I am mestizo this means that my legacy comes from diffusion or more accurately
comes from diffusion or more accurately
comes from diffusion or more accurately the clash of European and indigenous
the clash of European and indigenous
the clash of European and indigenous cultures since I am Mexican
cultures since I am Mexican
cultures since I am Mexican that means that my cultural background
that means that my cultural background
that means that my cultural background is a mix of Spanish indigenous cultures
is a mix of Spanish indigenous cultures
is a mix of Spanish indigenous cultures from Mesoamerica with African Jewish and
from Mesoamerica with African Jewish and
from Mesoamerica with African Jewish and Arabic in the mix too and in today’s
Arabic in the mix too and in today’s
Arabic in the mix too and in today’s world in a globalized world being
world in a globalized world being
world in a globalized world being mestizo is one of the most powerful
mestizo is one of the most powerful
mestizo is one of the most powerful tools that a person can have and also
tools that a person can have and also
tools that a person can have and also the most influence in contemporary
the most influence in contemporary
the most influence in contemporary society let me explain why I say these
society let me explain why I say these
society let me explain why I say these by sharing the story of how I became
by sharing the story of how I became
by sharing the story of how I became bicultural mestizo ever since I was a
bicultural mestizo ever since I was a
bicultural mestizo ever since I was a kid I was used to the idea and
kid I was used to the idea and
kid I was used to the idea and surrounded by a culture that has things
surrounded by a culture that has things
surrounded by a culture that has things that were particularly indigenous some
that were particularly indigenous some
that were particularly indigenous some others that were particularly Spanish
others that were particularly Spanish
others that were particularly Spanish and most others that were both language
and most others that were both language
and most others that were both language is a good example of that
is a good example of that
is a good example of that so I use words like a wakati
so I use words like a wakati
so I use words like a wakati or is queen clay which come from the
or is queen clay which come from the
or is queen clay which come from the Nahuatl language ojala or al guada which
Nahuatl language ojala or al guada which
Nahuatl language ojala or al guada which come from arabic or acevedo which is my
come from arabic or acevedo which is my
come from arabic or acevedo which is my spanish last name traveling all around
spanish last name traveling all around
spanish last name traveling all around mexico you get used to the fact that the
mexico you get used to the fact that the
mexico you get used to the fact that the church in the main plaza was built on
church in the main plaza was built on
church in the main plaza was built on top of a pyramid oftentimes using the
top of a pyramid oftentimes using the
top of a pyramid oftentimes using the same stones the colonial buildings have
same stones the colonial buildings have
same stones the colonial buildings have indigenous motives on them and also if
indigenous motives on them and also if
indigenous motives on them and also if you enjoy some food chances are that it
you enjoy some food chances are that it
you enjoy some food chances are that it was prepared with indigenous ingredients
was prepared with indigenous ingredients
was prepared with indigenous ingredients using European cooking techniques
using European cooking techniques
using European cooking techniques I cannot separate my indigenous
I cannot separate my indigenous
I cannot separate my indigenous background from my arrow key and one
background from my arrow key and one
background from my arrow key and one even if I want it they are one and the
even if I want it they are one and the
even if I want it they are one and the same thing it’s like a taco al pastor a
same thing it’s like a taco al pastor a
same thing it’s like a taco al pastor a taco al pastor is a type of taco made
taco al pastor is a type of taco made
taco al pastor is a type of taco made with a
with a
with a corn tortilla maize being the staple
corn tortilla maize being the staple
corn tortilla maize being the staple food of the Americas with a feeling of
food of the Americas with a feeling of
food of the Americas with a feeling of pork marinated which comes from Europe
pork marinated which comes from Europe
pork marinated which comes from Europe Grill in a Lebanese style shawarma and
Grill in a Lebanese style shawarma and
Grill in a Lebanese style shawarma and which salsas that are made with tomatoes
which salsas that are made with tomatoes
which salsas that are made with tomatoes and chilies that come from the Americas
and chilies that come from the Americas
and chilies that come from the Americas what makes a tackle past or delicious is
what makes a tackle past or delicious is
what makes a tackle past or delicious is not that is the combination of all those
not that is the combination of all those
