Are there other Mexican's out there that do not speak or understand spanish at all?

Question

If so, do you feel other mexicans give you attitude or look down at your for not know spanish or being into the latino culture a lot?

I'm mexican and I don't know spanish and neither does anyone in my family. We have been in this country for over 3 or 4 generations now so we are assimilated as you can get. We don't celebrate mexican heritage or culture and don't eat or like mexican food anymore than other types of food. I'm 1/2 mexican, 1/2 filipino but look 100% mexican and many other mexicans always assume I speak spanish and when they find out I dont I get some sort of dirty look or attitude it seems like more times than not. I didn't grow up around other mexicans b/c i lived in a predominantly white upper middle class suburb. I was just wondering if there are other mexicans or latinos out there that don't speak the language, are not into the culture, and are basically "white washed" as some have said like me. And how do you feel about it?

Also I was born and raised in the SF Bay Area and currently live in San Diego so I come into contact with a lot of mexicans straight out of Mexico litterally. And when I do occasionally venture south to Mexico I feel a similar response from people there.

I definately consider myself american b/c I don't identify with mexican culture at all but it's like i'm stuck in between the two. Some white people, not the majority or that many, make assumptions about me and where I'm from b/c how I look. Then on the other hand Mexican's do the same. So to some white people I'm not that american b/c my skin color and to some mexicans I'm not mexican b/c the way i act.

Also this isn't a problem I have all the time or even that often, but when it does occur it just bugs the hell out of me.

Answer 1

uh.... you AREN'T mexican!! you said you were born in the US right? i even let this slide for people who still really identify with their families mexican culture or heritage, but you admit that you don't. mexican is a nationality, NOT a race. you are hispanic.

i see no reason for you to speak spanish, and i don't know why people treat you this way. perhaps they think you are mexican. simply tell them you are american, and you're family has been here for generations.

i think mexicans have a hard time beleiveing you don't speak spanish because it is such a "one race" country. most people are hispanic, and speak spanish. so when you look just like them, they get confused.

when i moved to mexico, i would often run up to a red headed person and start going off in english, and they would just stare at me. there are many mexicans with an irish hertiage, and many more who are mostly spaniard, with little native indian blood...and these people look very "white." so...everybody makes mistakes based on appearences. i don't think it's such a big deal. just explain you aren't mexican, and you don't speak spanish.

Answer 2

My grandparents used to live in Mesilla + Las Cruces so I understand your question. Spanish speaking people born in NM are typically Chicano (from a Mexican family but with roots on the US side) or from "spanish" families who have lived there since before the Mexican-American war. Either way both groups often relate better to the U.S. than to Mexico, and are often snobby when it comes to their neighbors south of the border. Excellent point Fleck, many US raised latinos use spanglish in which they make a half-a*s effort to speak spanish but often use english grammar + sentence structure when doing so.

Answer 3

I'm Hispanic and I treat every with respect as I would want to be treated. You are not Mexican, you are American, of Mexican and Filipino background. I'm American, I'm proud of my Hispanic/Mexican heritage.

EDIT: though when I talk to a Hispanic that only speaks in English, in Spanish, w/o me not knowing that I don't know that they don't speak the language, I get the dirty look.

Answer 4

I hope you get several answers, S, because I'm curious to know how others feel about this issue as well!

Answer 5

Being white is a matter of culture.

Answer 6

I know plenty of hispanics that do not speak spanish.....language does not make you any more or less hispanic. I do speak spanish.....but that doesn't make me more hispanic than you.

Answer 7

el stupidos