mixed-heritage

Diversity was one of the main attractions that brought me to Columbia. I was inspired by the United States as a whole, where people of color are visibly rising up the ranks, becoming CEOs, deans, and even presidents, and I saw Columbia as an intellectual, liberal haven in the land of opportunity. Seeing the statistics on race and ethnicity in the University prospectus filled me with excitement.

Liga Filipina of Columbia University hosted its annual LASA: Taste of the Philippines event in the Diana Event Oval on April 13 as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

As the festivities of Latinx Heritage Month are approaching, I start to remember what it felt like growing up as a Latina in a non-Latinx environment. I was born in Queens, New York, but was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. In the early 2000s, the Latinx population of Raleigh was minimal at best—the reason I speak Spanish at all is because my family spoke it at home. I remember waking up to salsa blasting throughout the house, knowing that my mother was up early cleaning, and that soon she would come rushing through my door to wake me up as well. I know many of us share these same memories of childhood whether or not we were surrounded by other Latinx families.

Growing up, my dad read a lot of comic books. He grew up in Cebu, a province of the Philippines, and went through comics like crazy. Now, as an adult, he can spend hours reading comic books in Barnes & Noble. He can navigate the DC and Marvel universes better than the grocery store by our house. I buy him superhero t-shirts every Christmas; in the summer, I reliably steal them back to wear as pajamas.

"But, like, what are you?"

Discussions about heritage, dramatic displays, and dumplings kicked off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Tuesday night, the dynamism reflecting this year's theme of "currents."

Last week, we released this Latinx-inspired playlist to get you turnt for Latinx Heritage Month. Though we have no doubt that you enjoyed every one of our selections, the party gets a lil' lonely when the only attendees are Bomba Estéreo and a plate of cold chorizo.