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Who Is Tanya Barrientos Se Habla Español

422 Words2 Pages

The struggle of not finding an identity in a culture because of a last name such as Barrientos can be a real challenge. Especially if the language associated with the name is as foreign as to someone who does not understand the language the name originates from. In Tanya Barrientos autobiographical memoir “Se Habla Español” the frustration is voiced and expressed through her description of molding into the American Anglo culture. Then coming to terms to accept her Latina culture without speaking her native language. Her incapability to only speak English was the decision of her parents when they came to the United States in 1963. The sole purpose of losing touch with her native tongue for Tanya Barrientos was that her parents believed that by adapting to the American culture their children would have a better chance of being successful. As a result, Barrientos finds herself neglecting her cultural identity. She states “People who called themselves Mexican Americans or Afro Americans were …show more content…

But this created a new dilemma in the barrier in language within her culture. The author states “The Spanish language was supposedly the glue that held the new Latino community together. But in my case it was what kept me apart.” Barrientos, Tanya. "Se Habla Español." The Norton Mix. New York: W.W. Norton &, Comp. 44. Print. So she pursued to learn the language, but still felt not completely accepted by native Spanish speakers. Now not only was she not the proper American but felt frowned upon by her ethnicity. In time Tanya Barrientos learns to accept herself as she is. “Aqui estoy. Spanish-challenged and pura Latina.” Barrientos, Tanya. "Se Habla Español." The Norton Mix. New York: W.W. Norton &, Comp. 45. Print. Such a strong statement that let her audience the minority understand and accept that being different while accepting your heritage is perfectly fine to embrace

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