My boyfriend is a Mexican American and does not speak Spanish….?
Why do Spanish speaking people seem to get upset when they find out he doesn't speak Spanish?
He was born in California, his parents were born in California and his Grand parents were born in California. His parents speak it, but never taught any of their 6 kids!
He is proud of who he is, his parents just didn't teach him Spanish. People should not treat him differently just because he doesn't know Spanish!
Tags: grand parents, spanish people
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
OK, here’s a bit of psychological mumbo-jumbo. Take it with a grain of salt.
In California, it’s historically accurate to say that the Anglo culture was economically superior to the Mexican culture. Anglos generally had better jobs. A lot of Mexicans have felt inferior to Anglos because they have been at an economic disadvantage.
When someone whose individual history is closer to Mexico than to the USA meets someone like your boyfriend, who’s much longer ties to the USA, they’re going to feel that your boyfriend has a better economic situation merely by reason of his history and not by any merit of his own. (This is opinion, not fact.)
And it’s easier to link your emotional well-being with anyone who’s like you. Someone who has a hispanic surname but is essentially Anglo (through his family’s history) feels like a threat to the hispanic person.
It’s always unsettling when your expectations are unmet.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Because we are very proud of our culture, and we try to preserve it.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I think it is because of the heritage… To have something about other cultures is something that makes you wiser and to deny your heritage is a matter of disgrace…If he chose to speak only English then is his fault but maybe his parents only speak to him in Spanish… or maybe is because something else. Have you asked him?
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Eh? I’m Mexican myself and I wouldn’t get at all upset about it. I mean, sure, the mere fact that he doesn’t speak Spanish sounds strange to me, but so what? Maybe he was born a Mexican but moved somewhere else in his early years and simply was never taught Spanish. Whatever. It’s not even my business – why should I get angry over it?
People are weird, and are probably taking their own culture too seriously. Maybe the whole Mexican history and culture makes them feel better about themselves so it is a dishonor not to speak Spanish… oh, I don’t know. That’s just my opinion. I don’t think it’s a big deal!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I usually get upset when I discover someone lose the opportunity to speak two languages, but mostly is the parents fault. They don’t know the damage the make to their kids not insisting they learn their native language.
Maybe that in part is the reason that people can get upset. But this is just my point of view.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Does your boyfriend look more Indio than Latino?
They may be snobs who think anyone who looks Indio and cant speak Spanish is inferior and then they get shocked when this Indio spekas better English than them?
If your boyfriend looks more European than they’re snobs the other way perhaps and think anyone "mexican" who looks like he has no Indio ancestry should have perfect Castilian with no Mexican accent.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I’m Mexican and i try to keep my daughter speak Spanish and English of course, but some people don’t see necessary a second language, they think they look less Mexican if they speak only in English.
On the other side I know "MexAm" (Chicanos) who speak in Spanish
with "Americans" but don’t with Mexicans or "Sudamericanos".
If you understand my poor English (i hope one day make it better) maybe he could speak in Spanish too and don’t feel shame about his roots.