Extra Credit

Well I have met many people throughout my life and one thing that really gets my attention is when individuals try to deny their culture. During my spring break I was talking to this one girl who was Mexican but she denied her culture. She said that she was American and that her parents were also U.S citizens. However, it is hard for her to deny her culture because she looks really Mexican. I have met people like her but never asked why they deny their culture if that is something that represents who we are. I told her why she denies her culture. She try to convince me that she was not Mexican but as she saw that I was not falling for her lies she decided to tell me the truth. She said that she feels embarrass that her parents do not have papers and that being Mexican means being poor. I told her that she should be proud of whom she is and that she is not the only Mexican in the United States. There are many people who completely deny their culture because they feel that their culture is worthless. For example, I have met many Mexican Americans who deny their culture because they feel that the American culture is better. When people ask them if they are Mexican they would get offended. They say that they were born here, therefore they are American. They would also deny their parents immigration status. Sometimes I stop and think if they have any remorse because they are denying something really important. Not only are they denying themselves but their family too.