Within any classroom there may be students from different neighborhoods, states, countries, but everyone definitely has a different background that needs to be respected and celebrated. This is Citlali’s story a Mexican American teenager who decides her senior year is going to be focused not on the negative experiences that she has at her school with racism but rather giving that energy to the most positive thing that she has in her life which is her family. She seeks joy and finds that in her abuela, her grandmother. This is an encouraging story that addresses the stress that a Mexican American student can have within the classroom. It also shows that instead of focusing on the negativity it is possible to turns it around and focus on who she now knows to be the most important person in her life. Sometimes it takes us watching someone that we love get older and weaker and more fragile to realize that not only is there tomorrow not guaranteed but ours is not either. As she takes advantage of this private time she has with her grandmother she is invited to meet with her in the kitchen before the sun rises. Citlali's mother told her that the best times of her life were spent with her mother learning how to cook tamales. There is absolutely nothing better than bonding with someone in your family from a different generation who has had different experiences over a hot stove and ingredients that they don't have to measure because cooking this one specific thing is second nature to them. A beautiful homage to respecting your elders, learning and loving every moment that you get to spend with them.
***Performer should be of Mexican heritage but may be any gender.
My Abuela’s Tamales
The first day of school is always kind of weird for me. Not because I'm nervous about classes or uncomfortable around my friend group, it's nothing like that, but it's that first day of class conversation we always have to have. The teacher stands in front of you with the roster printed as they look around the room. They see our pictures from however many years ago trying to match them with our names. I couldn't imagine being a teacher. I'm being honest with you; it's a lot of work dealing with a lot of different personalities and don't even get me started with the parents. I get it. But it always starts with the most innocent of requests, “Good morning students I am your teacher and we are going to start class by everyone standing up and introducing yourself. Let's do our names and something interesting about ourselves.” This year was different than every other year that I've done this. Because last year, 2021, was exhausting and this year is exhausting and all I want quite honestly is to come to school and keep to myself. But I know that's not how it works. So, I'll play along for another year, but this was my response in all of my classes when all of the teachers asked the exact same question, “Soy Citlalli. Mi Verano fue genial. He decidido que voy a pasar me ultimo ano enfocandome en lo que realmente importa, mi familia Mexicana. Y si, puedo hablar ingles. En este momento, solo estoy presumiendo.” The look on everyone's face is priceless except for the few Latinx people who are sitting in the back giggling. “Sorry Mr. Bower, let me translate for everyone. I said, I am Citlalli. My summer was great. I have decided I'm going to spend my senior year focusing on what really matters, my Mexican family. And yes, I can speak English. Right now, I am just showing off.”