Travel/Culture Spain, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic | Page 15

However, Anzaldua is making the point that she feels uncomfortable because Chicanas are thought to speak poor Spanish, which may make them seem unintelligent to other Latinas. Anzaldua explains why they have this fear and it is that, “We are afraid of what we’ll see there. Pena. Shame. Low estimation of self” (Anzaldua 774). I think we all struggle with some form of low self-esteem or lack of confidence in life. For me, I relate to Anzaldua because I am doubtful of how well I can speak the language. The United States may seem like an all welcoming salad bowl, but it can feel like a melting pot, pushing us to assimilate rather than explore

Puerto Rico

our differences. Anzaldua comments on this and mentions that, “By the end of this century, Spanish speakers will comprise the biggest minority group in the United States, a country where students in high schools and colleges are encouraged to take French classes” (Anzaldua 774). It seems, therefore, that it would make more sense to learn the language of the biggest minority, Spanish.

photo by Jamie Springett

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