questions of heritage and pride

i just read a disturbing magazine article about Jessica Alba and the status of her Latina-hood.

and while this is not the first time i've heard/read sentiments expressed along these same lines, it still bothered me a great deal.

the article was shedding light on the fact that Jessica Alba, who is Mexican on her father's side, does not speak any spanish. and because of her lack of bilingualism, she has been severely criticized and in some ways ostracized by members of the Latin community, who say she has "neglected her heritage" by not speaking the language. she has even been purposely excluded from and unwelcome at some Latino-themed events.

according to Alba, she doesn't speak spanish because it was never taught to her. her paternal grandparents (first generation Mexican-Americans) deliberately didn't teach their children, including Jessica's father, spanish, wanting them to assimilate more into american life. therefore, her dad didn't learn spanish, and subsequently didn't teach Jessica and her bro spanish.

now, i can totally understand pride in one's heritage, and language is an important part of any heritage and culture. no matter what culture, ethnicity, race or anything someone is born into, one should take great pride in who they are and where they're from. but if the girl wasn't taught the language, and her father wasn't taught the language, where do other latinos get off treating her as "less" latina because she doesn't speak it? how is that her fault? as a child growing up in an english-only household, with two english- speaking parents, what was she supposed to do? hire her own private tutor at the age of 9?

people have a lot of nerve questioning her heritage and whether or not she belongs in latino circles. while language is an important part of culture, it is not all that makes you you, nor is it the one deciding factor that makes you a "valid" member of that particular culture.

i speak spanish fluently, but does that make me latina? no - because languages i speak do not necessarily define my culture or heritage. culture and the absence of language are not intrinsically mutually exclusive. in other words, the lack of acquisition of a language does not necessarily imply the lack of that culture or heritage in the non-speaker's life.

as one of my final projects and research papers for my major (spanish linguistics) in college, i interviewed many native spanish-speakers on this very subject asking does language define culture. and the common sentiment among many spanish-speakers is that yes, it does. if one is ethnically a member of a latin culture, but does not speak the language, they are looked upon as "less latino," and are criticized for not having enough pride in their heritage.

but for me, to say someone is not good enough to be a part of a particular culture - a culture that they are born into, take pride in, and whose blood is running through their veins - simply because they were never taught the language is absurd, arrogant, and mean.

now granted, Jessica Alba, could have taken the time to learn the language on her own as she got older. but she didn't - so what? does that mean she can't claim the rights to be called a true latina? she has latin features, a latin name, a Mexican family, and i'm quite sure she shares in Mexican traditions with her paternal family. how does her lack of a grasp on the spanish language automatically cancel everything else out? how does removing one aspect of culture ruin the whole equation? i don't get it.

that would be like saying that i'm not Black enough because i don't eat fried chicken and i don't particularly care for watermelon. LOL! i joke, i kid! i had to throw in a ridiculous stereotype joke, just for kicks, so don't be offended.

but seriously, i feel badly for Ms. Alba. she has said that she wants her unborn child to learn spanish, which i think is great. and i do take an issue with her grandparents purposely keeping spanish out of their children's lives for the sake of them "assimilating" to American culture - Mexican is who they are, regardless of where they live. so while it is important, in my opinion, for people permanently residing in any country (not just the US) to learn that language, i don't think you have to give up your own native tongue in the process.

her grandparents could have easily taught their children both spanish (as a celebration of their culture and heritage) and english (because they are living in a predominantly english-speaking nation). so i do fault the grandparents to a degree, though i understand their desire for their children to succeed and thrive in america. but they did them a great injustice by not teaching them and instilling the importance of learning their OWN family's language. it's a part of who they are and nothing to be ashamed of or pushed aside simply because they live in a different nation. if i marry a man who speaks (or whose fam speaks) another language, i will be excited to have my husband teach our children that language and have them be a part of that culture (as will i), while still of course teaching them english.

but even given all that, none of that makes Jessica Alba any less Latina. she's Latina because that's who she is, and she has every right to celebrate that, be a part of that, and enjoy that, just like any spanish-speaker.