Episode 12: Karina Mora - End to Season 1

Season One

Mar 25

Hola!

Oh my goodness, welcome to the last episode of season 1! I’m muy agradecida a todos who have listened to the first season of Elevating la Cultura. En serio, you have no idea how much it means to me. To every one I interviewed, to everyone who listened, to everyone who commented. It means so much.

As a business owner we’re supposed to celebrate our wins. Something most of us entrepreneurs are not that good at doing. We’re always go go go, and onto the next thing. I’ve done that with every business I’ve built. So after 10 years of not being good at celebrating, I’m going to celebrate my first podcast season! Celebramos!

I know that Latinas are always ready for the hustle. We’re always ready to cheer each other on, and pour into one another. That is what I have loved about every single person I’ve interviewed. Some I have known for years since I started my photography business, and others I’ve met within the past few years, but each and every one has been willing, not only collaborate or refer business, but they’ve also become my friends.

As I’ve mentioned in previous episodes, most of my guests I met through the wedding industry. So I want to share a story from when I was a new wedding photographer in Chicago. Well maybe a little more than new. I was about 5 years into building our wedding photography brand back in 2014. A lot of people ask about “bridezilla stories” Even other couples are interested in knowing what the high stress situations can bring out. I mean there are no shortages of reality shows in general but wedding reality shows really pique that interest differently, especially if you’re not married yet. I watched Love is blind…and what’s the latest one? Love at first sight??? Yeah.

So like a lot of weddings this wedding story starts in the the Spring…Can you picture, the wedding season is just getting started and the promise of a full year is ahead with amazing couples which is what any vendor wants.

This specific wedding is on May 5th…yep. May 5th. Cinco. de. mayo.

I’m sure as you listen you might be rolling your eyes, because you know what’s coming….in the US Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with half price margaritas, and taco trays as people pretend to celebrate Mexico.

This wedding was no different. The couple was super up front with us. “We know we aren’t Mexican, but we just really love tequila” Well ok then. Most people wouldn’t care, and if you’re in the wedding industry you’re likely to be like yeah that’s awesome. A Saturday in May for wedding vendors is just that, a Saturday in May, a day to work.

Except I was the photographer, and they were talking directly to my Mexican face. And I think, they knew…or else they wouldn’t have given that disclaimer. But I said nothing. My husband, my second photographer even side-eyed me, but I kept a cool look and kept chatting without missing a beat, which after years of micro aggressions like that it was pretty easy to just keep going.

I photographed that wedding. It started out pretty basic. Getting ready, church ceremony, portraits downtown around the lake. Then we got in the trolley and as we were headed to the reception we passed through a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood, which then the already drunk wedding party proceeded to cheer loudly as they saw groups of people gathered in a park. I was annoyed…since you know Cinco de Mayo isn’t PR holiday, but I wasn’t surprised.

The reception welcomed everyone with tequila shots. And when speeches started a dollar store sombrero made it’s way around the guests to sit on top of whoever was giving a speech.

I held my tongue, smiled. laughed. Took pictures of it all, como sin nada. As if it was nothing.

As we were packing up at the end of the night, I looked back to the dance floor where someone had proceeded to dance around the sombrero on the floor. I left annoyed. I went on to photograph the rest of the season. However, this time I couldn’t shake it. I mean when your identity is mocked right in front of you with no remorse you have to ask yourself how did you get here?

You’ve heard me say that most of the people that I’ve interviewed for this first season I met through the wedding industry. And I also say pretty often that when I met Marianna, Vanessa, Veronica, Jasmine, I wanted to get to know them more, and hang out with them more. Because I felt that connection to them right away. Like they knew me in a way that most people didn’t.

I didn’t share that story with anyone for years. It wasn’t until recently that I started to share to a few selected people, Jasmine being one of them. I was so used to swallowing microagressions and blatant racism. I didn’t grow up even knowing how to name it when it was happening to me. Only recently have I been able to even recount many stories I’ve experienced throughout the years when I endured racist remarks or actions.

For those of you that don’t know me, I’ll take this time to share some basics. My name is Karina, obviously intended to be pronounced in Spanish, but I’ve had my name mispronounced and made fun of since childhood. I’ve heard Katrina, Karina, Corina, and I’ve even had the song “Carina Carina sung to me on numerous occasions…and it’s never funny.

I have a husband Michael, and two kids, Elena and Elias that I homeschool. As I you know I’m a photographer, in Chicago who loves a good cheeseburger…and Chicago has some great ones. Yes I know Chicago is known for it’s pizza and hot dogs, but don’t go forgetting about the burger. Chicago has some great gourmet burger places and I know quite a bit of them.

I’m also a daughter of an immigrant. My father immigrated to the US in his teens. My first language was Spanish. I learned english on Sesame Street. My father worked tirelessly to build a nice life for his family. At some points working three jobs just to provide for us. My mother was a stay at home mom. My parents were on their way to living the “American Dream”.

I was the first born. And by the time my sister was born when I was 4, my father had his own business, and we were living in the suburbs of Chicago, near Indiana. I grew up in the suburbs. I went to a public school, and during my childhood years, it was a primarily white community.

