Her parents spoke only English to their kids even though amongst themselves it was Spanish only. Even though she didn’t know Spanish, her trip to Mexico gave her a new love for her heritage. She came back with a hunger to learn the language she had left at the border so many years ago. As she learns the language she writes this essay to appeal to those other people who, like her, have struggled with their heritage. She wants those who are Latino, but know Spanish as a second language, to step out and be proud of who they are.
Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One? “Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One?” is Lorraine’s Ali’s personal account of growing up Arabic in the United States and the prejudices she has faced while living an almost double life as both an American an Arab (50). Ali is an editor and music critic, and her music criticism has appeared in several books. Ali who grew up in San Fernando Valley, California, could not understand since she was born in the United States why people were so prejudiced towards Arab Americans. Her skin was a pale olive, not like her father who was brown, and her eyes were green not like her sibling whose was black.
Barrientos says “I came to the United States in 1963 at age 3 with my family and immediately stopped speaking Spanish” (Barrientos 560). Her parents found it to their best interest if their children fit into the American culture as best as they can, only because they think that it will help them reach their full potential due to the racial discrimination and stereotypes some people would hold against Tanya for being a Latino. That is why Tanya did everything in her power to just look like the average American. She also explains how “they told me I didn’t seem Mexican to them, and I took it as a complement” (Barrientos 561). She finds it flattering when people who know that she is from Mexico still think she looks like any other white American.
Further examples of this will be highlighted later to other members of her race. Now it can be questioned about this young ladies views and just how accurate they were and as a person that is not quick to draw conclusion from just a single source, I noticed another transcript was from Father Regis O’Connell. He is the Roman Catholic priest of the Sacred Heart Church. His transcript was very focused on half of his parishioner’s treatment at the local packing plant. Father O’Connell’s Hispanic flock is comprised in large of migrant workers where a need to find piece and guidance is
As a Puerto Rican girl growing up in the United States and wanting like most children to "belong," I resented the stereotype that my Hispanic appearance called forth from many people I met. Our family lived in a large urban center in New Jersey during the sixties, where life was designed as a microcosm of my parents' casas on the island. We spoke in Spanish, we ate Puerto Rican food bought at the bodega, and we practiced strict Catholicism complete with Saturday confession and Sunday mass at a church where our parents were accommodated
Like author Judith Ortiz Cofer writes her story “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl named Maria” that “As a Puerto Rican girl living in the Unites States and wanting like most children to “belong,” I resented the stereotype that my Hispanic appearance called forth from many people I met” (366). Parents raise their kids to become the stereotype instead making them see the better in them and the batter in
It consists of five testimonies, that continuously portray the struggles of the Pequot as people and tribal members. In the first testimony of this book, William Apess forcefully confronts the white race with their racism against him and his Native American people. His wife also shares a testimony in this book, as she explains her parents, and also gives the readers her view on religion and God, and how her life is influenced by God. Apess also includes an essay, “An Indian’s Looking Glass for a White Man.” in the essay Apess questions the hypocrisy the white Christians possess. He also states that the world is full of people of color, and reminds them of the non-white identity of Jesus
English 121 7/5/2010 A Homeless Language Gloria Anzaldúa wrote “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” with the intent of letting others in on the language barriers she faced in the America she lived in. She was of Mexican descent but born in Texas during a time when being bilingual was not seen as something to boast about on a resume. She repeatedly tells the reader of the importance of maintaining their native language and to not be ashamed to use it. The essay uses various methods that help convey the message to her readers. flashbacks, pathos, Spanish phrases without translation, and symbolism while using the fluctuation of her tone to emphasize each one.
Sociological Autobiography Being a Salvadorian American woman has led me to face many obstacles resulting from my personal journey as well as racial stereotypes. For example, “Is she going to graduate high school?” or “Is she going to get pregnant at the age of 16 because that’s just what Hispanic girls do”. Or the usual “Oh she’s Hispanic, she must be ghetto or of lower social class”. These are some of the expectations that society had bestowed upon me as a young Hispanic woman and that I was determine to challenge. It’s funny how we (the people) don’t really notice how society affects us therefore we make choices based off what society expects from us.
Being at a store close to downtown must really mean that having a Hispanic speak to American in their native language is crossing their territory. Being Hispanic must mean that I am an illegal immigrant from Cuba or Mexico. Being Hispanic must mean that when there’s an increase in poverty, crime and teen pregnancies, I must have something to do with it, or my mom must have debuted on Dr. Phil screaming at her “baby daddy” for child support. And of course, when applying to a scholarship for being Hispanic, the essay topic would be to write about the challenges in my life and how I overcame them, because you know, I am Hispanic and therefore my life has to be complicated. I must have had a set of obstacles that others don’t and risen above.