Hunger of Memory

Hunger of Memory
The Hispanic-American Social activists introduced Bilingual Education in the 1960’s permitting non-English speaking children to use their family language as the language of school. Richard Rodriguez is the son of working class parents, both Mexican immigrants. They lived many blocks from the Mexican south side of town, and only one block away from the biggest, whitest homes. The confidence of ‘belonging’ in the community was not an option for them.
Richard says, “We were the people with the noisy dog, the people who raised pigeons and chickens… the foreigners of the block.” Imagine living in a place where you did not feel comfortable? Even in your own neighborhood? In his home with the doors and windows closed is when he felt himself. His parents spoke Spanish to him in his household. His family was very close, and their language was a barrier, and a way for them to feel private.
It was unsettling for Richard to even hear his parents attempt to speak English. One day, three nuns showed up at his doorstep. They sat with his parents and asked them, “Is Spanish the only language you speak at home?” and asked of them to speak English more in the household for practice. One thing that Richard wanted people to realize was, “There are two ways of being individualized.” It is sad to know that growing up, Richard lost some of his culture; his own language. Spanish was the language of his home, and now it is but a fond childhood memory.