Summary Of Se Habla Espanol By Maria Barrientos

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America… the Great Melting Pot of the world where people of all cultures and nationalities are free to find refuge and call their home. People as long as the North American Continent has been known have been flocking to this refuge for a better opportunity. As a result, many of the second generation immigrants have lost their previous sense of national identity. Maria Barrientos, in Se Habla Espanol gives a short autobiography as an immigrant in the United States and the struggles of finding her identity. Latinos are not defined by their ability to speak Spanish, cook tamales, or even celebrating local quincinieras, rather latinos all share the common ancestral blood and heritage of their homelands that remain with you regardless of your language, food, or customs. …show more content…

As a result Maria grew up culturally as a ‘gringa’ or a white person. She came to identify latino culture in a negative light, because the culture of America at the time was not culturally tolerant. She came to take pride in her inability to speak Spanish as a sign of superiority. Eventually, when her father descovered her animosity towards her heritage, he decided to send her to Mexico City so that she would come to appreciate her heritage. In the end she does come to appreciate her heritage, and yet she still feels as though she cannot identify herself with the latinos, because she can’t speak the language, cook latino food, or share in the common customs that most latinos do. As the United States becomes more culturally accepting, Barrientos begins to look inward and associate herself more with her heritage, yet she feels as though she is the only one in this

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