not that is the combination of all those things it’s all those things together
things it’s all those things together
things it’s all those things together what makes it what it is so what I’m
what makes it what it is so what I’m
what makes it what it is so what I’m trying to say is that being mestizo is
trying to say is that being mestizo is
trying to say is that being mestizo is not a combination of several cultures
not a combination of several cultures
not a combination of several cultures he’s being all those cultures at the
he’s being all those cultures at the
he’s being all those cultures at the same time and that’s what makes us
same time and that’s what makes us
same time and that’s what makes us unique ever since I was a kid I knew
unique ever since I was a kid I knew
unique ever since I was a kid I knew that I was gonna be an immigrant I used
that I was gonna be an immigrant I used
that I was gonna be an immigrant I used today dream with far away countries and
today dream with far away countries and
today dream with far away countries and speaking of a foreign language I was
speaking of a foreign language I was
speaking of a foreign language I was fascinated by the idea of living in a
fascinated by the idea of living in a
fascinated by the idea of living in a country in which all customs were
country in which all customs were
country in which all customs were different from mine but little did I
different from mine but little did I
different from mine but little did I know that it was gonna be one of the
know that it was gonna be one of the
know that it was gonna be one of the most intense experiences of my life
most intense experiences of my life
most intense experiences of my life I moved to the US the very next day
I moved to the US the very next day
I moved to the US the very next day after I defended my master’s degree
after I defended my master’s degree
after I defended my master’s degree dissertation and got summa laude
dissertation and got summa laude
dissertation and got summa laude literally from one day to another I
literally from one day to another I
literally from one day to another I didn’t know how to do the most basic
didn’t know how to do the most basic
didn’t know how to do the most basic things that we all take for granted like
things that we all take for granted like
things that we all take for granted like sending a letter by mail or filling my
sending a letter by mail or filling my
sending a letter by mail or filling my gas tank I literally had a nervous
gas tank I literally had a nervous
gas tank I literally had a nervous breakdown when I went to Kinko’s and I
breakdown when I went to Kinko’s and I
breakdown when I went to Kinko’s and I couldn’t figure out how to make a
couldn’t figure out how to make a
couldn’t figure out how to make a photocopy but for the last 20 years I’ve
photocopy but for the last 20 years I’ve
photocopy but for the last 20 years I’ve been living in San Francisco and
been living in San Francisco and
been living in San Francisco and realizing my childhood dream on any
realizing my childhood dream on any
realizing my childhood dream on any given day I get to discuss business with
given day I get to discuss business with
given day I get to discuss business with my Indian American colleague or get on
my Indian American colleague or get on
my Indian American colleague or get on the bus with a Kenyan driver or eat
the bus with a Kenyan driver or eat
the bus with a Kenyan driver or eat dinner at a Bernese restaurant
dinner at a Bernese restaurant
dinner at a Bernese restaurant in which and potentially the only person
in which and potentially the only person
in which and potentially the only person who speaks English or Spanish I’ve been
who speaks English or Spanish I’ve been
who speaks English or Spanish I’ve been in many situations in
in many situations in
in many situations in I was the only non black person in the
I was the only non black person in the
I was the only non black person in the room and many many many others in which
room and many many many others in which
room and many many many others in which I was the only non-white one and I’ve
I was the only non-white one and I’ve
I was the only non-white one and I’ve got to learn a lot about what it means
got to learn a lot about what it means
got to learn a lot about what it means to be and adapt to another culture to
to be and adapt to another culture to
to be and adapt to another culture to the point of making it your own so for
the point of making it your own so for
the point of making it your own so for example I’ve learned that in order to
example I’ve learned that in order to
example I’ve learned that in order to thrive in American culture you have to
thrive in American culture you have to
thrive in American culture you have to be very precise in the way that you talk
be very precise in the way that you talk
be very precise in the way that you talk so people get the exact meaning of what
so people get the exact meaning of what
so people get the exact meaning of what you’re saying or that you have to keep
you’re saying or that you have to keep
you’re saying or that you have to keep an optimist point of view at all cost or
