For the second year, we're turning this week’s Perspectives segments over to Breja Fink's A.P. Language and Composition class at Beloit Memorial High School.
Cultural assimilation. The all-too-familiar concept for the millions of people who make up this country’s minority population. It’s a concept we have now, thankfully, started to challenge.
It fills me with pride to see people finally choosing to embrace the culture that was passed down to them, instead of trying to fit in with what the majority has deemed as normal. While I'm very satisfied with this progress, I can’t help but notice the many subtle ways that minorities continue to try to satisfy the majority.
“How do you pronounce that?” The question asked to people with names deemed as “extravagant” or too ethnic to attempt.
Now you would think that the answer to such question is simple -- just say your name. However, more often than not, this is not what happens.
So what does happen?
Sadly, what ends up leaving the lips of the person in question is not their name, but instead a distorted version that is easier for society to pronounce.
Now you may be wondering what the big deal is, it's the same name with a different pronunciation.
However, it takes on more weight when you stop to think about how it's even possible that such a cultured name reached the land of opportunity. It got here through the hard work, labor, and sacrifice of our ancestors, who worked way too hard for us to now willingly change our names to make them fit better into the mouth of a privileged individual. If our ancestors devoted their lives to granting us a better life, then why should we turn around and abandon the bits of culture that they have left us?
Be proud of your name, be proud of your roots, and pronounce your name with every bit of flavor as it was intended.
I’m Kimberly Guevara, and that’s my Perspective.
