Thing Felt Quote by Cristina Henriquez
““It's in you,' my dad assured me once. 'You were born in Panamá. It's in your bones.' I spent a lot of time trying to find it in me, but usually I couldn’t. I felt more American than anything, but even that was up for debate according to the kids at school who’d taunted me over the years, asking me if I was related to Noriega, telling me to go back through the canal. The truth was that I didn’t know which I was. I wasn’t allowed to claim the thing I felt and I didn’t feel the thing I was supposed to claim.””
About This Quote
Source Memoir: “Finding My Roots,” 2018
She struggles with identity, feeling torn between Panamanian heritage and American perception.
In simple terms: Identity confusion between heritage and belonging.
Key Takeaway
Explore and own your cultural roots.
Themes
identity
heritage
belonging
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
personal
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- education
- community activism
Key Concepts
Diaspora
racial perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines your cultural identity?
- How can you reconcile mixed heritage?
A Different Perspective
May cause lingering self‑doubt.