an optimist point of view at all cost or
an optimist point of view at all cost or people will see you as an obstacle or
people will see you as an obstacle or
people will see you as an obstacle or that you have to keep control of every
that you have to keep control of every
that you have to keep control of every situation and know exactly what to
situation and know exactly what to
situation and know exactly what to expect from them so now after many years
expect from them so now after many years
expect from them so now after many years I use phrases such as we’re on the same
I use phrases such as we’re on the same
I use phrases such as we’re on the same page yes and or the goal for this
page yes and or the goal for this
page yes and or the goal for this meeting is so I learn that being
meeting is so I learn that being
meeting is so I learn that being bicultural is something that comes
bicultural is something that comes
bicultural is something that comes natural to me
natural to me
natural to me and because I am by cultural puedo
and because I am by cultural puedo
and because I am by cultural puedo progress sorry entender dos cultura
progress sorry entender dos cultura
progress sorry entender dos cultura diferentes I am able to progress and to
diferentes I am able to progress and to
diferentes I am able to progress and to thrive in different cultures and because
thrive in different cultures and because
thrive in different cultures and because I am mestizo it comes natural to me I
I am mestizo it comes natural to me I
I am mestizo it comes natural to me I can navigate different cultural context
can navigate different cultural context
can navigate different cultural context but let’s talk about you you you I want
but let’s talk about you you you I want
but let’s talk about you you you I want you to remember the last time that you
you to remember the last time that you
you to remember the last time that you felt empathy for somebody else
felt empathy for somebody else
felt empathy for somebody else you know that feeling in which we know
you know that feeling in which we know
you know that feeling in which we know what the other person is going through
what the other person is going through
what the other person is going through and we almost can feel what it is to
and we almost can feel what it is to
and we almost can feel what it is to work on hurt on his shoes it’s a feeling
work on hurt on his shoes it’s a feeling
work on hurt on his shoes it’s a feeling of deep compassion and he left was
of deep compassion and he left was
of deep compassion and he left was feeling not alone accompanied in the
feeling not alone accompanied in the
feeling not alone accompanied in the world and knowing that we are all
world and knowing that we are all
world and knowing that we are all connected but I want now you to
connected but I want now you to
connected but I want now you to think about getting to that level of
think about getting to that level of
think about getting to that level of empathy with a person that does not
empathy with a person that does not
empathy with a person that does not belong to your culture does not speak
belong to your culture does not speak
belong to your culture does not speak your language and does not share your
your language and does not share your
your language and does not share your values the idea is easy to accept and
values the idea is easy to accept and
values the idea is easy to accept and most of us would say that we do but in
most of us would say that we do but in
most of us would say that we do but in reality is one of the most difficult
reality is one of the most difficult
reality is one of the most difficult things that we have to do or that we
things that we have to do or that we
things that we have to do or that we could do why because it implies to
could do why because it implies to
could do why because it implies to question everything that we take as true
question everything that we take as true
question everything that we take as true all our assumptions and think that they
all our assumptions and think that they
all our assumptions and think that they might not be true that they might be
might not be true that they might be
might not be true that they might be exacerbated or maybe even invalid
exacerbated or maybe even invalid
exacerbated or maybe even invalid cultural openness is one of the most
cultural openness is one of the most
cultural openness is one of the most accepted ideas but one of them is these
accepted ideas but one of them is these
accepted ideas but one of them is these low attitudes to actualize but in
low attitudes to actualize but in
low attitudes to actualize but in today’s world chances are that you need
today’s world chances are that you need
today’s world chances are that you need to connect and create relationships with
to connect and create relationships with
to connect and create relationships with people from many different cultures here
people from many different cultures here
people from many different cultures here at home or abroad we are living in a
at home or abroad we are living in a
at home or abroad we are living in a world that is increasingly
world that is increasingly
