A few days ago, I rested on my living room couch and enjoyed one of my favorite childhood films:Selena. The 1997 film, based on the Tejano musical performer and businesswoman, follows her childhood and subsequent claim to fame. The movie also focuses on cultural issues facing many Tejanos of Mexican descent.
As I began watching the film for the first time in years, I began picking up on details that I would have never picked up as a child — considering the fact that my realm of understanding has evolved since then. At one point, I heard a quote that I hadn’t heard the first time I watched the movie and it really captured my interest.
“We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, both at the same time! It’s exhausting!” said Edward James Olmos, playing the character of Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla.
After watching that scene, I began thinking about the struggles that my parents, and many other individuals, underwent while immigrating to this country.
My parents — leaving behind distinguished careers and beloved family members — fled their native country of Honduras to escape the financial and political disparity plaguing their Central American homeland. Upon arriving to the United States, fiscal insolvencies, language barriers, and cultural differences not only suppressed their hopeful spirits, but also established hurdles that would hinder the progression of their professional careers.
My parents lost their career titles and accustomed lifestyles in order provide the best opportunity for my sister and I to succeed in the most powerful nation in the world — a sacrifice that I greatly appreciate.
Growing up with colleagues of predominately Latino background, it has come to my attention that many other first and second generation individuals share similar stories of their parents or grandparents experiencing plight and sacrifice as immigrants (although the troubles that immigrants face are not exclusive to those of Latin American descent).
However, I feel that many young first and second generation Latinos either don’t understand the struggles that their relatives face(d), or are aware of them but don’t appreciate the sacrifices made for them as much as they should.
I began noticing this once I was old enough to observe teenagers goofing off in school. I realized that many Latino adolescents don’t utilize the educational resources available in their arsenal of tools serving to employ upward social progression — a privilege that their immigrant parents or grandparents worked so hard to attain for them.
Personally, I feel that if someone doesn’t take advantage of the numerous educational opportunities available in this country, they are not properly appreciating the sacrifice and effort that their elders gave.
As a Latino and as a child of working-class immigrant parents, I feel that we need to open our eyes and take advantage of the excellent academic prospects available in this country. Although it might be difficult, we must work hard to educate our people, advance our careers, and offer a helping hand for those who are facing similar struggles so that we can truly appreciate and gratify our ancestors for their unyielding sacrifices.
If not, we condemn ourselves to a life-long sentence of socioeconomic imprisonment and fail our parents and grandparents in their pursuit of hard-earned success for their younger relatives.
12 comments:
this is so true many people don't really appreciate the things their parents do for them, I mean I can't even criticize them because I didn't appreciate it either (my second year in H.S was HORRIBLE)! Anyways, to come and think about it my mom left the Dominican republic and wasn't able to see her parents for about 10 years. She had me and my siblings in the United States of course, but it was all so we can become someone tomorrow in life and I try showing her that i do appreciate it and I'm trying my HARDEST to give not 100% in all my work but 200% if possible.
many of the latinos decedents that live now in the US don't even know or care about how they got here. many said that they know why their ancestors came here (and for the sake of those ancestors, they better know). but it is not just the why that we got to know, the how also.
and that one is not really easy to describe with words.
I agree with this article 100%! It is very true that in a way we forget where we come from as people, not realizing how hard our ancestors sacrificed to better us for a better future. This relates to me as an African American because everyday I notice how we take advantage of certain things our ancestors worked theirselves off trying to give for us. Although I'm not perfect I still try to fight to live up past the inequality still here in America today although it is hard. Both Latino and African descendents have the power to do it!
I kind of agree with this. It is true that many kids don't take advantage of the oppertunities they have. I do see kids fooling around in school and basically being careless like there parents or grandparents didn't risk there lifes to give them the life they have now. Although I don't know exactly what struggles my parents went through to get my sisters, brother and I where we are right now, in my high school year I'm taking advantage.
Oh, and NO i feel that many don't take advantage and fail to see how good they have it.
I feel as though many latinos dont take advantage of their educational advantages. Not only latinos , i feel as most kids nowadays can appreciate the struggles that their parents put in just so they can live a decent life. i feel as though your parents made you and they are trying to put you in the best position to recieve a good education in this world and all people should take advantage not just latinos.
I think alot of kids fail to see that we are all benefiting from the struggles, pain, and anguish that their grandfather and/or grandmother, and parents put themselves through to get all the things that a kid would desire to have. Regardless of your age people must appreciate whats given. Technically i cant relate though since i had to go through struggle by myself but if my mother was still here she would have worked really hard to see our family become successful.
I agree with the quote because even though im not from none of the south americas my parents also had to cross waters to get my siblings and I here, because this america supposable the land of oppurtunity, i know i dont take advantage as much as i should but i try to not give less then what i know i could achieve
I agree with this article.alot of people do not take a minute to appreciate what our ancestors have done for us.i think this is mainly because schools arent takeing the time out to teach students in the new generations about the past things our ancestors fought for. they teach what is required leaveing absense of knowledge about what it took for us as a people to have the freedom and privilages we have these days.
I think that this article relates to some of the latino life because some of them are not able to realize the amazing opportunities that are offer here in the US.My mom has made me realize that i need to do good in school and become a better person so that my kids don't ever have to struggle with economic problems and i really appreciate everything my mom does for me.But in the other hand i don't blame some latino for not becoming someone in life because some of them come here not knowing the language, with kids and unable to support themselves.I want to do my best and have a career in the future so i wont make a part of those who are living from the government ( and i would tell other teenagers to do the same!!)
I Sherae Long say:
A few of our Parents fought for a lot but others even got through easy path ways. We need to understand that without their struggles half the time, we would not be on this Earth ! Sons and Daughters are in College now because of our Ancestors ! Our parents don't want us to be just like them but yet- better than them !
What our Parents and Ancestors did is passed down to us in many ways ! Young boys are told to be The Man of the household and be strong ! Young women are told to never depend on Men and to always wear shorts under our Skirts.
Our Parents want the best for us ... not the Worse ! They might yell & punish us however they do because they don't want us to do the wrong & mess up our futures that they are helping us on !
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