The Raging River to Miss Latina 

Lovers put their love to the test against a river 

Latinas put their talents to the test for a crown 

The Raging River (English sonnet) 

Was by a raging river that they met
These lovers with new stars within their eyes
Who found their nights now filled with dreams and sighs
They lived for every smile that they could get
-
The raging river kept them from their prize
A course time set now was two souls� regret
So from their sides their cries of love were set
Determination strengthening their ties
-
So many died who tried to cross these waves
The raging river barely felt their loss
What does it care about what people say
-
Yet lovers for a kiss shear reason braves
They say it was their love got them across
A raging river took these two away 

Lovers' desire challenge a raging river in this English sonnet.  The first part of this sonnet (the quatrains) describe the scene. With the triplets the sonnet gets more specific about the river and what happened. The fun thing about the sonnet is the ending. Did the lovers make it? Does "the raging river" refer to their love? 

There is a raging river more dangerous than the one in this sonnet. We know it as racism. As I have seen it, it is not simply a white and black thing or limited to the United States. When I was growing up, I got to see the world through my mother's eyes. She was a well brainwashed racist. Brainwashed by the Nazi government. She could tell if a person was Jewish. When I went to high school there was a war going on there, between the Chinese gangs and the blacks. We white folks had to mind our P's and Q's. As a race, in our school we whites were a minority. Then there was Arlene's parents. They were both Filipinos. They raised Arlene and her brother completely "white". Many Filipino families, during that era, raised their families, not giving them the slightest touch of their culture. The raging river of racism is deeper than a black and white. Into the river came lovers of different races, like Arlene and I, to test the waters. 

Since I am on the subject of racism, I do not fully understand it.There is a major part of our challenge. What I mean is we are not given full and accurate information. Even worse and more harmful, we are given inaccurate and incomplete information. Black and white is simple and if racism were limited to that... In America there is racism toward native Americans. In some of the race there is racism based on the color of the skin within that race. We also judge people based on where they were born, their education or social class (let's not put aside sex). I think, when a country needs laws to make certain all of its citizens are treated  equally, things are pretty bad. We should treat each other equally naturally. But since we have these laws. let us follow them. The biggest issue of racism has been the unfair treatment (even killing) of blacks by police. I am suggesting that we are hampered by our full light of the situation The guilty people should go to jail. The system should be looked at based on facts. As far as racism, it is up to us. We should look into facts, not what is being sensationalized. It is up to each one of us to end racism. People are and should be different so we can Enjoy. 

Back to the poem: Puscifer "The Humbling River with Lyrics" 

Racist, stereotype, sexist or just plain funny 

According to the Center for American Progress Latinas are a growing and influential constituency in the United States. They are making significant strides in education, participation, health, and other areas. On the other side of the coin are the beauty pageants and things go down pretty fast. Lele Pons (a Latina) gives us an uncomfortable insight.

Lela is a Latina, Venezuelan, female who wrote this. "MISS LATINA | Lele Pons" 

 If you enjoyed this video press this link to TRAINING TO BE A LATINA | Lele Pons, Juanpa Zurita & Anwar Jibawl

 

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There and then, sitting beside her and within 

the strength of my adoration, I felt invincible. 

Hisham Matar