10 hours ago
Thursday
Mexican American
i am a 4th generation mexican american and i do not know spanish but want to learn. i grew up in a very Americanized household with my very Mexican grandma. its difficult for me at times being 4th generation Mexican because i find that i am judged a lot by especially "Mexican Mexican" people. While at ELAC i took several chicano studies classes because i wanted to know more about the culture and its history and found all of it very interesting. while taking these classes i was extremely frustrated because everyone would either say that i wasnt really "Mexican" because i dont know spanish and should be ashamed. honestly i hear this all the time, even till recently. i find it very odd because from my understanding..your culture is you and what you yourself makes of it. its just so frustrating that a lot Mexican Mexicans are against Mexican Americans trying to learn about the culture.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I also felt the same way you did. I didn't attend ELAC but you do have to keep in mind that that campus is in the heart of Chicana/o history--the mecca of Aztlan, so naturally their views of what it is to be a Chicana/o is going to be different compared to a campus located somewhere other than East L.A.
However, this does bring up some interesting issues like what is a Chicana/o? Can anyone be a Chicana/o? Or as Gloria Anzaldua brings up, can only someone who is a mestiza/o have mestiza consciousness?
Remember that the question shouldn't be focused on what makes you a "real" Chicana/o. It also isn't important how you identify yourself, rather, it's more important to know where you come from, the struggles that come with being a person of color, and the intersectionalities that shape who you are and your experiences.
Gloria Anzaldua states in her book Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, "Awareness of our situation must come before inner changes, which in turn come before changes in our society. Nothing happens in the "real" world unless it first happens in the images in our heads" (109).
It really isn't your fault. But I do see what you're saying. Regardless, you shouldn't care what others think or say as long as you know where you stand and where you come from. My mom's sister was born in Mexico and came to the US when she was 25. She married a white man and suddenly her kids don't even know they are half Mexican, now that gives reason at least to the family to talk. Being 4th generation however, is different. Don't feel bad and keep doing what you're doing.
It is very interesting you see your point of view, when i was younger I use to do that very exact thing you are getting frustrated with: judging! Now, as a college student I have grown to understand where people come from and what type of household they are being brought up. I am first generation Mexican American, and I do not feel what you are going through because I feel Mexican Mexican. Although I was born here, I AM ALWAYS CONFUSED FOR A MEXICAN MEXICAN, funny huh. well dont feel bad, the good thing is that you are being open to learn the culture.
I've felt your pain. Don't feel too bad, even as a first generation Chicano, I'm too Mexican to be American, and in Mexico I'm too American to be considered Mexican. You shouldn't be penalized for trying to appreciate the best of both worlds, but some people can't help but judge. Typically it happens with more old-school Mexicans, as cultural pride certainly plays a factor in their demeanor, which I've also noticed in many other Spanish speaking cultures. It's not that they're against you learning the culture, they're just upset that you don't already know the things they believe you should have already learned. Don't let that stop you from immersing yourself into a rich culture. I applaud your efforts, as many don't even even attempt to know where they come from.
I AGREE WITH YOU, MY PARENTS WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE U.S AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I LEARNED SPANISH WAS THROUGH MY CARE GIVER WHO LATER ON BECAME MY GODMOTHER. I BELIEVE IF YOU WERE NOT TAUGHT AS A CHILD THEN YOU MAY NEVER LEARN THE LANUAGE UNTIL YOU GO TO SCHOOL OR FAMILIAR YOUR SELF WITH IT.EVEN TIL TODAY MY SPANISH IS NOT WELL AT ALL AND I AM CONSENTLY GETTING THE " YOU ARE NOT FULENT" "WHY DON'T YOU TAKE CLASS TO GET BETTER" ITS ALWAYS A CONSENT BATTLE OF LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK SPANISH CORRECTLY.
Post a Comment