By Eric Martin

I love living in downtown Waco. We’ve got a gorgeous river, a sprawling urban park, a charming business district, a friendly and diverse community, and world-class higher education.

As I travel through Texas and around the world, my fondness for the city has made me a bit defensive about it. Defensive because of the nearly ubiquitous reactions that mention of “Waco” elicits from others. Waco, as you likely know, has a worldwide reputation.  In many folks’ minds, Waco is not just where the Branch Davidian siege and biker-gang-shootouts happened to take place. Unfortunately and unfairly, for many, Waco represents the kind of place where those sorts of things occur:  backward, gun-crazy, with more than its share of religious fanatics.

Such interactions have sensitized me to widespread misconceptions about the South. As a native Midwesterner, I’m surprised to find myself in a position to convince friends and colleagues that their stereotypes are often untrue and unfounded.

That said, Waco has its struggles like any other city. And these challenges have been especially pronounced during the last half of the 20^th century; we are now emerging from that period but those challenges still affect us today. For example, the lack of grocery stores means that on most days it’s impossible to buy fresh food for many miles around downtown. It’s an inconvenience for me, but a conspicuous public health problem for the city. Also, its infrastructure needs updating to make the city more accommodating for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users. Study after study shows that such urban development really matters: sidewalks, trees, and bike lanes are not only economically beneficial but actually make people happier and healthier.

These problems are intertwined with another, bigger one: lack of confidence in Waco schools.
As this website has highlighted, there are plenty of good-news stories emerging from Waco ISD, but I want to address the perception of problems just as much as any actual problems. Perceptions – even if they’re illusions – matter, since they have kept many more-resourced families away from downtown Waco.

Historically, downtown was hardly a place to avoid. Many Wacoans remember when downtown was a thriving business district that attracted people from all over. Downtown boasted theaters, stores, hotels, and streetcars: precisely the amenities world-class cities feature today. Its streets were packed with people. U.S. Presidents came to town; renowned theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer even stopped here on a 1931 road trip.

In the 1990s, by contrast, Waco was known among Texans more as a bathroom stop along I-35; it was christened “Tinkletown” by one Baylor professor. One newspaper dubbed the Waco of this era “a shabby ghost town.”

I’ve asked a lot of questions about what exactly happened to this formerly thriving downtown, and there is one explanation that nearly everyone brings up: the 1953 tornado. Many Wacoans say that our formerly great city was blighted by this Act of God, and that downtown has simply never recovered from this natural disaster.

But that’s just one part of the story, and I’ve come to think that Waco’s decline is not nearly so much an act of God as many smaller acts of human sin. An F5 tornado, horrible as it was, is no match for the urban destruction wrought by human prejudice.

Coinciding with the tornado was the momentous Supreme Court decision, Brown vs. Board of Education, officially desegregating American schools. Desegregation was slow and piecemeal in Waco, but over the few years it was implemented, Waco ISD saw an exodus of over 5,000 students leave for surrounding suburbs[1]. It is clear that some people moved away from downtown Waco to move away from integrating with minority communities. Moreover, it is clear that many people today also choose their school districts in ways that effectively reinforce segregation, which harms students (not just poorer ones) in lots of ways.

This is not just a Waco problem: it’s an American problem, especially severe in the post-World War era of “white flight.” The combination of exclusive neighborhood covenants and the redlining procedures used by banks to segregate neighborhoods made for new ways of preserving old divisions. And because of America’s peculiar method of financing education through local property taxes, this system generates not only ethnic division, but less education funding for poorer families. America is one of the only developed nations that spends more public money on rich children than on poor children [2].

Segregation in American schools never really ended; it only changed forms by becoming privatized. Instead of segregated schools, we now have segregated neighborhoods. It’s not just about race, or even class: it’s about not wanting to live with people different from ourselves, coupled with legitimate (if muddled) fears of providing children with anything less than the best educations. This is certainly part of the explanation for Waco’s downtown decline.

