
others are not as lucky.
But there is always beauty in every creation,
no matter how many spills or cross outs there may be.
In the end, everyone will become their own masterpiece.
Unas obras de arte.
To me, the most outstanding creation is a woman.
Not just any woman, but a Latina.
She is always bold.
Not because of her high cheek bones,
Wide hips, glowing olive skin,
or any other feature she may possess.
It is much more abstract than that.
The roots of her descent are what make her bold.
Within her she carries the fruitfulness
of her ancestors,
who provided for their families.
The strength of her ancestors,
who marched to the beat of their own drum
and took charge of what was rightfully theirs,
and the poise of the women before her,
walking with their heads held high and
all of the confidence in the world.
A culture has been created, and has established that
it is capable of anything.
Latina women have the power to do it all,
whether it be gaining an education,
maintaining a career, raising a family, or all simultaneously.
There is a light within these women that shines
No matter what the occasion may be.
Even in the darkest moments of life,
they remain radiant, not only for themselves but for others.
With hearts always open, they can instantly become
your tía, mamá, abuela, or hermana because
of their nurturing nature. But do not mistake
this openness for warmth as weakness, it
takes more strength to feel than it does not to.
The heart of a Latina is just a strong as her mind;
It cannot be fooled.
Fast forward hundreds of years later.
These women continue to hold these values every day.
They take their blank canvas and paint a portrait
so uncommon, not even Leonardo da Vinci himself would have
been able to fathom the idea. On the blank slate forms
a new mind set for Latinas of the future based on
women of the past.
La casa. The place where it all begins; where the sketches are
drawn before anything else. Here, a Latina practices her roots,
learning the ins and out of making not only her family, but herself
proud. She is surrounded by love, warm smells, smooth rhythms,
and personalities as fierce as tigers.
La familia. Also known as the colors that help to
fill the sketches already drawn. These are the individuals
from which she learns about her roots.
She learns of the people in which she comes from
along with details of the struggles they have faced.
She discovers that the world will see her as a minority,
but that it is also the duty of a Latina to see past this.
Do not worry about those who in surrounding areas,
She shall become in tune with her knowledge and
persevere to be better than herself.
In a perfect world, we would say that the canvas has been painted
and finished, but it must be reconstructed and innovated before
completion.
Latinas have the final duty of living. Life must have a purpose, but
she must give others a purpose as well. Strengthen the next
generation of young Latina women,
show them the beauty they behold—inside and out,
tell them the history of their ancestors, but most importantly,
a strong Latina must allow others to feel the same inner light that she
has been allowed to feel over time. This is the final masterpiece.
We all start out in this world as a blank canvas.
Some are sheltered from spilled paint,
Others are not as lucky.
But there is always beauty in every creation,
no matter how many spills or cross outs there may be. In the end,
everyone will become their own masterpiece.
By Xena M. Almonte
