Brianna Hernandez

Professor Ozbirinci

English 1A

Linguistic Justice and Gloria Anzaldua’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”

3. “I am my language.” What does Anzaldua mean with these words? How does this statement
connect to a person’s identity?

In this reading, Anzaldua expressed how we should not be stolen from our native language.
Language is a part of our identity. For example, when you're filling out forms for school or for
any legal papers, they always ask what language we speak, and that comes to show you that
when you circle Spanish or English or Portuguese or French, it's because it is a part of who we
are. When Anzaldua says, "I am my language," I believe it's because it ties to everything that is
behind that language; traditions, food, music, dancing, etc. And all of these things create who we
are. In the reading, she mentions a conversation she had with a teacher, "If you want to be
American, speak 'American.' If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong"
(Anzaldua 34). When you tell any person to "speak American," you are not only being beyond
racist and disrespectful, but you are also stripping the identity, comfort, and confidence of that
person. "I am my language" is such a powerful statement. This is one of those things that is so
important that people need to hear. I had an experience in my past job with my supervisor. I am
Latina, and the entire kitchen staff was Latino. I was the only one in the restaurant that was able
to communicate with them. One day during a lunch rush, I went to ask a question to the kitchen
staff about an item on the menu. As I was talking to one of the cooks, my supervisor walked in
and immediately shut it down. She said, "You are not allowed to speak Spanish here. I never
want to hear it ever again in this restaurant. English only." The cooks and I looked at each other
in awe. We didn't know how to react or what to do. These are the kind of moments that make you
feel a little less. People who were born and raised in America and grew up with English being
their first and only language gained a sense that they feel superior. This was a moment where
racism had a very large role, but the supervisor was very much trying to shut down a large part of
who we are. No one is ever allowed to take that away. It's beyond offensive when people attempt
to do so. As I stated before, language is a part of our identity. I don't think they are separated, and
they belong together.