Puerto Ricans And The Spanish Language - 1546 Words

â€Å"... heavy English ‘accents’ in Spanish are perfectly acceptable for Whites, even when Spanish speakers experience them as ‘like a fingernail on the blackboard’†. Reading this sentence draws heavy attention to the degree by which White privilege is tolerated in the Spanish speaking community. Spanish speakers face discrimination every day in many aspects of their lives, including job interviews, parent-teacher conferences, public speeches, and even ordering food at a restaurant. The list goes on with the different scenarios in which Spanish speakers do not feel safe or welcomed because of how they speak the English language; however, White people who do not speak perfect Spanish are excused without being reprimanded. Although this extends†¦show more content†¦Other Spanish speaking communities more than double the percent of Puerto Ricans who speak Spanish at home. Is this simply Puerto Rican culture to speak less Spanish? Is there simpl y a preference to speak English more while in the states? The answer to those questions is simply a hard no. This is not the result of assimilation, most Puerto Ricans do not willing decide to rid themselves Spanish unless faced with brutal shame and discrimination. As a product of this phenomenon myself and using my life as field notes, this erasure happens quickly. Within three generations, my family has gone from only Spanish speakers (the first generation, born in Puerto Rico), to bilingual speakers (the second generation, born in Puerto Rico), to only English speakers (the first generation, born in the states). Instead of dealing with the struggle of finding a job or being made fun of for an accent, many Puerto Ricans have decided that the best way to give their children the best opportunity in America is to not teach them Spanish. Although this is a seemingly harmless way to stop the mistreatment of Puerto Ricans by others who police â€Å"perfect English†, the later re sult of this erasure ends up being detrimental to the Spanish speaking community as a whole. The policing of English by White people has turned into the policing of Spanish by Spanish speakers. Except, this flip of the script hasShow MoreRelatedIm Proud To Be Puerto Rican Essay1303 Words   |  6 PagesAre you Puerto Rican or American? Hesitantly, I dont know what to say when people ask me this question because I feel that I have to choose between the two ethnicities. Since I was born in the U.S., I am considered American. But, if I say I am American, I am asked about my origins. Thus, controversy evolves around inhabitants of Puerto Rico because they are considered Americans since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. 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