"I've got cousins galore. Mexicans just spread all their seeds. And the women just pop them out."
"My grandfather was the only Mexican at his college, the only Hispanic person at work and the only one at the all-white country club. He tried to forget his Mexican roots, because he never wanted his kids to be made to feel different in America. He and my grandmother didn't speak Spanish to their children. Now, as a third-generation American, I feel as if I have finally cut loose."
"My whole life, when I was growing up, not one race has ever accepted me, ... So I never felt connected or attached to any race specifically. I had a very American upbringing, I feel American, and I don't speak Spanish. So, to say that I'm a Latin actress, OK, but it's not fitting; it would be insincere."
"My grandfather was the only one in our family to go to college. He made a choice not to speak Spanish in the house. He didn't want his kids to be different."
"[Before] I always felt like such an outcast and now I feel like people are more diverse ethnically. I was always self conscience of my puffy lips and darker skin when I was a kid, because I felt like I didn't fit in. And now its mainstream, and color isn't as big of a deal and if anything its better."
You know, I think this is the first time I have ever heard a Hollyweird celebrity, besides Chris Rock or Bill Cosby, truly speak candidly about race. And the line about how she had an American upbringing and feels American -- go Jessica!! Two thumbs up for you, my friend!
Jessica's family is a perfect example of the difference between Mexican immigrants in the past and Mexican (illegal) immigrants today. When her family immigrated here, they didn't speak Spanish. They came here, worked hard, and judging by the fact that they were a members of a country club, did well for themselves. I doubt they were living off of government programs or refusing to learn English or forming near riots to protest his "right" to be here without following the law. They assimilated and played by the rules, and I welcome those immigrants with open arms. Whichever members of her family immigrated here -- they are just as much of an American as I am.
Now, today's Mexican (illegal) immigrants -- for the most part, obviously I can't speak for all -- refuse to learn English and only speak Spanish, and force the rest of us to learn Spanish in order to communicate with them. They don't assimilate, they don't come here waving the American flag (although they happily wave the Mexican flag at every opportunity), they leech of off government programs, only to send the meager amounts of money they do make back to Mexico. That is not an American; that is not someone who wants to become an American, and there's a world of difference between the two.
But again, two thumbs up for Jessica Alba!
Hat Tip: Perez Hilton
23 comments:
*doubles take at the picture*
Two thumbs up indeed!
I used to be a big fan of Jessica Alba but I just read a good story over on Highbrid Nation that really made me like her a lot less. Now shes's saying she's not part Mexican? That's really disappointing.
I guess she's afraid of being stereotyped by the evil liberal media. And by the Hollywood elites.
I heard Rush mention Jessica Alba on his show today, and since I'm one of those "in the world, not OF the world" kind of people, I had no idea who she was. Didn't care. Still don't care.
But judging by the picture, my first thought was, she shouldn't complain about them spreading their seeds, when she's throwing bait like that.
Michael...
She says she's of mexican heritage, but that she thinks it's not correct to lable her as a "latina actrass" since she doesn't even speak spanish...
Yech!!!!!! Much too skinny!!!
Ted
a beautiful woman with a beautiful ............... mind!
You know, I think this is the first time I have ever heard a Hollyweird celebrity, besides Chris Rock or Bill Cosby, truly speak candidly about race. And the line about how she had an American upbringing and feels American -- go Jessica!! Two thumbs up for you, my friend!
dumb white comment
You mean, yet another celebrity that backs up mainstream culture's white supremacist ideas.
It's one thing to identify herself as whatever she feels like, and another to stereotype and demean an entire community.
Interesting words - "cutting loose". As though the problem is her Mexican family and not the people who shamed her grandfather and compelled him to hide parts of his heritage from his children.
I proudly speak two languages, and doing so does not make me less of an American.
Btw, I am not Mexican-American. I am a proud New Yorker, and I consider New York City a quintissentially American city. Many people speak more than one language. "All-American" should not have to mean White Anglo Saxon Protestant only. My parents, and others like them give their intellectual and physical labor to this country and need to be recognized for it. This country was built on the backs of people of color - the enslaved, the Chinese railroad workers, scientists, agricultural workers, and so on.
*"cut loose"
Wow, aren't you the republican. And no, I don't mean that as a compliment.
Go making ignorant comments about everyone!
I'd tell you that you're like good ol' fashioned American if you let your husband beat you, but I won't sink to your level.
quierogalleta@gmail.com
She is a self hater and is proud to be a 3rd generation no less.
Bravo! I can say the same about myself and my family. We were never taught Spanish. It was never spoken in the home and we all feel just as American as anyone else. Thank you for being open and honest about how it used to be.
WOW, first of all this article is way off! Why blame the "Mexicans of Today" for taking advantage of the system. From what i remember there is a higher percentage of white folks followed by black and then Armenian who are on welfare, lower percentage of Latinos. After all who's picking the crops? Who's cleaning houses? Who's doing your yard? Who's cooking your food at your favorite restaurant? All working Latinos! So if anything maybe you can learn a little from them! I like Jessica Alba but if you’re black, in America, you're still considered African American. No matter what, you can't erase your heritage. Don't speak English but the people I intermingle with speak two languages and they are all working professionals. To us it looks kind of dumb if you have a Latin last name and can’t speak the language. Wasn’t it a requirement in high school to learn another language? Embrace to be American but quit putting other races down! Live you life and quit bitching!
