My identity is somewhat complicated I am Mexican, Caucasian,and Italian. Some struggles I dealt with is denying that I am Mexican because where i live there are not really any ethnicity. I remember going into a small town in Iowa during the summer I was very tan and dark wearing a gold necklace at the time and having my ears pierced at the time I received many strange looks in the gas station the clerk was watching every movement I made as if would steal something.
I think the experiences Rodriguez and myself had some similarity, but I did not ever learn Spanish because my grandmother on my mom's side discouraged using the language like it was some type of blight. I sometimes wish I grew up with learning Spanish because whenever I go into some place with Mexicans and they talk in Spanish I feel out of place because I can't respond back. But I'm sure I'm not the only person that feels out of place when someone walks into a room with people they don't know everyone judges one another by looks,race, or sex.I think this happens because of our instincts to protect yourself.
Hi Chris,
ReplyDeleteYou write,
"I think the experiences Rodriguez and myself had some similarity, but I did not ever learn Spanish because my grandmother on my mom's side discouraged using the language like it was some type of blight. I sometimes wish I grew up with learning Spanish because whenever I go into some place with Mexicans and they talk in Spanish I feel out of place because I can't respond back."
I like that you have included this similarity. It isn't always easy to talk about. How did this make you feel? Why do you think your Grandmother discouraged the language?