If Your Kids Don’t Speak Spanish, Are They Really Hispanic?

If Your Kids Don’t Speak Spanish, Are They Really Hispanic?

Here is a question posted on another blog:

Here is my response. What do you think?

To me what is important is that being Hispanic is a culture and not a language. My children are 1st generation and grew up in cities that were not Spanish centric as say Miami. Their education was in local schools that are pretty much Anglo/Saxon in formation. I have two that speak Spanish fluently (sound like gringos); two that understand it but kill it while speaking and it’s all OK.

What they do know, love and understand is our Hispanic culture. They understand the importance of Famila, Abuelo, Abuelita, Tio, Tia, Prima, Primo, Padrino and Madrina. They spend time with their familia that is not only Hispanic but includes Europeans and Americans. They know what a Quince is, Reyes Magos and Dia De Los Muertos. They enjoy Sancocho, Arepas, Patacones and Empanadas.

My children have never gone to Colombia but they know it through my romantic memories. A country I have loved but is no longer mine. They also experience Colombia through the eyes of my brothers and aunts again a beautiful country that I doubt exists in the same way as we have romanticized it.

We have also exposed them to our Hispanic literature, authors that I love such as Gabo, Isabel Allende and Mario Benedetti.

Are my children Hispanic, my answer is yes. They understand and love their culture.