The concentration of wealth and educational opportunity in segregated communities of privilege are understandable social phenomena. But these realities do not reflect especially loving or Christian values. To the contrary, I believe they are trends that Christians should be working to change.

Problems with race relations haunt America’s past, but we risk recapitulating these sins unless we identify them and address them head on. There are glaring disparities in class and ethnicity within steps of Baylor’s campus. The good news is that Baylor can help remedy these divisions. I single out Baylor because it’s the institution I’m currently part of, but I also believe it has the resources and the vision to make a real impact.

How can Baylor be a better neighbor in our community? One answer is simply to be a neighbor in our community – that is, to suggest that its employees might live here instead of elsewhere. When faculty and staff move to Waco to join Baylor, the university has often shepherded them off to distant suburbs. But Baylor should also promote downtown as a great place to live. Several new faculty members have recently made the decision to live centrally and I think even more will in the future.

Secondly, Baylor can provide volunteer experiences that are more than just passing events. Service opportunities should foster richer, more long-term interactions between students and the rest of the city, and help with problems identified by community members themselves. I have been impressed with the ways that Baylor pursues these goals, especially though its Office of Community Engagement and Service. Volunteering should be integral to the undergraduate experience.

And third, Baylor can actively promote diversity among our students, teachers and staff. We should strive to reflect the diversity of Texas and our nation, and be part of the best tradition of universities that become engines of social mobility. I would argue that Baylor, which was itself segregated for 70% of its own institutional history, has an added obligation to ameliorate the ongoing disparities along ethnic lines.

I love living in Waco, and want it to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to flourish. We can all work on being better neighbors.

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Eric Martin is a philosopher working at Baylor University’s Great Texts Program. Originally from Michigan, he studied in Colorado and California before taking his first academic position in London. After a few years overseas, he’s now happy to call Waco home. When he’s not at his desk he can be found exploring Cameron Park or riding his bicycle.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more

Notes:

[1] Texas Education Agency Research Division, Public School Directory 1954-55 – 1984-85. These numbers are corroborated by anecdotal accounts of the city’s reaction to integration by residents and school officials. See also BU’s Institute of Oral History records: esp. Glenn R. Capp, Sr. (1976); Samuel K. Howard (1994); Pauline Adams (2002). Advocating desegregation in 1955 earned Capp personal threats and accusations of being a “communist” by the local White Citizens’ Council. Enthusiasm for integration was tempered by sometimes-tumultuous court-ordered school reorganizations, such as 1970’s consolidation of La Vega and Waco schools. Recent discussions of modern segregation include ProPublica’s Segregation Now and This American Life’s The Problem We All Live With.

[2] Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Education at a Glance 2013.

 

 

 

By Sarah Frances Moran

I’ve written poetry since I was a teenager and since that time was very good at keeping it nice and hidden in my journals. It made the occasional appearance with girlfriends (girls love, love poems!) and the occasional appearance with family. Otherwise, it was never shared. Never. The thought of sharing my work publicly, whether at open mics or by submitting it to journals was horrifying.

I moved to Waco in July of 2013 and decided in the summer of 2014 that I needed to look into whether Waco offered any open mic type events so I could continue sitting in the corner hiding my work! That’s when I came across Waco Word Fest (a part of the Waco Cultural Arts Fest).   I’d missed the majority of the event but did manage to make it to the 100thousand Poets for Change reading and that’s where I met Jenuine Poetess, local advocate for all things art.   The event was organized and encompassed this wide variety of beautiful voices. She engaged the crowd, took photos and was extremely encouraging and welcoming. I was impressed. At the event flyers were passed out about other events. It was here that I learned about the Waco Poet’s Society and the In The Words of Womyn writing group.

