I’m disappointed to be from Texas today

(Canada late 1980s) a girl is escorted to her new first grade class, “Where are you from?” the teacher asks,
the girl proudly says “Texas!”.
“Oh, so it’s not even “United States”, it’s “Texas”? the teacher says smiling.
The girl nods her head.
“Well okay , welcome. Take your seat.”

Fast forward, 6th grade (El Paso - Lower valley) –
a group of kids ask “where are you from? why do you talk so funny way?”.
The girl responds “I’m from here again and no, YOU talk funny. I bet I can beat you at jump rope!”
(To mom and sister later that day: What does “way” mean?)

She moves to Dallas, goes to college, marries, travels.

Not once - never once - has she not been proud of who she was and where she’s come from….until today.

With the passing of SB4, I’m disappointed to be from Texas today.

“But it will never affect you.” “What’s the problem? You’re not illegal.” “But you don’t look like a criminal”, “You’re lighter skinned.” “You look rich” “You don’t have an accent”, “You listen to country music” “You have a white husband” “You don’t look Mexican...like "those" kinds of Mexican...you know what I mean” “Most of your friends are white” “You drive a MINI”

Ahh but it could affect me – Who I know. People I’ve talked to. What I feel is wrong or right.
By the color of my eyes, by the darkness of my hair – the fact that it’s okay for my very presence can be questioned just by what I look like.
Yes it could affect me.
It already has.
Have your opinions - this one's mine.