American Girl
Short stories on politics, religion, and latinidad
The book American Girl, Short
Stories on Politics, Religion, and
Latinidad was inspired by a
desire to illustrate the Latino perspective in
America. The short stories shared are a
About the Author
culmination of my personal journey growing up in
California and traveling the world in the United States
Air Force. My views on politics, religion and my
Latinidad come to the forefront with wit and a sense of
purpose for empowering future generations to think
global and act locally. My words reflect a truer and
more whole America. I cut no corners and speak light
to those that join me on the journey of exploring the
Latino perspective. I share what it is like to grow up in
two worlds. I emphasize the human need to belong
and explore the reality Latinos face on the day-to-day.
Like most children of immigrants, I had the role
of translator, bridge builder, peacekeeper, and outsider.
I write about navigating an America that seldom
recognizes the invisible movers and shakers, the
tapestry makers, the community builders that are the
heart and soul of America. I also discuss the current
state of affairs in the country as I see it unfold during
a global pandemic. My political and religious views are
the exploration and assertion that we must continue
to evolve. We must continue to learn from our mistakes
as a country and as a people. America is a great
experiment of the utmost optimistic kind always in
pursuit of a more perfect union. The idea is that one
By Adriana Rosales
man can dream as big as he wants. As
Latinos, we also read the fine print and
it says, “big dreams are only for white
people stay in your lane”. Sure, there
are exceptions however the data is
clear, and more work is needed to
balance the scales.
Still, Latinos continue to thrive in
American society. According to the
organization Hispanic Star, Latinas
create business six times faster than
any other group. Latinas also get
paid 47 percent less for the same
job than non-Latinos. Fourty two
percent of Latinos say the media
depicts them negatively; however,
Latinos have 1.7 trillion-dollar
purchasing power and 66 percent
of new homes are being bought by
Latinos.I explore how the mainstream
narrative does not support what
is being reflected in politics and
positions of power. I aim to shift
this through dialog and inviting
more Americans to touch on
these topics by simply looking at
the data and concluding that
the numbers simply don’t add
up. The book American Girl is
an attempt to ruffle feathers,
shake the beehive and let the
data show where we fall short
as Americans. The book also
illustrates how much we have grown and just how far
we’ve come since the days of the civil rights movement.
The book American Girl is about celebrating our
Latinidad without reservations.
LS
Want to comment or have any questions on this
article? Email us at info@latinastyle.com
Adriana Rosales is an 8-time author, a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, John
Maxwell certified speaker, HeartMath® Certified and an educator of personal
resilience and self-regulation. An accomplished military veteran, she brings her
background and years of experience navigating the corporate ladder in the
telecommunication and finance industries to the front lines. She is founder of Adriana
& Company LLC, with a background as a multifaceted leader in the United States Air
Force. To learn more visit:https://www.adriana.company/
46 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 6 , 2021