By Steve Walker
In 1978-79 the year before
I taught at La Memorial High School in Edgewood which I wrote about last week
and the Westside & Southside Suns for a brief stint, I taught at Pearce Elementary
School in Southside ISD. I was a Migrant Reading
Teacher, pulling students out from their regular classes during the day and
working with them in the Library.
One day after finishing
lunch duty in the cafeteria I was walking down the hallway back to my designated
teaching area when one of my second grade migrant reading students passed me on
her way to her regular class. She paused for a moment and said’ Hello Mr.
Walker” in her sweet voice and then took me by surprise by asking me, “Mr.
Walker are you a “Bolillo?
Not knowing how to
respond, since I wasn’t familiar with the term at the time, I answered,
“Graciela I am not sure but I will get back with you later on it ok? She smiled
and nodded and walked on to her class.
Immediately I marched into
the teacher’s lounge down the hall looking for a fellow teacher, preferably a
Hispanic teacher who could tell me the definition of a “Bolillo!” I had no idea
if it was good or bad that she believed me to be one.
Miss Guzman one of the 1st
grade teachers was in the faculty lounge and I told her one of my students
asked me the question if I was a “Bolillo.” Her answer was short and to the point. “In
English it means a piece of white bread.” “Really” I answered with a puzzled
look on my face. “You mean she is calling me a piece of white bread?” She laughed and replied, “It is another word
for “gringo.” She then asked me, “How did she say it? I answered, “What do you
mean?”
She explained, “Did she casually
just ask the question “Are you a Bolillo with a smile or “Are you a Bolillo with
a little snarl on her face as if accusing you?”
I answered that it sounded
like an innocent question to me. Miss Guzman then informed me she was using it
as a term of endearment not an insult. Boy was I relieved.
The more I thought of it
the happier I got. Graciela said I was a “Bolillo.” Therefore it was so. For
the rest of the year and for many years later when I taught in the
predominately Hispanic community, I referred to myself as the “Bolillo.” I was
also referred to by other Hispanic words but I am not at liberty to share those
particular ones with the reader!!! I am just kidding.
Later in my teaching
career at La Memorial in Edgewood, La Techla, in SAISD and in 12 years in
Harlandale ISD I was able to learn so much more about the Hispanic community
and appreciate the rich culture and write about those in the Hispanic community
who do so much for the community as a whole not just for one segment of it. We
are all in this together.
Anyway, as always, what I
write is “Just a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam
Veteran and former Justice of the Peace and Journalist.
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