not Mexican? ??

Question

i was just recently cussed out by an immigrant because i am a mexican american who does not speak spanish... does that make me less of a hispanic ?I know about my culture my grandmother told my parents i wouldn't need to know spanish and all my family only speaks english to each other

Answer 1

I can empathize with your situation. I am from the West Indies (Trinidad), and I only use my Trini voice when I am home. Many people don't believe I am from there until I start speaking like that. When I went home for my father's funeral, I understood how important it was to maintain certain aspects of my culture. Many people consider it an insult because you have lost the basic fundamental of your heritage, speech. Imagine if an American child raised in Mexico didn't know English? That child would face the same scorn from an American who came to Mexico. Not much you can do about it, other than take Spanish lessons. I don't think you are any less of a Hispanic because you don't speak Spanish. However, I think it is part of your culture you should help preserve for future.

BTW, I got it worse than you. I've been cussed out before because I don't speak Spanish. My last name is Mendoza and I look "African-American", but I am actually a Trinidadian. I feel lost at times because I can't fit into any of these genres. So I took Spanish lessons, of course I speak Trini with my family, and can kick that "ebonics" when I am around my peoples.

Good Luck = Buena Suerte!

Answer 2

Do not worry about it. The same thing happened to me while I was living in El Paso. It is all part of nature and growing up. It is just adapting to your environment, and since you live in the US, that is what you did by just learning english. When my parents were growing up they were not taught spanish so they would not have an accent. Back then in L.A. there was alot of discrimination (Zoot Suit Riots) that my grandparents went through and they did not want their kids to go through it. If you know your heritage and are proud of your race, that is all that matters. Even though I do not speak spanish, I am still a proud Mexican.

Answer 3

I wouldn't worry about it much. I'm a non spanish speaking tex-mex guy myself. It's not an issue if you don't learn spanish but you will have to deal with the stereo type image. Do all Irish americans speak gaelic? Do all black people speak some type of african language? no. Don't let ignorant people bother you.

Answer 4

I am Irish-American, and I don't speak Irish Gaelic! I don't think you have to know the language to know something of the culture.
It is true that there are some cultural understandings that come much easier if you know the language, but there are many people who carry on many, many cultural ways long after the native language has disappeared from their families.

Answer 5

first of all Mexicans are Americans you are a US citizen I don't know what Hispanic is. Grandma was right you don't need Spanish not in the US it was cause of the Spanish that we lost our language so who cares what language we speak they are all European anyway I speak four languages and it feels good to be able to communicate with others in their language

Answer 6

Makes you no less hispanic, but how did you know the spanish speaker was cussing you if you don't speak the language?

Answer 7

That is great that your whole family speaks English, I'm sure it has paid off. There is no reason to keep speaking a different language than the langauage of the country you live in and plan to stay in. Primarily speaking a different language alienates people from others.

Answer 8

I am in a similar situation, as I am half Caucasion and half Mexican-American, and I speak a little Spanish, but not much.

Answer 9

no, it doesn't. I am Russian and I don't speak russian. I am also French and many other nationalities. I can only speak English and a little bit of a few languages. Does that make me less of everything I am?

Answer 10

Funny. They want all kinds of tolerance from us, but it's not a two way street. I am in the same situation. Ppl look at me funny when they learn that I am half mexican.
You know what? I don't give a s*** WHAT they think. They no longer deserve my respect.