size=2>Natalie, your story reminded me of my mom's - growing up in East Los
Angeles in the 40' and 50's. She never taught us Spanish for the same
reasons you stated - she actually did suffer punishments from Caucasian teachers
who would state "you're in America now...speak English!". She and my
father were both born here, but my mom got "Americanized" because of this
attitude towards Spanish-speaking communities. Luckily, when she married
my dad, my grandmother spoke nothing but Spanish and my mom had to re-learn
throught watching, with her mother-in-law, the novelas!
size=2>I feel soooo left out that I don't know Spanish and so ill-equipped when
trying to read old microfilms when doing my genealogical research.
Angeles in the 40' and 50's. She never taught us Spanish for the same
reasons you stated - she actually did suffer punishments from Caucasian teachers
who would state "you're in America now...speak English!". She and my
father were both born here, but my mom got "Americanized" because of this
attitude towards Spanish-speaking communities. Luckily, when she married
my dad, my grandmother spoke nothing but Spanish and my mom had to re-learn
throught watching, with her mother-in-law, the novelas!
size=2>I feel soooo left out that I don't know Spanish and so ill-equipped when
trying to read old microfilms when doing my genealogical research.
size=2>
Well,
needless to say that I'm trying to bring back my culture to my sisters (both
older), my kids (16 and 12) and re-introduce it to my mom, who lost it along the
way. That's why finding my roots is so important to me and I'm feel so
lucky to be part of this group!
needless to say that I'm trying to bring back my culture to my sisters (both
older), my kids (16 and 12) and re-introduce it to my mom, who lost it along the
way. That's why finding my roots is so important to me and I'm feel so
lucky to be part of this group!
size=2>
Have a
good day, everyone!
good day, everyone!
size=2>
size=2>Peggy
size=2>-----Original Message-----Dear Alicia and Emilie:
From: ranchos@...om
[mailto:ranchos@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Natalie
Sent:
Thursday, January 19, 2006 3:49 PM
To:
ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ranchos] RE: Cultural
Identity
Thank you so very
much for sharing your experiences and insights
regarding cultural
identity.
Your remininiscences remind me of one of the first "rules" of
genealogy - to always start with what you know best, yourself. For
myself, it is advice I have NOT followed, though I am always quick to
remind others. Perhaps one day ;)
I grew up in the 40's & 50's in
southern California. Although I am
sure I heard a lot of Spanish at home
before starting school, and
probably spoke with those family members who
spoke no English, once I
started school, English was all I spoke, and
English was all my
parents spoke to me, probably recalling punishments,
etc, for
speaking Spanish in school when they were growing up. So I am not
bilingual, and I married a gringo (Anglo mongrel, with possibly some
Cherokee). We have 5 children - three with a Spanish middle name,
and two with first names, Laura and Elena. (The other middle names
are
Maria Silveria, Joaquin, and Miguel). They were all born in VA,
at a time
when there were very few Mexicanos, Latinos, or Hispanics.
It has been a
strange ride trying to transmit the culture. As I have
mentioned in
previous messages, I trying to help the next generation -
my grandchildren
- they like to help me set up the ofrenda for Dia
de los Muertos (on the
porch). Ooops - have gone on too long.
Thanks again Alicia and Emilie.
Natalie in VA