This poem was read during the KWIN Wells Middle School broadcast, to all students, on 8/17/11.
HEY YOU LATINO!
Hey You Latino!
Yes you who they call Spanish, Hispanic, Mexican.
You, the one that they yell at to go home.
Tell them who you really are.
Hey you Latino!
Tell them you are of the air, land, water, and fire.
These rivers flow from your mother earth.
The warmth of your face, from father sun.
Hey you Latino!
Tell them to pronounce your name correctly.
No it is not Letisha it is Leticia.
No it is not Alexander it is Alejandro.
Hey you Latino!
Tell them that your ancestors built the great pyramids of Teotihuacan.
The mathematical concept of zero, it came from our people, our raza (race).
The Incas, the Mayas, the Aztecas, the Barricuas…second to none.
Hey you Latino!
You are the people of the corn, the spice y los frijoles,
You are the people of the moon, the sun y estrellas (and the stars)
You are the people of the past, the present y el futuro ( and the future)
Hey you Latino!
Eres de colores, you are of colors.
Cantas en la madrugada, you sing at daybreak.
Tantas posibilidades, so many possibilities.
Hey you Latino!
Tell them to step off ese, ’cause this our land, nuestra tierra.
Brown by choice.
Proud to be La Raza. (the race)
Wells Middle School, Riverside, CA http://www.alvord.k12.ca.us/Wells/index.html
Alvord Unified School District http://alvord.k12.ca.us/board_of_education.html
Posted by Laura Sanches 
