Family Roots

(image by Steve Hopson via flickr)

Saturday, July 20, 1974. 3:23 pm. Tanya Ramirez is sunbathing by the pool at the Avondale Park with her friends Tracy and McKenna when the song "Dark Lady" by Cher comes on the radio. When the chorus starts, Tracy says "Tanya, that's your song." McKenna starts laughing. Tanya, whose parents are from Venezuela, bristles. "Ha ha," she says, "you're just jealous because you can't tan." Leaning forward, Tracy replies "Maybe that's because I'm not from South America." After a second, her voice catching in her throat, Tanya blurts out "My grandparents are from Spain, you know." Throughout the 1970s, sunbathers preferred baby oil get their tan on – these days, a sunblock with a minimum SPF rating of 15 is recommended.