My journey to finding an open mic venue brought me to meeting with Jenuine and a beautiful group of women writers on Monday evenings.   I began sharing my work and my voice. Shortly after, I attended a Nuestra Voz open mic hosted by Jenuine and Waco Poet’s Society. For the first time in my life I got the courage to get up in front of an audience of strangers and read my most personal work. I decided that I should start sending my own work out to be considered for publication in journals and magazines. In one year’s time I’ve had a ton of work published in a wide variety of journals, magazines and online blogs. I’ve begun to dabble in short stories, non-fiction and memoir writing. I’ve continued to read my work in front of audiences even when my voice quivers. I’ve been featured in Houston, and Austin, and in September I’ll be featured here in Waco. I’ve started my own journal, Yellow Chair Review, that is quickly growing beyond my wildest imaginations. This year at the 2015 Waco Word Fest I’ll be giving a workshop on publishing.

But this isn’t about me, this is simply why community is so so important. This is why holding space that is encouraging, comforting and open means so much.

I know my accomplishments are mine but they’re also Waco’s. This is where my voice was found and this is where it’s nurtured. This is where I’ve learned that my voice is important, that what I create is important and that I have nothing to fear by sharing it.

Imagine all of the Sarahs out there writing in journals, singing in the bathtub, painting in their bedrooms who are afraid. Imagine them never finding safe space. Imagine all of the creativity that never gets shared with the world.

Support the arts. Support the individuals like Jenuine volunteering their time to hold space to uplift voices.

These programs have nurtured and continue to nurture me an an artist. They are important and none of it is in vain. I’m proof of that.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Sarah Frances Moran. Sarah is the editor and founder of Yellow Chair Reviewand a member of the Waco Poet’s Society.  To read more of her words please visit www.sarahfrancesmoran.com .

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

 

 

 

by Louis Gayton Garcia

Many of the families of Mexican descent living in Waco today are descended from families who arrived here in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

In 1719, using a map created by cartographer Guillame Delisle, French explorer Jean Baptiste Bena de la Harpe said he had found a place called Honecha or Houecha (WACO). The people there had black circles around their eyes causing him to remark that it was “Where the raccoon eyed people lived…”

In the early 1800’s when the first white expeditions arrived in “Huaco,” (which, by the way has been spelled at least 30 different ways through the years), they commented that the natives here were always fighting the Mexicans.   Writings from the 1830’s say that the natives were living around a fresh underground cool water source. The site was located on what is now 6th St. between Jefferson St. and Waco Drive. The natives probably used the whole area from 6th St. to the Brazos River as their camp. Despite initial conflict, many of the existing tribes Huacos, Cherokees, Chiricahua etc… assimilated into the Mexican community after the arrival a of the white and black settlers, because of bounties placed upon them and the hatred towards them.

In later years a section of this area — from the Brazos River to 4th St and from Washington St. to Barron St. — was called “The Reservation.” It could be the name came about because this is where the natives were gathered up before they were sent off to the reservations in Oklahoma, or maybe it was because Jacob de Cordova, who founded Waco, wanted land along the Brazos to be “reserved” for City of Waco for public use. Regardless of the origin of the name, “The Reservation” eventually became known as Waco’s legalized red light district, and remained so until 1917 when prostitution became illegal.

This area was also home to a part of town known as Little Mexico, Mexican Sandtown. It later became known as the “Calle Dos” (Second Street). Many Mexicans arriving in Waco in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s moved into the Calle Dos area, especially after 1917.

In the late 1800’s there was a Baptist Mission in the 300 Block of North Second St. In 1907 this became the Mexican Baptist Mission which is now the First Mexican Baptist Church of Waco at 4th and Jefferson. The building in the 300 block of North Second St. would become the “Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana de Jornaleros.” Established July 6th, 1924. The purpose of the SSMdeJ was to assist the Mexicans with their rights, jobs, education, funerals, etc. (It is now located on LaSalle Ave.) The SSMdeJ became the center of gatherings in Waco for the Mexicans. All major celebrations were held there: Sept.16th celebrations, Cinco de Mayo, weddings, dances, and quinceañeras, among others. The St Francis on the Brazos Catholic Church was formed in 1924 blessed in 1925 at the corner of Third Street and Jefferson, adding to the sense of community.

