Grande 1

Shirley Grande

Professor Reyes

English A

23 September 2015

            “Chicanas who grew up speaking Chicano Spanish have internalized the belief that we speak poor Spanish. It is illegitimate, a bastard language. And because we internalize how our language has been used against us by the dominate culture, we use our language differences against each other. Chicana feminists often skirt around each other with suspicion and hesitation…We are afraid of what we’ll see there. Pena. Shame. Low estimation of self” Anzaldua has defiantly given me confidence to continue on speaking Spanish by eliminating the belief that we speak poor Spanish. Though Anzaldua relates this quote practically too Chicano speakers, this internalized feeling does affects other Spanish speaking individuals like me. Of course there has been numerous times were I’ve felt that Spanish was too good for my tongue, especially when I leave to El Salvador that’s where my actual Spanish ability is tested.

             It is not normal to have this feeling that we aren’t wary to speak our own language and to think that Spanish is my first language. I put Spanish into practice when I am speaking to my parents; someone is in need of a translator or parents of a friend whereas English is with my brothers, friend, school, work and everywhere. As I converse in Spanish, usually Mexicans notice right away that I’m not Mexican and ask me if I make Pupusas , I say yes. I am not troubled by my accent, it’s a daily reminder of my parent’s root in which makes me branch out. I thank them for also encouraging me to continue on speaking Spanish unlike what Anzaldua went through structural violence at a young age. There is no need to tamper with physical action just to force upon change. This impairment that “we are all equally” needs to be reevaluated.