RE: [ranchos] RE: Cultural Identity

["Peggy Delgado" <peggydee@...>]

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!  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. 

 

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!

 

Have a good day, everyone!

 

Peggy

-----Original Message-----
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

Dear Alicia and Emilie:
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