Reply #11: well for those who don't know me

[Bombero1956]

I am a 50 year old Puerto Rican from Massachusetts. My parents were born on the island and I was born on the mainland. My Mom came up when she was 17 years old to work in the tobacco fields in the Connecticut valley. My Dad came to Massachusetts through New Jersey to work at the local foundry. In those days there were only 3 places where a Latino could work, the foundry, the tobacco fields or the bike factory. One of my earliest memories was of having the parish priest at our church come to visit my father to inform him that all 5 Latino families that worshiped at the church were no longer welcome because the predominately Polish congregation felt we were "taking over" the church. I remember being followed in the Newberry's store because my brothers and I looked like thieves, I remember being called a Spic by the kid who sat next to me in 5th grade class and him getting mad because I didn't know it was a racial slur. I remember being only the second Latino to be hired as a firefighter and how now there are 40. I remember when there wasn't a Latino in a position of authority in our department, now there are Captains, Lieutenants and I'm the assistant Fire Marshall. Through hard work and an equal chance we have come a long way and it can only get better.