Part of the reason that this neighborhood became so popular among Mexican people who were moving into Waco was that there were several fresh underground water sources in this area.  “La Pila” (the fountain), a significant source of fresh underground water, was a popular community gathering spot where residents would catch up with each other to share news and gossip while collecting the water they needed for drinking, bathing, etc.

The 1926 Waco City Directory shows that while many Mexicans lived on farms surrounding Waco — cotton was king in the early 1900’s and many Mexican people worked in the cotton fields — Mexican families were especially concentrated in the Calle Dos area.

The Calle Dos are was cleared in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s by urban renewal and, with that, a neighborhood where Mexican families, and later their descendants, had been living as a community for generations passed into history.

I was born Luis Gaitan Garcia on a farm in Speegleville. I went to school on my first day and came home as “Louis Gayton Garcia.” I am Chairman of the Waco Hispanic Museum (WHM), a 501(c)3 organization that got its start as in idea from City Council Woman Alice Rodriguez. The idea was to acknowledge the long history of the Hispanic/Mexican Community of Waco, many of us whose families arrived in the late1800’s and early 1900’s.

Many Hispanics still in Waco today have ties to the Calle Dos area. The WHM is working on several projects to make sure this part of Waco and Waco History is not forgotten.

We currently have an exhibit at the Historic Waco Foundation’s Fort House, 403 South 4th St. It is open Sundays 1- 4 or by special request by calling 7535166. We are finalizing plans with the City of Waco to move into a section of the South Waco Community Center as we continue to raise funds for our Museum.

On September 5 we are having our Fourth Annual Dance to raise money for the museum. Music will be provided by Johnny Bustamante and the LA Band. Mosaic will be playing Tejano gospel music, and DJ Jam will be on hand. Cost will be a $10 donation. Time will be 8 PM to 12 AM. Location will be The Mutualista Hall, 2214 S 15th St.

On September 28th – October 4th, we will begin work to excavate “La Pila” (the fountain) that played a central role in the Calle Dos community. It was buried by urban renewal and is being brought back to life with the assistance of WISD, City of Waco and Central Texas Archaeological Resources (Katherine Turner–Pearson owner). The public will be invited to participate in this dig.

If you are interested in learning more about the Waco Hispanic Museum or getting involved, please contact me by email at [email protected] or by phone at 254.548.9730. Donations may be mailed to the CenTex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 911 LaSalle Ave, 76706 or Genco Federal Credit Union, 731 N. Valley Mills Dr., 76710. Please note on all checks that they are for the Hispanic Museum.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Louis Gayton Garcia. Louis is retired from, American Railcar Industries. He started there in 1980 sweeping floors. He eventually became the Quality Assurance Manager at Longview, Texas, and a Quality Assurance Auditor, working in plants in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He is a deacon at Lake Shore Baptist Church where he enjoys singing in the choir and volunteering for the food pantry. He is President of the Board of Directors of Mission Waco/ Mission World, and a Member of Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana de Jornaleros est.1924 ( society of mutual Mexican journey men involved in the Hispanic community) and Chairman of the Waco Hispanic Museum. For fun he plays the accordion.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Amanda L. Smith, LMSW

As a social worker who is living and working in Waco, it’s important to me that our community has access to quality and affordable healthcare. Sadly, prioritizing mental health issues often goes ignored or is dismissed. I’m deeply honored to work with people who are ready to look for a new approach to embracing life. For most of my clients, intense emotions, intrusive thoughts, self-damaging behaviors, and suicidal thinking stand in the way of their happiness and peace of mind.

Thankfully there’s a treatment that may help.

