An Analysis Of Rosario Ferre's Language Current

The publishing of Latino authors’ works has allowed the pride of Latin American people to further develop. The Latino movement was characterized by numerous writers who changed the attitude of their readers on Hispanics and their culture. Latin American countries were colonized by the Spanish; they brought religion and enslaved the indigenous people at the time, thus resulting in the devastation majority of these countries are found in today. After the countries began to gain their independence, America attempted to take charge of their lands. In America, these individuals have faced discrimination against them over the course of various years, as they are often seen as invasive. There were times, were illegal deportations were conducted and

Rosario Ferre’s poem, “Language Current,” addresses the effects of having to assimilate to another language, something that many Latinos in the United States struggle with. This poem emphasizes the fact that it is not easy to deal with one’s individual identity when being part of two or more cultures clashing at once. The majority of people whose first language is not English but that reside in America, are often subject to unfavorable consequences such as falling behind in their educational endeavors because of the lack of familiarity with the language. Living in America and speaking Spanish has led identity issues among Latino youth to surface; even though minority children “demonstrate considerable resilience, to adapt to a new lifestyle” (Sibley and Brabeck 138), there is a difference between speaking one’s birth language and having the comfort and assurance of what the words mean than having to accommodate to a language like English where “you have to know where you’re going: either towards the splitting of the self or the blasting molecules around you” (Ferre 66). Additionally, the idea that Spanish provides a deeper history to anyone who is familiar with the language, gives a sense of proudness for Latino youth. There are many authors like Ferre who find that “Spanish is a very different tongue. It’s deeper and darker, with so many twists…” a characteristic that allows Latinos to feel pleased with who they are; The Spanish language to many represents their life and when others appreciate it, it makes assimilating to a new culture a slightly less harsh struggle, since it also allows the transition into school to be much easier because when “families feel that their culture is valued and teachers reach out to them for input, they become more involved in