I worked hard. Got good grades. Honors even. All to make my family proud. Being the oldest in a Mexican home comes with responsibilities and one of those was to be the first to go to a university. So I took my father’s work ethic and transferred that to my studies. Growing up in a Mexican home, also meant strict rules, so I didn’t have a lot of friends to “distract me from my studies” Grades and academics always came first.

And it paid off, I was the first to graduate from a university in a small rural town in Michigan. Kept a high GPA so I could keep my scholarships. I was a great token Mexican student. I assimilated well and My family was proud.

However, the one thing I realized along the way, was that I lost my culture.

It started in grade school when the kids found out I could speak Spanish and it was like a quiz show, asking me, to say something is Spanish, and something else, they would ask me what I would eat for holidays, wondering if it was the same as them. I played their game. Until I was tired of being laughed at and refused to speak Spanish.

People told me “Oh you speak well for a Mexican, you don’t have an accent.” Or “you’re a good Mexican, I’d be ok if you married my son” (not my mother-in-law)

However, along the way I had compartmentalized my life so that I could fit comfortably into the spaces that I occupied. I would enjoy my family time in Mexico once a year, hang out with my cousins when they would visit or spend the summer, but as soon as school started, it was back to speaking English and assimilating.

I was tired, and I realized that part of my legacy could be lost, if I didn’t change the narrative and find a way to elevate my culture instead of hiding it.

Now I got real good at letting those comments roll off my back. We’ve all heard the phrase “sticks and stones” blah blah blah. Especially as women, we get real good at “turning the other cheek” I kept trucking along being that token Mexican. Keeping my head down and ignoring the micro aggressions. Working hard, just like my father. Building a successful business.

Until there was that ONE thing. The tipping point. For me it was that Cinco de Mayo Wedding. After that, it got harder and harder to turn the other cheek. At this point I had kids, and I thought about what they would have to endure. If they would ever get to a point where they would have to end up just turning the other cheek, or worse…joining in on the jokes.

So here I am. Not only did I pivot my wedding business to now selling fine art photography from photos I take in Mexico, but I also created this platform, this podcast, this space, so that I can tell you, you don’t have to turn the other cheek anymore. And there are other people who can relate to your experiences and your story.

Like I said in episode 2, when I started this podcast, I believe a conversation builds relationships. It deepens understanding. It helps develop empathy. Conversations form connections that not only help us grow, but empower others to step into their own purpose.

The wisdom and encouragement that has been shared throughout this whole season is given through the experiences of being Latina. We are navigating life along with all of the complexities of being Latinas in the US. And we’re all willing to help the next generation. Because representation matters. When I looked at the photography world, specifically the fine art photography world, I didn’t find anyone that was doing the specific thing that I’m doing. Telling the stories of Mexico and Mexican cities through photography, and then offering it framed, and packaged so you can have it in your home. No one. So don’t think that what your strength is, or interest is, is weird or not important. Remember representation matters, your story matters, and your specific cultural legacy matters.

Whatever you’re passionate about in life, just get started. I think that’s my most given advice when people ask me what they should do first. I say “just start”. And like make of the guests this season, have said “just take that first step.” Start taking pictures. Start cooking or baking, and post it on social media. Create that T-shirt, start with that first stroke of your calligraphy pen. Create your first bouquet. Whatever you see yourself doing. Just take that first step. You will grow. You might pivot along the way, and THAT IS OK! Vanessa shared in episode 10 that she used the knowledge that she gained building her first business to pivot and launch something that is so much more meaningful to her now.

If you have a passion, but think that you don’t have it all figured out yet, that’s ok. Take people along on the journey as you figure it out. Louisa in episode 5 used her background in journalism to build an amazing brand that celebrates Latinx culture and has brought thousands of people together. All of the stories that I’ve shared like Isa in episode 3, Gabriella in episode 7, and Zenia in episode 8 have literally built a business that is centered around their roots and family.

And that’s that is literally the goal: To break through the assimilation. To break through past experiences and rewrite the narrative so you can create a legacy for your children that elevates your culture, now, and for the future. I love how Lorena & Sugeiri shared about their store Mestiza, because They’ve taken that ancestral energy and created a business that excited them because they’re able to do by including their culture in their brand, and making sure other people feel like part of their familia too.

My father taught me generosity. Not just generosity when it comes to money, but also with my time, making sure when I was with people that they felt heard, loved, and taken care of. He taught me to be generous with my own knowledge and to always be giving back and helping others as I went along on my own journey. I feel like that same generous spirit is present in the Latinx community. We want to help each other succeed. Because when one of us succeeds, we all succeed.

It starts with vulnerability in sharing a piece of our stories, and finding connection to dig a little deeper. Their stories, like mine, are complex, a work in process, and beautiful all at once. I hope that you find connection, encouragement, and hope in sharing your story as well. Thank you so so much for coming along with me for Season 1.

I’m excited to continue sharing stories next Season featuring Latinas in the health and wellness space. You guys, it’s going to be GOOD. I’m so excited. If you liked this episode, or video if you’re on YouTube, please give it a like and subscribe to my channel. If you’re listening on a podcast app, please give it a 5 star rating, and review. It really helps other people find my podcast.

I’m going to be giving away two little jarrito mugs, along with a sticker pack, and a $25 gift card. WOO.