Dialectical behavior therapy (or DBT) was created by Marsha Linehan—a psychologist at the University of Washington—to help people who have suffered with chronic thoughts of suicide, have made multiple suicide attempts, or engaged in self-harming behaviors such as cutting, burning, hair-pulling, and skin-picking.

DBT consists of several components, including weekly individual therapy, group skills training, telephone coaching in between appointments, and a therapist consultation team. While DBT is based on the ideas of cognitive-behavior therapy, the treatment also emphasizes mindfulness, validation strategies, and a balance of both acceptance and change. The goal of participating in a DBT treatment program is to help people who are experiencing roller-coaster emotions to create a “life worth living.”

For over 20 years, research has consistently demonstrated that DBT has made a lasting difference in helping many people to feel better. Most recently in the May 2015 issue of JAMA Psychiatry, the authors of a research study concluded that participation in a DBT skills training group significantly reduced the frequency and severity of suicide attempts and instances of self-injury in women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The good news is that there is now lots of evidence that suggests that DBT may be beneficial for people facing addictive behaviors, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders such as bulimia and binge-eating disorder, and even attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

What are Dialectics?

The word “dialectical” refers to the synthesis of opposing ideas, thoughts, and emotions. In DBT, this is referred to as Wise Mind.

One essential dialectic in DBT is the assumption that the person in treatment is doing the best that they can at any given moment and—at the same time—needs to work hard to change. Another dialectic would be that people can practice self-compassion and acceptance while they also gently push themselves towards healthier ways of living and responding to every day problems.

Dialectical thinking helps individuals to navigate through the extremes of black-and-white thinking so that they can make better decisions about important areas in all of our lives as they relate to school, work, relationships, and finances. Once this skill is learned and practiced over an extended period of time, life becomes less chaotic, less stressful, and more fulfilling.

Hope for Recovery

Recovery from suicidal thoughts and self-harm unfortunately doesn’t occur in a nice linear and predictable way. It’s usually full of encouraging starts, disappointing stops, and progress that can sometimes be challenging to spot even on the best of days.

Living a life filled with constant fear, sadness, and anger can be devastating. Making an investment in an evidence-based treatment like DBT can yield great returns. Over the years, I’ve met with countless individuals who have been empowered through DBT and have gone on to complete college, enjoy successful careers, and participate in meaningful relationships with others. Without a doubt, DBT can help change lives for the better.

Perhaps you or someone you love is ready to create their own life worth living.

For more information about DBT and how you or someone you know might enter into DBT therapy contact Amanda Smith by email at [email protected] or visit the website at  dbt-waco.com or www.hopeforbpd.com.

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Amanda L. Smith, LMSW is a graduate of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. Her web site is www.hopeforbpd.com and her book, The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Wellness Planner: 365 Days of Healthy Living for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit, will be available in September.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

 

By Stephen Swanson

Hey!  Psst! Worried about the coming school year? I want to tell you a secret.

Teachers have as much anxiety about the start of the school year as students do. As the weeks and days count off until Fall, we find it harder to sleep as plans run over and over in our minds.

Also, most teachers REALLY want our students to succeed. We look out at each and every student from the littlest pre-k-er to the most mature of non-traditional student in their college classroom and want the very best for you.

Why would THAT make us worry? I’m glad you’ve asked.

Teachers hope to make differences in your lives. However, as much control as teachers seem to have, the vast majority of success in learning boils down to you, the student.

That’s right! The best teachers in the world do not necessarily make differences in every student’s life, and teachers who work the hardest still cannot always provide experiences that fit every student. However, EVERY student can and should take these three major steps to success!:

Think about Priorities and Time

If we could devote all of our time and energy to all aspects of our lives, we’d really have it made. We’d grow into everything we want to become and please everyone who has goals for us. However, trying to do everything usually trips us up. More successful learners identify limits and organize their schedules to match their goals.

