(suggested music pairing: Peace - Horace Silver Quintet; see below for why)
You may be thinking “what could he possibly write about Cinco De Mayo?” The answer is not much. Technically Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, so I have nothing to relate to in terms of Mexican. However, I am considered to be “of Hispanic origin.”
You may be thinking “what could he possibly write about Cinco De Mayo?” The answer is not much. Technically Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, so I have nothing to relate to in terms of Mexican. However, I am considered to be “of Hispanic origin.”
I find that phrase interesting. It was on a form I filled out when I had to report to jury duty in March. I can’t remember if that was a choice under race, or nationality, but it brings up an interesting question I’ve often asked myself…and thought about in terms of my little guy. What am I considered? Who am I? Where am I from?
SO…here is the specific answer. I am Cape Verdean.
The Cape Verde islands are a group of islands off the western coast of Africa. So, I have the physical characteristics of being African with some Portuguese mixing in. Culture and family wise there is also a blend of African and Portuguese. Someday I am going to do more research on my family, but if I remember correctly, both grandparents on my mom’s side, and my grandfather on my dad’s side, emigrated from the Cape Verde Islands in the 1900s with their parents – my great-grandparents. They immigrated to New Bedford MA, where the majority of my relatives live, including most of my close cousins, aunts and uncles, and my grandmother. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verdean_American Somehow, my paternal grandfather ended up in Baltimore and then Pittsburgh, where my dad was born and raised as an only child. My mom was born and raised in New Bedford. Then, as my dad went into the Air Force, and was stationed for a while in New Hampshire, so his parents moved back to New Bedford, and that is where my parents met. My parents moved to Philadelphia where my dad found a job, his parents followed, and then I came along as a PA baby.
The Cape Verde islands are a group of islands off the western coast of Africa. So, I have the physical characteristics of being African with some Portuguese mixing in. Culture and family wise there is also a blend of African and Portuguese. Someday I am going to do more research on my family, but if I remember correctly, both grandparents on my mom’s side, and my grandfather on my dad’s side, emigrated from the Cape Verde Islands in the 1900s with their parents – my great-grandparents. They immigrated to New Bedford MA, where the majority of my relatives live, including most of my close cousins, aunts and uncles, and my grandmother. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Verdean_American Somehow, my paternal grandfather ended up in Baltimore and then Pittsburgh, where my dad was born and raised as an only child. My mom was born and raised in New Bedford. Then, as my dad went into the Air Force, and was stationed for a while in New Hampshire, so his parents moved back to New Bedford, and that is where my parents met. My parents moved to Philadelphia where my dad found a job, his parents followed, and then I came along as a PA baby.
But for years, those questions would always come back. I don’t even know what the actually correct question is. I’m not a what, and I’m more than just a background. And technically, I’m from PA. But growing up every year, our family vacations consisted of traveling 7-13 hours in the car to New Bedford to visit my grandparents and relatives. I even have vague memories of a couple of my great grandparents. My grandparents on my mom’s side spoke a little Cape Verdean…my grandmother tried, successfully, to teach us the curse words! And my grandfather played upright bass in a Cape Verdean Band just about as long as he was able to, until he passed away from cancer in 1997. So the Cape Verdean culture was a part of growing up, and it’s unique. Being Cape Verdean is unique. And that never lends itself to an easy answer to this “what am I?” question, or whatever it is.
(Just as a side note…the annual road trips up north, and the music influence, has a DIRECT influence on who I am today.)
Who am I? I’m not totally black, but I’m not totally Hispanic either. My last name is a Hispanic last name - I believe it was Americanized from da Macedo. But this was all confusing to me until we had our first family reunion, in New Bedford, in 1991, where probably close to 150 of my relatives all showed up – most of which still live in the New Bedford area. We all looked similar…we all had the same background, and at that time 4 of the family elders were still alive and were sharing some of the background. It’s a story typical of other immigrants in the early 20th century…struggles and hardships and discrimination and scratching and scraping to uplift the family. I was 19 at the time…and I remember finally feeling a sense of…belonging. Of comfort. And it was definitely subconscious. And powerful.
We had a couple of reunions soon after, and then a long gap, and we had one just last year. We are a unique people. And when you’re unique, it’s good to be around similarity. Somewhere along the way, having such a unique cultural background has helped me become comfortable and confident with the fact that I am so unique in many many ways.
When I was home a couple of weeks ago, I visited my paternal grandparents’ graves in King of Prussia PA. They died in 1983 (6th grade for me) and 1988 (11th grade). I’ve been to their graves maybe 4 times since then, the last time in 2003. Every time I go I completely remember exactly where their graves are. My grandfather’s name was also John Macedo. There is something sobering about seeing your name attached to the end of life. But as I truly believe, life is short and it can end in a blink of an eye, and we need to cherish and live every day to the fullest, as much as possible And living is not just doing and being and surviving, but I believe it is also about connecting.
This year, my grandmother (my only remaining grandparent) turns 90 on July 3rd, and there is a family reunion being planned in her honor. The main organizer of the reunions died in a tragic car accident this past winter…he was a very energetic, upbeat, positive man who will be missed. My grandmother and my (grand) Uncle Toi I believe are the only two family elders left. My family (not my immediate family) is at a tipping point where a lot of those past struggles are getting closer and closer to the surface and as unique as we are, I am starting to feel the urge to hold on to the culture and collective uniqueness as much as possible. To remain connected. To keep this alive.
Cinco de Mayo is listed on Wikipedia as “the date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry…” If I can liberally substitute Cape Verdean for Mexican…then…Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Soon to come, for Mother's Day and Father's Day: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Why "Peace" by the Horace Silver Quintet? Because Horace Silver is of Cape Verdean descent, and a trumpeter as well!
RIP:
John Macedo 1899-1983
Rae Macedo 1900-1988
John P Grace 1921-1997
Donald "Donny" J Hunt III 1966-2011
I always find it interesting when forms ask for your race and sometimes your nationality. For race I sometimes put down other instead of caucasian/white. My reason is that I am a part of the human race. As for nationality I found it funny that people are so gung-ho about beating their chests that they are American yet that is never listed as a nationality. I think if you were born in this country you are American. This African-American, Latino-American, Asia-American, so on and so forth is only valid if you emigrated to this country. Quick pull up Rise 'n' Shine by Kool Moe Dee, I think KRS-One's part hits it on the head.
ReplyDeleteOn another note I do see where you are coming from with the whole know where you came form thing. That is important because it does help define who you are as an individual.