Latinos in America

What is an American? This is a difficult question to address, especially concerning Latinos who only lecture English. Many Latinos in the join States, consider language a pip of high controversy. Some consider address spanish an essential pop out of being Latino , while others consider it a barrier that pass on prevent the assimilation into the American civilisation. Tanya Barrientos, like some(prenominal) a(prenominal) other Latinos, wrestled with this rattling issue her finished life. Growing up as a Latina came with many stereotypes, speech Spanish being unity of the most negative characteristics for Barrientos.As ordering changed its escorts and limited to accept this diversity in language, Barrientos learned to apprehend her heritage. The true question lies within her reasoning for this change in her perception, provided was it for the right reasons? What makes this country great is that you can be both A Spanish speaking latino that is fully emerged in America n society. world American is non rough the language you speak but about your ideals and how they fit in the American delegacy of life. Many Americans dont realize that the choice in language is non determined by the individual but lies in the choice parents or care letrs.This choice is one that get out haunt individuals for the rest of their lives. In Barrientos grounds, her parents decided it would be trounce for her to only speak English. As Barrientos grew up, she wringd her parents choice, saw this as a demonstrable trait, one that differentiated her from most Latinas. She enjoyed defying expectations. Since childhood, she felt that speaking Spanish translated to been poor, memory less desirable jobs and discrimination towards the Latino community.It is because of this that she enjoyed attending a ordinary school that attracted few Latinos, she destinyed to distance herself from the rest. In her opinion, not speaking Spanish gave her an edge over other Latinos and a llowed her to successfully fit into the American Anglo society. In her own terminology, it made her feel superior and American. Society pushed her to want to stay a personal manner from her heritage and embrace the melting pot as a full fledge citizen. Prejudice or stereotypes should not hazard the way you feel about your ulture or background. If society is going to view you in a negative way because the way you look or where you come from, they will do so regardless of what you do. This should make you embrace your heritage and take pride in what makes you unique. This is especially true when it pertains to language, which is something that cannot be perceive by looking at a person. In Barrientos case it did not make sense to refuse a language when society would already perceive the stereotype due to ethnicity.In her situation, not speaking Spanish made her feel like as if society did not view her as a Latina, when clearly by the comments from school rung and most likely other untold accounts, it didnt make a difference. To others who did not know her, she was still a Latina, no different than the rest who were Spanish speaking. She had truly little sympathy or affection for other latinos and held many negative views of her own culture. She tried to differentiate herself from the Latino community as much as possible, and succeeded.In a way she had become what she was avoiding, keeping prejudice and acquired a feeling of superiority towards Spanish speaking Latinos. Barrientos was have-to doe with about blending in with society, this meant being seen as white. In her mind white meant American, you could not be American if you spoke Spanish. As she puts it Spanish associated you with the radical thinking of Mexican-Americans or Afro-Americans. While emerging yourself in the society you live in is positive, refusing/denying your culture is not the best way to do it.She pushed her culture away because it did not have anything positive to give her, it would only bring her problems and misfortune. Barrientos did not care to even be considered Latina. That is what a selfish, insecure individual would do. It wasnt until society view about Latinos and Spanish changed, that she started relating her culture to something positive. Once the realization that being Latino and speaking Spanish was not a negative but a positive, she began to change. In her own words it was time to take pride, but as she puts it, it felt fake, because in a way it was.It wasnt until she had something to gain, that she wanted to fit in. It seems that is the overall theme of her life, always move to fit in, but only when its most convenient for her. This attitude will never truly allow her to belong. Even after trying to learn Spanish, other Latinos notice that she was different. Her entire life she worked on putting up walls between her and the Latino community. She outcasted herself for so long and then found it very difficult to connect with her own community. I suspect it was not fitting the language but her attitude and demeanor as well.In a society as complex as the one in the United States, it is definitive to realize that you can never fit in with the entire population. If you try to conform to what others want, you lose a surgical incision of your individualism. It is also important that in the process of assimilating you do not end up alienating others in your same situation. At the end of the day, you can not change the preconceived notions that come with belonging to a specific ethnic group, but you can choose to embrace your culture and enjoy that part of your life while still emerging in the American way of life.