In school, time grows more and more scarce. You will probably only have time for school and maybe one or two other priorities.  If family matters most to you, then  prioritize time with your loved ones.. Want to improve career options? You should learn about those jobs and improve the specific skills needed. Do you value or need work or extracurriculars? Excellent!  Do them, and do them well.  You can accomplish almost ANYTHING, but you can’t do EVERYTHING.   Chose those few priorities wisely. Save the rest of your interests for another time in your life, when you have finished your schooling.

Start managing your time by making a list of EVERYTHING you do and the number of hours you spend on it per week. Don’t forget sleep, eating, chores, taking care of yourself and others, or anything else. Then, subtract those hours from the 168 total hours in a week. How much time do you REALLY have? How much can you take on and perform at your best? We need stress to grow and achieve goals, but too much stress over weeks wears us down physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

Challenge yourself

Once you identify your main priorities and the amount of time you have, you need to pick learning opportunities that push you. Many students claim they want challenge, but in their hearts they believe, like Lisa Simpson, “Duh! [I want] A challenge I can do!” Based on this philosophy, they seek out easier classes, teachers who focus on fun, or subjects they already know about. This can feel rewarding to students in the short-term. However, in school you should be preparing yourself for an increasingly uncertain future. With that in mind, you need to develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will help you face new challenges.

Educational and psychological experts call these skills “emotional intelligence,” “soft skills,” “grit,” “persistence,” and, “virtue.” Whatever the name, the traits they describe remain remarkably consistent. Students need to engage with new information, connect it to their experiences, and then apply it in new situations they encounter. Sure, we need to think about majors and careers, but careers change more and more quickly.  The software you learn in that class will vary from company to company. The policies and procedures will evolve. Jobs will shift and change. You need to know how to change with them. Students need to learn to overcome frustration, confusion, and other roadblocks along the way to accomplishing their important goals.

The good news is that research shows that when we believe we can learn and improve, we make a huge difference in our abilities to learn and improve. Seek out the experiences that challenge and push you to grow into your best self.  Don’t accept anything less than experiences that demand the best of you.

Build a Support System

At some point, almost every student feels sad and dejected. Balancing school and work and all the other parts of your life seems impossible! You experience the reality that quality learning takes time and effort. You don’t have much time. You’re really tired. You’re not sure if you can do it or if it’s worth it. It seems like learning comes SO much easier for EVERYONE else. These feelings are not only completely normal but usually show that you actually have begun learning.

Furthermore, I have more good news. You do not need to try to do this alone. At every level of learning, people can help guide and assist you. Seek out and contact those people early and maintain contact.

Start with teachers and counselors.  Introduce yourself to them. Share your specific goals and relevant priorities. You don’t need to give everyone your life story, but people can help more when they understand your goals and experiences. Look for potential obstacles and talk about how to work through these challenges and achieve your goals. Ask them for help locating resources for particular gateways that you might need to pass through, and don’t give up if you run into a roadblock or two.

Try to accept some frustration in the process. It can sometimes take a while to find that person to help, but they exist out there. Once you find them, they can help mentor and guide you through a pathway to success.

Education…the kind of education that changes lives…takes effort and struggle. It takes time. As more and more jobs require higher education, and more and more people get degrees and certifications, we need to set priorities, select our challenges, and form a community of people invested in our success. It’s hard. It should be hard, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible or that you have to do it alone.

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Dr. Stephen Swanson has only been in Waco since 2009 to teach English and mass communication at McLennan Community College, but also loves playing board games with his family and friends. He can be found at many points around town, wherever people work to make a better Wacotown.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Photo Credit: “Aqua Negra School Group Portrait”, 1912, Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photography Collection

 

 

(Para leer este artículo en español, pulse aquí)

By Dr. Cristina Cleveland

When I moved to Waco, coming from Mexico City (the biggest and most populated city in the world), the warmth and kindness from Texans (specifically Wacoans) took me by surprise. As a new mother of twins, overwhelmed just to think about doing groceries, I would find myself standing in the line at HEB stunned by people always trying to help me, either with the babies or with my own bags. At the beginning I found this very odd. Now I feel guilty for those unfriendly looks I gave to people trying to say “I don’t need your help, and stay away from my babies.” With time I found out that is just the way Texans are, welcoming, kind, caring and aware of other people’s needs. That has helped me a lot not to miss my beloved country as much I thought I would.

