Why Is Manuel Munoz Leave Your Name At The Border

The English-only way of life could explain the erasure of cultural differences. Manuel Muñoz explains this by using life experiences in his essay “Leave Your Name at the Border”. Muñoz came from a small town called Dinuba, where he grew up learning both English and Spanish; in Dinuba, there were only two groups: whites and Mexicans. Having his name butchered was something he unfortunately got used to, and many of his peers decided to go by names more “American” for convenience to non-Spanish speakers. Even his stepfather, Antonio, reluctantly changed his name to Tony because it was easier to say, and having an “American” name helped him find work. As Muñoz puts it, “English was a world of power and decisions, of smooth, uninterrupted negotiation.