Se Habla Espanol Summary

Se Habla Espanol, is a very unique narrative, imagine a person growing up to believe that a certain race was the norm; but deep down inside is a voice reminding them of one’s true culture. I related to this story, which gave me a personal relief. I am Panamanian and black but, I rarely claim my Panamanian race. My dad is from Las Cumbres, Panama, where he was raised for almost 17 years of his life. I want to be involved with my dad’s side of the family, but I don’t speak Spanish. I have tried to connect with them so many times; but they believe “if you don’t honor your Spanish blood, you shouldn’t claim the blood”. When I was growing up, I lived in a white town and the only black in the classroom. I watched Anglo’s pick on the Mexican kids for even attempting to
use Spanish. I never wanted anyone to find out that I was just another mixed chick with unusually identity. This story touched me because, at the age 28 I was still battling with this issue.
I read the story over and over, and I realized that is okay to be different, it is okay to be yourself. I think this text would relate to so many people in the world.. I agreed with how Barrientos felt as a person; she was confused. She made decision based off the way she was brought up; She was raised in America, home of English. People are raised like this daily, and some people may disagree with how she felt and feels but, l don’t. My views were challenged because being a black girl to most people, and growing up in a majority white town; being a black girl wasn’t acceptable. For example, one of my friends Latoya, a Beautiful, dark skinned, kinky coil hair, and full lips young girl hated her race. Latoya wanted to be white, she stated that they had more power. I didn’t understand Latoya’s statement about white people having power, I just ignored the topic. When I turned 16, I realized how she was feeling, sometimes just fitting in and being the other race is the best thing for some people. Latoya went to college, and is now a very successful doctor in California. I talked her about her statement years after we
graduated. She stated” I can’t hide the fact that I am black, but the environment made me feel that I was supposed to be white”. This article reminded me of her because, Barrientos up bringing made her feel like fitting in, would be best for her environment.
“There Must be other Latinos like me. But I haven’t met any. Or I should say, I haven’t met any who fessed up” (Barrientos). In addition to this interesting quote, Barrientos article is meaningful because she shared her feelings, her confusion, and her need for help with the audience. This story allowed me to think more critical about her problem, so that I could make the appropriate judgement. I completely missed the point of the story the first time I read, but once I continued I realize that she was talking about me, and my life has been difficult because I didn’t know how to fill about my other half. My thoughts on this book, were far from entertainment but more of inspiring. I have not read many text about other races, but this reading gave me to desire to search for other items that correspond to this story.
If I could change anything about this story, it would be, the world being so judgmental. America wanted people of different race, cultures, and beliefs to forget their history, and follow suit. I felt like Barrientos focused on her audience, and it was important to get her point across. Barrientos seem to focus on the audience who struggled with identify their true self’s; no matter what race, belief, environment you grow up around, remain true to who you really are. This story as brought me to read more about who I am and focus on getting to know that culture. I read the three stories over before focusing on which one related to me. The stories were all great narratives and related to each other by one word race. Each story talked about what either hindered or helped their race. I chose Se Habla Espanol because, the issues are issues that I grew up around and seen all the time. I never knew that it was someone out there feeling the way I felt for years.