My name is Maria Christina
I am a Puerto Rican woman born in el barrio
Our men...they call me negra because they love me
and in turn I teach them to be strong
I respect their ways
inherited from our proud ancestors
I do not tease them with eye catching clothes
I do not sleep with their brothers and cousins
although I`ve been told that this is a liberal society
I do not poison their bellies with instant chemical foods
our table holds food from the earth and sun
My name is Maria Christina
I speak two languages broken into each other
but my heart speaks the language of people
born in oppression
I do not complain about cooking for my family
because abuela taught me that woman is the master of fire
I do not complain about nursing my children
because I determine the direction of their values
I am the mother of a new age of warriors
I am the child of a race of slaves
I teach my children how to respect their bodies
so they will not o.d. under the stairway`s shadow of shame
I teach my children to read and develop their minds
so they will understand the reality of oppression
I teach them with discipline...and love
so they will become stong and full of life
My eyes reflect the pain
of that which has shamelessly raped me
but my soul reflects the strength of my culture
My name is Maria Christina
I am a Puerto Rican woman born in el barrio
Our men..they call me negra because they love me
and in turn i teach them to be strong
