This puts non-Spanish speaking Afro-Latinos, and Latinos in general, in a unique position.
Tamika Burgess, whose parents emigrated from Panama in the early 20s—by the way of Barbados, barely speaks Spanish even though her parents speak it fluently. “It may have been a matter of wanting their children to fit in,” she said. “[However], my aunt made sure my cousins speak Spanish. She is adamant about it to this day.”
Janel Martinez, who like her parents is Garifuna and from Honduras, was taught English first by her immigrant parents who were just learning English. Yet, she learned that English wasn’t always so helpful.
“Even though there’s been instances in the states where I might’ve missed something someone said in Spanish when I went to the salon or in a personal conversation, but I truly felt it when I went to Honduras in my late teens,” she said. “I couldn’t communicate with my cousins and family the way I wanted. That’s when I realized I needed to do something about my broken Spanish.”
Furthermore, Martinez states “I’ve often received the ‘what you don’t speak Spanish?’ or ‘que lástima (what a shame)’ comments from bilingual/Spanish speaking folks.“
Is it “just a shame” for non-speaking Latinos?
Burgess states though she doesn’t have a strong desire to learn Spanish, which she can understand and write, she understands the importance of learning the language and plans to teach her children. It’s obvious that knowing how to speak Spanish is no longer just a language immigrants fight to preserve as a sense of pride or to deny to fit into the people of the “promised land.” It should not be used to as a political tool or to box people in or out of what was once considered American and non-American.
This language is a part of American culture. History can be manipulated and altered but numbers don’t lie.
Habla espanol?
Do you think all Latinos should know how to speak Spanish? Do you think all Americans should know how to speak Spanish? Let us know in the comments section below, on Twitter or Facebook.
Shavon donnell is a culture and style writer based in New York. She has reported and written for Essence.com, TheYBF.com, RealHealth.com, POZ.com, Clutch online magazine, and CocoandCreme.com. She is the curator of Shavondonnell.com and StyleandSnow.com and founder of Heels & heartbreaks, an organization protecting the hearts and enhancing the lives of young women and trans youth. She can be reached at Shavon.donnell@gmail.com.
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