In Texas, I saw the biographical movie Selena, and it helped me understand the Tejano culture.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez, The Queen of Tejano Music
Selena Quintanilla-Perez (1971 – 1995) was a Mexican-American singer also known as the “Queen of the Tejano music” and the Mexican equivalent of Madonna. She was the best selling Latin artist of the 90s and an idol for the Tejanos and the Latin world. Selena was murdered in Corpus Christi, TX just two weeks before her 24 birthday by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar. Her death was commemorated as a great tragedy by millions of fans. That summer, her new album Dreaming of You, with lyrics both in English and Spanish, became number one in the US Billboard 200, which made it the second highest debut after Michael Jackson’s HIStory.
The movie Selena (starring Jennifer Lopez) was my introduction to the Tejano culture. Tejanos (the Spanish word for Texans) are people of Mexican heritage who live in Texas and whose ancestors arrived there before or during the Texas Revolution. In 2000, they are about 6.7 million or 32% of the population of Texas. The center of their culture is San Antonio. In general, their music is very close to the Cajun music of Louisiana, to the cowboy country music, or to the Mexican and Latino music. Their cuisine is a mixture of Spanish and American, or more commonly referred to as Tex-Mex: lots of tortillas, enchiladas, fajitas, chili, etc.
I find it very interesting that this is a culture that evolved out of the meeting of two very different peoples. Because the Tejanos live on the crossroads between Mexico and America, Selena has to be very flexible if she wants to send a message to both. The movie portrayed very well the challenges Tejanos have when it comes to cultural assimilation. One quote by Selena’s father really struck me:
We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, both at the same time! It’s exhausting!
The Selena Memorial in Corpus Christi, TX
Just think about it: Selena has to speak both Spanish and English and to know the customs and values of Mexicans and Ameircans in order to appeal to both and be accepted by both. Because she carries two cultural identities in her, she can never completely assimilate with one or the other. She is meant to live in both cultures simultaneously. And that’s why she has to try twice as hard.
The Tejan dilemma applies to all immigrants, people of mixed backgrounds, and even international students. You have to learn to embrace both of your identities (or both your home and host culture), but also you have to be flexible and bring forth one or the other of them when in the respective environment. In other words, you have to prove to the Mexicans that you are Mexican and to the Americans that you are American. It would be much more difficult to appeal to the Americans as a foreigner for example; yes, you might seem exotic and interesting, but you will never be accepted if you do not display an understanding of their values and ways of doing things.
Another way to put it is: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. So, having cultural sensitivity and understanding is very important for everyone but even more important for people of mixed descend and immigrants.
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January 21, 2012 at 12:11 am
katley
I understand perfectly about cultural assimilation. My parents worked very hard to assimilate my brother and me into mainstream American culture, and didn’t even want us to speak Spanish at home. That backfired because to this day I have a mental block with Spanish….I understand it perfectly but can’t really speak it!
I think it was the social mentality when I was growing up which attached a stigma to those who didn’t speak perfect English.
What’s even weirder is that I had no trouble picking up German and spoke it quite well when I lived in Germany.
I have since learned that being multicultural and multilingual is an asset in today’s world.
January 22, 2012 at 6:15 am
zikata
This is very interesting that you picked up German so quickly but have trouble with the language of your parents!
I know how important languages are today; I have even seen “being trilingual” as one of the requirements on a job post.
That’s why I’ve always been jealous of people who were born in multicultural cities or bilingual families and know two or even three languages from birth. I’m trying to catch up with them very hard!
January 29, 2012 at 4:09 pm
katley
I’ve noticed children in Europe are taught a second language in elementary school. They have an advantage over kids in the United States who, for the most part, aren’t offered foreign language until they start high school. In my opinion, it’s much easier for a child to learn a new language than an adult. BTW you do very well with English