My Dad, Benigno Echevarria Rodriguez, also known as Benny, is a funny character. Raised in the old ways, with old fashioned values, he still finds a way to find humor and keep things up to date.
I decided to come visit my Dad in Puerto Rico and have him meet my Fiancé, Israel Lopez. They both hit it off magnificently since they are both jokers. Dad immediately declared that Israel is Morenito. In this sense, he was simply stating that he liked him.
Now the word moreno, is the Spanish word for dark skinned. Israel is not dark skinned, this is not the point. My Dad uses it in a totally different way. He uses it if you are misbehaving, dark skinned, of questionable character or taste, you could be a good person or involved in an illegal or immoral activity. He laughs it off but those that know him know that there is a deep rooted reason for his use of this word. My Dad is racist.
It doesn't matter that Grandpa Hipolito, his father, was high yellow black. Dad is jabao himself and has always made comments when darkies are around. Benny has a bad habit of calling most people here on the island moreno; they assure me they don't mind when I scold him, but I still worry that someone will take offense and hurt him. You see, Daddy is 81 years old and frail.
Being in his 80's didn't stop him from opening another Zapateria and re-establishing himself in his old profession. Don't put your nose up, my Dad raised 15 kids (6 Antonia's, 4 Mery's and 5 His) repairing shoes. He never stopped working. He puts me and many others to shame.
Getting back to Benny's "moreno" ways. When Israel informed him that I had stated I would be getting a life insurance policy out on him, since he is so accident prone, Daddy simply looked at him and stated "make sure you also name me as a beneficiary." I almost fell out of my chair laughing! This was on the first day that they met!
I have no idea how my Dad did not disown me when I married my children's father who happened to be both Black and Cuban. That is what you call a double no-no in Benny's world. But I am his only daughter and Daddy is one of those rare men that love daughters.
And finally with that in mind, Dad used his moreno charms and made me an offer I could not refuse and I am now relocating to Puerto Rico. It seems to me that all is falling into place. I have been advocating Statehood for my island for 2 years now, my genealogy work is mostly here and which better place to take care of business than in the heart of the matter? After almost 50 years, I am back in Puerto Rico. I am finally home.
moreno(a) = dark skinned
zapateria - Shoe Repair Shop
darkies = slang for colored.
high yellow black = a black person that has white blood and therefore light skinned black.
jabao = a black person so light skinned that you can't tell they are black.
Antonia = 1st Wife
Mery = 2nd Wife
