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New on VL: Word en la Calle

17:00 H | Topics: Features - Word en la calle

A new Friday feature on VL, Word en la Calle lets everyday Latinos voice their thoughts and opinions on topics of interest to the community.

Name:
Monica Chavez

Age:
28

Location:
San Francisco, CA

Profession:
Student Services

Roots:
Mexican-American born in San Francisco. Mom and Dad
from Mexico (Jalisco and Guanajuato, respectively)

Languages:
English and Spanish.

What does it mean to you to be Latino?
Being Latino means being proud and knowledgable of the
fact that you are part of something greater than you.
It means being connected to millions of people inside
and outside the US. It's a duality, the American me
and the Latino me.

Will there ever be a Latino president? Is that important? Why?
Eventually, but not in my lifetime. I think we'll have to wait for a
women to become president first and I don't mean on TV. It took
until the 1920's for women to be able to even vote so we've got a
ways to go. I thinks it's important to get someone who can do the
job well. If that person were Latino then it would be that much
better.

In your opinion, are Latinos united or divided as a group? Why?
Latinos are divided. We're at a point now where there are a
significant number of us that it's harder to lump us all in as just
"latinos". We're not just in the Southwest, but everywhere. And not
just Mexicanos and Caribbeans, but also Central and South Americans.
My parents came in the big immigration wave of the late 60's/early
70's. Their current situation is so different than say my uncle's
Salvadoran wife who came as a refugee in the mid 80's. Latinos are
so varied that it's easier to just lump us into one group. Our
different experiences make it easier to associate more with those
that have similar ones. It becomes us vs. them. First-generation
latinos vs. recent immigrants. Legal vs. Illegal. Mexicans vs.
Central Americans, etc. Together we can have that impact that
everyone says our numbers can make.

Place in order. I am a _________ first, a ____________ second, a
__________ third. (Example: latina, woman, american)
I am a Latina first, an American second, and a woman third.

Politics: (Example:middle ground, far right, far left, etc.)
Left.

Affirmative action: necessary or obsolete? Why?
As long as there are still people with disadvantages (lack of
education, money, etc.) then affirmative action is absolutely
necessary. The point of affirmation action is to level out the
playing field. Without it, the have-nots won't ever have the
opportunity to become a have.

What are you most proud of?
My parents.

What's your biggest wish /desire:
To be a working actress.

Person you would most love to meet:
Ricky Gervais...he is a God.

Favorite brand names:
Apple, K-Swiss, INC, Old Navy...I stick with what I
know and can afford.

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