Who am I?!! Who am I?
I am Elizabeth Quezada;
A PROUD Chicana.

Born and raised in the ghettos of South Chicago.
A daughter of Mexican Immigrant parents.
Just a twenty-one year old with dreams and goals.

My heart is split in TWO,
I’ll always be stuck in the middle.
But today, just for today; I’ll speak MY truth.

I wont deny my brown skin OR these brown eyes,
Nor the Mexican blood in my veins flowing inside.
I am who I am, and to that;
I raise my chin up high.

I AM a citizen. I AM an American. I am grateful.
Although I have to admit I do take for granted many things.
My college education, my drivers license, my home;
health, dentist, and car insurance, food, student loans, financial aid.

But I can’t say the same about my Latino Culture.
As a matter of fact, I can’t really say much to them at all.
What CAN I say??
“I’m sorry I know how you feel?” or how about “It’ll get better”

The truth is; sometimes I feel a NEED to apologize.
To simply say sorry. Sorry….I’m SORRY.

Mom; I’m sorry YOU’VE had to work in filthy factories and warehouses for most of your life. Not because you wanted to, but because a college education was denied to you, and you had no other choice.

Daddy; I’m sorry YOU’VE had to live pay check TO pay check, to support your family.
Not because you wanted to, but because the factory you work at won’t pay you what YOU’VE so LEGALLY deserved.
Day in and day out, you go about without saying a word.

Brother; To you I apologize ahead.
For all the future name calling, racism, prejudice, discrimination, and the degrading.
For it is not pretty.
Outside OUR city is a whole world, and I apologize for it being so cruel and WRONG.
But promise me this little Bro, NEVER FORGET where you came from.


This past weekend was Mexican Independence Day.
My heart melted; my knees buckled.
I became emotional when they sang the United States Anthem.
With a trembling voice I sang;
My palm over my PROUD American heart.
It ended and the Mexican Anthem followed. Guess what happened??

My heart melted; my knees buckled.
I became emotional when they sang the Mexican Anthem.
With a trembling voice I sang;
My hand against my PROUD Mexican heart.

My heart is split in TWO,
I’ll always be stuck in the middle.
But today, just for today; I’ve spoken a BIT of MY truth.
If I offended anyone, it wasn’t my intention;
It was simply the mentality of a Mexican American.

I sometimes ask myself, WHO AM I??
And my answer always is:

I am Elizabeth Quezada,
A PROUD Chicana