This poem is actually one of my personal favorite pieces of spoken word…I cannot tell you exact dates, but I can tell you that I met Mariposa (and her her perform this) via my involvement in Alianza Latina at SUNY College at Old Westbury in the late 90's. I can really identify with this piece because of the stigmas Nuyorican faced at that time. 

I actually had the opportunity to live in PR and faced something very interesting…here in the USA i was a "spic" and when I went to live in Puerto Rico I was considered a "Americano"…I know confusing but eventually I mastered the Spanish language and now I am the Urban Jibaro encompassing all the values of "nuestra gente jibara" yet all the traits of a urban 2nd generation Latino born in the USA.

I have not seen Mariposa in a minute but a warm saludos goes out to her and her family.

Do you have a story to share about non acceptance by your cultural group? Share it with our readers in the comment section below.

Buen Provecho…

As I am,

George Torres

The Urban Jibaro