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Home News Stories Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: A Personal Narritive From Big Brother Bob Rath

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: A Personal Narritive From Big Brother Bob Rath

Big Brother Bob Rath with Little Brother Xavier.

I am a Colombian American who grew up in Indianapolis at a time when there were very few Hispanics in Indiana, only around one percent. My dad passed away when I was just three years old, leaving my Colombian mother to raise four young children, aged three to ten, on her own.

The 1970s were a difficult time for single mothers and for immigrants in Indiana. Finding employment, obtaining credit, and buying used cars were just a few of the barriers faced by women, especially immigrant single mothers.

We felt lucky to have an international aspect to life – in cuisine, books, décor, perspective. But, in some ways, it just seemed normal to us. I remember an incident when I was about five years old. Someone made a comment about my mom’s accent, and I wondered, “what accent?” She spoke limited English before marriage and always had a strong accent, but it was just normal to me.

Our nearest relatives were in eastern Ohio and New Jersey, and most of my family lived in Colombia. Mom was our only daily adult influence, and we think she did a great job raising four kids on her own, always a proud Colombian.

My appreciation of my heritage grew over time, especially as an undergraduate at Indiana University. As a senior preparing to graduate from college, I sought opportunities to work internationally. I began my career at RCA and had several assignments in Mexico, where I met and married my wife, Alma.

“My Hispanic heritage has influenced every aspect of my life, for which I am a happy and proud Hispanic Hoosier.”

We speak Spanish at home, our three kids are bilingual, we have all worked with international organizations or clients/students, and we visit family in Mexico when possible.

My Hispanic heritage has influenced every aspect of my life, for which I am a happy and proud Hispanic Hoosier.

Bob and Xavier at the Indianapolis Zoo around Día de los Muertos.

Xavier’s father was from Mexico but has not been present in his life. Xavier expressed an interest in connecting with his heritage, which I believe was a factor in our being matched by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. Being Hispanic American is something important that we share and appreciate.

We have attended several international events together, including Fiesta Indianapolis, Fiesta Lawrence, and Día de los Muertos celebrations. Xavier has enjoyed trying cuisine from different parts of Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. He even started to make breakfast burritos at home!

Celebrations of heritage were not very common in Indiana when I was growing up. I love that people now gather to celebrate so many aspects of their lives, including heritage and identity. Many families, like mine growing up, are unable to visit their family abroad. Events like Hispanic Heritage Month bring people together here, in Central Indiana, to celebrate their culture with people from all cultures.

A couple of events predate Hispanic Heritage Month but laid a foundation, locally. For our family and many others, Indianapolis became a brand-new city after hosting the Tenth Pan American Games in 1987. Never had so much Spanish been spoken in Indianapolis! Fiesta Indianapolis was a big deal in the 1980s, also. Mom was a founding member of the Sociedad Amigos de Colombia and would cook flan for the SADCO booth at Fiesta in the early years.

Xavier and I will be at Fiesta Indianapolis again this year, for sure!

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