Masters of Disguise

The chameleon is a remarkable species, for its ability to morph and blend into its environment to avoid serious danger. It is well-known for its camouflage abilities, though this characteristic is only found in certain chameleons. Surprisingly, most of us also have that same ability, though obviously not at the same extent. The person you are in class is not the same person you are at home, at work, or at the club. We change ourselves all the time to adjust the environment that surrounds us. From our words, to our attire, we are all guilty of morphing ourselves into what we believe is the prototype for our surroundings.

As the daughter of immigrants, I’ve come to master the skill in various ways. When I’m with friends, I can fully be myself and embrace my roots with no shame. We all laugh, complain, and explore what it means to be Mexican-American in today’s society, and we all understand each other fully. The color of our skin is what brings us close. However, when I’m with caucasian classmates, I have to change everything about myself. I can’t talk about the same things because there is no way they’d ever understand. I can’t use the same vocabulary either, because somehow my words always come out in Spanglish and it’s too frustrating to retract and define everything I say.

Yes, blending into different communities and groups of people doesn’t have to be about identity or culture, but it sure as hell resonates more to people of color. We live in a society today that sets whiteness on a pedestal, forcing it to be the only way one should live their life. When you are part of a minority group, your ability to change and fit into your surroundings could be your end all be all.

Yet, one could also argue that those who decide not to morph into their environment are unapologetically bold and turn out to be the real winners. Either way, the skill is learned and crafted more by minorities than any other group, since today’s society focuses and idealizes what it means to be white. Personally, I am not brave enough to truly be myself in every situation or environment I stumble into, but I applaud anyone who chooses to do so. I challenge anyone reading this to reflect on themselves. Are you a chameleon? Or do you choose to live freely, regardless of what environment you’re in?

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