One of the most funny things that happened to me when I was introduced to new people was the normal and expected question “Where are you from?” (From my strong accent you can figure it out right away I’m an outsider.) I would reply with a big smile on my face “from Mexico!” like it was obvious. Not once, not twice, but many times, I heard the reply, “But, you don’t look Mexican.” I was curious enough to ask, “Where did you think I was from?” The answers were all over the place …Italian, Brazilian, Portuguese, Peruvian, Lebanese and so on … At some point I got a little bit of healthy worry about that.

Why can’t people see immediately that I am from Mexico? The answer is because Mexico has infinite faces.

I will try not to overwhelm you with data, but I would like to share with you why being Mexican, for me, represents being a part of a rich culture more than a race.

Most Mexicans are “mestizos” which means we are a “product” of a mixture between Europeans and Mexican Natives (wrongly called Indians). Most of the European heritage comes from Spain, but remember, Spain was invaded by Muslim Moors from 711 to 1492, and a minority of Muslims persisted until 1609 when they were expelled from Spain. During that period of time they had their own “mestizaje.”

Other European influences to “mestizaje” are Germany, France, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, and even small contributions from Sweden, Poland, Greece, England and Russia. Mestizos also have Jewish heritage since the first colonies were settled in Mexico. There were even some North Africans and Arabs in the mix.

Mexico got its Independence from Spain in 1821, but France invaded Mexico in 1861. The French even named a Mexican Emperor, who, by the way, was never recognized as a legitimate Mexican governor. The French left in 1866. Austrians and Belgians arrived by thousands. Another exodus occurred during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939, when Spaniards were welcome to rebuild their lives in Mexico.

During the Cold War from 1947 to 1991, Mexico was refuge to many Europeans. Mexico has also been a destination for Mennonites from Canada, Sweden, Germany and Holland. Russians, Scots and Italians have founded their own big towns in Mexico, and the “mestizaje” keeps growing.

Now, let’s come back to Mexican Natives. When the Spaniards arrived they found multiple cultures. The most important were the Mexicas or Aztecas, Perépechas, Zapotecos, Tarahumaras, Otomíes, Seris, Mayos (don’t get confused with Mayas), Lacandones, Olmecas, Tehotihuacanos and Mayas.

I hope by now you are not dizzy trying to figure all this out. We Mexicans have this extremely unique pool of genes, that makes us just unidentifiable in terms of physical features.

There is a Genomic Project developed in Mexico that can show us the exact percentages of our ancestry. But, I don’t want to know how much I am from Spain, Sweden, Teotihuacan or Asia. I identify with Mexico. I was born and raised there, and for most of my life I was surrounded by Mexican culture in language, music, gastronomy, clothes, art and hospitality. That’s why I am proudly Mexican.

So, next time you are introduced to a Mexican, don’t be surprised about their looks, but most important, don’t try to figure it out where their genes are coming from!

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Dr. Cristina Cleveland. Cristina was born and raised in Mexico City. She’s a Pediatric Neurologist and when she moved to Waco back in 2008, she was planning to be a stay-home-mother of their now 7-years-old-twins. Things changed (as usual) and now, after getting a Master’s Degree in Education, she works for the Foreign Language Department in Waco ISD. In her spare time you can see her driving her twins to the library, karate, soccer, swimming and art classes. If she could just get a “time out,” she would probably be walking, swimming, reading or watching a foreign movie.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.