world that is increasingly interconnected our economies depend on
interconnected our economies depend on
interconnected our economies depend on each other and because of mass
each other and because of mass
each other and because of mass communications we know exactly what’s
communications we know exactly what’s
communications we know exactly what’s going on in every corner of the world
going on in every corner of the world
going on in every corner of the world yet we’re getting to a point in which we
yet we’re getting to a point in which we
yet we’re getting to a point in which we can also establish interpersonal
can also establish interpersonal
can also establish interpersonal connections with people from all around
connections with people from all around
connections with people from all around the world or people from many different
the world or people from many different
the world or people from many different cultures around us it’s not at a macro
cultures around us it’s not at a macro
cultures around us it’s not at a macro level anymore we’re getting to a point
level anymore we’re getting to a point
level anymore we’re getting to a point in which we can establish deep
in which we can establish deep
in which we can establish deep meaningful connections with people from
meaningful connections with people from
meaningful connections with people from any sort of background so being mestizo
any sort of background so being mestizo
any sort of background so being mestizo and bicultural comes handy when you want
and bicultural comes handy when you want
and bicultural comes handy when you want to establish these type of connections I
to establish these type of connections I
to establish these type of connections I want you to picture this I am sitting in
want you to picture this I am sitting in
want you to picture this I am sitting in Dolores Park in San Francisco with one
Dolores Park in San Francisco with one
Dolores Park in San Francisco with one of my best friends who happens to be a
of my best friends who happens to be a
of my best friends who happens to be a white man from Detroit and we’re sharing
white man from Detroit and we’re sharing
white man from Detroit and we’re sharing our struggles and our passions
our struggles and our passions
our struggles and our passions about our businesses and our
about our businesses and our
about our businesses and our relationships or families and filling
relationships or families and filling
relationships or families and filling that deep level of connection well at
that deep level of connection well at
that deep level of connection well at the same time acknowledging that there’s
the same time acknowledging that there’s
the same time acknowledging that there’s a whole lot that we don’t understand
a whole lot that we don’t understand
a whole lot that we don’t understand about each other and that we don’t know
about each other and that we don’t know
about each other and that we don’t know how it works
how it works
how it works but the most important thing is that at
but the most important thing is that at
but the most important thing is that at that very moment I feel like I’m one
that very moment I feel like I’m one
that very moment I feel like I’m one person and not a mix of people there’s a
person and not a mix of people there’s a
person and not a mix of people there’s a very popular song in Latin America that
very popular song in Latin America that
very popular song in Latin America that says not from here
says not from here
says not from here nor from there no soy de aqui nice oh
nor from there no soy de aqui nice oh
nor from there no soy de aqui nice oh yeah yeah at this moment in my life I
yeah yeah at this moment in my life I
yeah yeah at this moment in my life I can say with confidence I am from here
can say with confidence I am from here
can say with confidence I am from here and I am from there in today’s world
and I am from there in today’s world
and I am from there in today’s world being mestizo and bicultural is one of
being mestizo and bicultural is one of
being mestizo and bicultural is one of the most powerful things that we have in
the most powerful things that we have in
the most powerful things that we have in our society because Latinos and
our society because Latinos and
our society because Latinos and bicultural Latinos specifically know how
bicultural Latinos specifically know how
bicultural Latinos specifically know how to navigate the turbulent waters of
to navigate the turbulent waters of
to navigate the turbulent waters of intercultural communication so if you
intercultural communication so if you
intercultural communication so if you want to establish meaningful
want to establish meaningful
want to establish meaningful relationships in a globalized world but
relationships in a globalized world but
relationships in a globalized world but also here at home pay attention to what
also here at home pay attention to what
also here at home pay attention to what bicultural Latinos are doing nowadays
bicultural Latinos are doing nowadays
bicultural Latinos are doing nowadays gracias
gracias
gracias [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
you
you [Music]
”
Be First to Comment