Staying Connected to Latino Culture Despite Language Challenges
If you live in California, you probably know at least one person who identifies as Latinx but doesn’t feel comfortable speaking Spanish. This recent NBC News article discusses how some Latinx people are embracing the fact that being Latinx is separable from being able to speak Spanish fluently and with a native accent. Many Latinx people don’t speak Spanish. Some speak Spanish, some speak indigenous languages, and some speak English.
There is a movement, particularly on social media, to push back on shaming Latinx people for not speaking Spanish “well”. It’s called the “no sabo kids”. (If you have ever spent time with young Spanish speakers, you have probably heard the classic phrase “no sabo” – which is the incorrect way to say “I don’t know.”)
At California Bilingüe, we recognize that heritage students have experienced language loss due to living in an English-centric society. We take inspiration from these stories because they are all a part of the greater movement to push back against English dominance.
