Cultural Barriers In 'Learning To Read' By Richard Rodriguez

Cultural barriers Education is the key to a successful life, many have fought for this right. While achieving this goal the most common opposing factor is language. In “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, expresses his struggle for education while incarcerated. He believes that by learning proper advanced English he and his people will achieve a greater understanding and will learn about their cultural ancestry. In “Spic in English” Victor Villanueva is confronted with a language barrier and overcomes it without losing his culture. Unlike Richard Rodriguez who believed Assimilation was the key to success. Cultural identity Language possess a barrier for many people in our society. Your culture, language, and

To me my culture outlines a great part of my life. I may not follow a traditional Mexican way of life yet I consider myself more Mexican than American. I have adapted to the American culture by the teachings shown to me at school. Coming from Immigrant parents there has always been a push factor for me to become educated in both English and Spanish. The United States of America is a country of immigrants. From the early settlers to the present new comers, ethnic and cultural diversity is abundant. When this country was formed the settling population was mainly white Protestants. In time, other Northern Europeans sought entry, and eventually, Southern and Eastern Europeans, Asians, Central and South Americans immigrated and colonized all over the nation. The American "mosaic" was slowly developing, Differences became increasingly more apparent. Such differences involved variation in religions, races, and ethnic heritage. Non-English speaking immigrants grew quickly in numbers. Assimilation was becoming all the more difficult to achieve with such a diverse

He could not handle being both cultures. “Choosing to speak the language of the dominant, choosing racelessness, bears a price, however. And that price is alienation-the loss of fictive kind-manship without being fully adopted by the white community.” (Villanueva) Rodriguez not only lost connection to his culture but his family as well. He was so committed in being the outstanding student he stepped away from his family. There are different levels of assimilation in his family he considers himself American so he is at a higher place than his brothers and parents. While his parents continue to speak broken English his is perfect ever more. He is seen as a "pocho" which gives away a bride of miscommunication between his families. He was two separate people, there was the scholar boy and the son. Little by little the son decreased. He could no longer see his parents who he cares for with the same eyes they are a reminder of who he used to be and left