Hispanics Must Know Spanish
When I left North Carolina a few years ago and moved to Puerto Rico, I had no idea why understanding the Spanish language as a Hispanic was so important until I moved out there. While being around many Hispanics, I discovered most of them spoke Spanish towards each other and would only speak English to someone who looked non-Hispanic. If I was a non-Hispanic and self-identified as one, knowing the Spanish language would not be considered mandatory for me. However, that is not the case. Because I look Latina and self-identify as Latina, I have been stereotyped as someone who must know Spanish. My first encounter was when I was living in Puerto Rico and stumbled across a Walgreens somewhere in Mayaguez, a woman approached me speaking in Spanish. By her tone of voice, I assumed she was asking me a question, but I did not know how to respond because I did not …show more content…
My friend, who was non-Hispanic, always complained about every assignment in the Spanish class. I sometimes gave her a questioning look because I did not understand why she sometimes complained whenever an assignment is handed to me, especially tests and quizzes. I had assumed it was because she thought I knew everything in Spanish, but I was not sure until she told me herself. One day she had the courage to tell me that I should not be taking Spanish.In curiosity, I had asked her why. Her response was, “You’re Puerto Rican, and you should know Spanish. You’re always the first one to be done with all of your assignments. Plus, you always make A’s on every test and quiz in this class. This class is too easy for you and that’s unfair.” It made sense why she assumed I knew everything because I continued to make A’s in that class. But it was not because I knew Spanish that I had made good grades; it was because I always studied. I knew some Spanish, but I did not know everything in