Latina does not mean you speak spanish. And I personally would not label her as a "Latina Actress" because she is pretty much all American. She might have Mexican roots but so do hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions, but it's how you are raised which defines your culture. My sister was born here in the states but my parents made sure that she never lost site of the fact that we are a Mexican family, so she knows spanish and english of course.
I don't think it's bad the she wants to be called American...I just think that it sucks that we have to bring up this issue at all...race shouldn't be something people talk about to define a person.
Illegal immigrants come and leech off the government? Are you insane?! Why, oh why, would they draw attention to themselves? Seriously! Not to mention because of illegal immigrants we can afford food and labor. Do you THINK that a white person wants to pick in the fields of the hot sun? Do you THINK that people WANT to pay the full contractors price for a fence? Please feel free to EDUCATE yourself, because some people that weren't even BORN here, risk their life for it!
To the October 11 post - My grandparents, who were living a life of poverty in Italy, had to wait years come here . Before they came, they learned as much as they could of the English language. After spending over a month on a disgusting jam packed ship, they came here and took the jobs that (you guessed it) no Americans were willing to take. These jobs were just like the ones you mention - plantation jobs and sweat shops. Here is the BIG difference - THEY CAME HERE LEGALLY!!!!!!! For the most part, all of the immigrants that came through Ellis Island and built this great nation, where considered 2nd class citizens and were treated as such. Not that this is right, but it certainly does not mean that because illegals are doing these jobs that they can 1-break the law 2-not pay taxes 3-not learn the language 4-get all of the services that the rest of this country is paying into (schools,hospitals,ect). Please give me one good reason why, after countless generations of immigrants came here legally, that we should now abandon the priciples that were originally founded. My grandparents were they proudest Americans I knew. If I was an illegal immigrant who was able to live here, work here, keep all of my wages, get a licence, go to the hospital, send my childen to great schools, have everything converted to my native language, I would be wrapped head to toe in the American flag. It is you who needs to be educated, because the legal immigrants who built this nation, risked there lives for it.
Wow!
I have never been so dissapointed and offended by another ignorant celebrity. First of all, Damn straight she is not Latina, because mexicans are mexicans. Latino and Hispanic peoples are decendents from Spain, and central american cultures. Mexicans are from Mexico! and dont get me wrong I love all hispanic and latinos from Cuba to nicaragaua, We are all connected.
If Miss. Alba does not feel the Mexican/ "latino culture is embraceable, than sweetie who the hell do you have to thank for those good looks? thats right the Mexican heritage. The Mexican culture, among many cultures, are so rich yet people like Jessica Alba are rejecting who they are. Lets not forget this part of the U.S aka California all the way to nevada and im sure farther used to be Mexico. If she is so damn against her true heritage why is she playing hispanic roles? why is she apart of the Alma awards? It is ridiculous how ignorant people in the U.S can be. Culture and Heritage makes you who you are. Otherwise I guess you are, as the Europeans say " another dumb american"
I am a 18 year old Mexican american, on my way to a great college. My Siblings and I all speak, write and Understand spanish and Obviously English. My parents work there ass off and have made a great living for themselves and yet they still have the tradition that so many people of todays world lose. My grandparents are both retired with property in Mexico and california, or shall I say just "MEXICO". And what do you think I am majoring in?, thats rigth Chicano Studies, so that people like Jessica " white washed" Alba will not disgrace our Culture the way they do.
Jennifer Lopez does not speak spanish. That is the reason why she and Penelope/Salma/Shakira do not associate with her.
Her grandpa was a poser. And as much as he might of tried, i bet he never belonged. "even if the monkey wears silk, hes still a monkey". thats how the saying goes... (now dont thik im calling mexicans monkeys or anything like that) my point is you gotta be true to yourself, and you can still be successful this way. "cutting lose" from the heritage... hahah shame on her, for real, and her stupid grandpa who was starstruck by white people. and by the way, the richest man in the world isnt bill gates anymore, its carlos slim, a mexican.
I have to say that you sound like an ignorant. I am an immigrant, and I am nothing like you depict us to be. I speak perfect Spanish, probably better English than you, and no, I'm not leeching from the government; I do pay taxes. Don't be soooo liberal when talking about things you obviously know nothing about. RACIST.
"I have to say that you sound like an ignorant. I am an immigrant, and I am nothing like you depict us to be. I speak perfect Spanish, probably better English than you, and no, I'm not leeching from the government; I do pay taxes."
I too am Latino, and I work at a place where I see a ton of illegal immigrants and I agree almost 100% with what the blog said. Now not everyone is the same but most of the illegal immigrants don't want to learn English and get pissed off when we refuse to speak Spanish to them. It is one thing to come and visit a country and not learn the language because you are only going to be there for so long, but when you are there and going to live there and you don't even bother setting some time to learn, it is rude and shameful.
"Go to another country with little money in your pocket and start picking up the language. Not so simple right?"
Actually it is very simple. If you want to that is. If you are living in a place where they don't speak your language that commonly, you better step up and learn it, no one should be catering to you.
Oh yes, and as for you're so called, "illegal" immigrants...
Everyone was once illegal to this country, except the Native Americans. And as my previous comment said, many Mexicans are/were native.
Assimilation is another word for brainwashing or in other words, white washing. As a person with immigrant parents, I myself have never tried to get everyone else to speak my native tongue. It's everyone else who tried to force me to speak English. And beautifully, I speak both.
Secondly, I've worked with many of what you call, "illegal" immigrants. They're hard workers. They try as much as possible to learn English. And they don't force you to speak Spanish. They're happy if you try and like any self-respecting person, try to hold on to their native language.
You should try it.
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