Does Jessica Alba Suffer From a Cultural Identity Complex?
Jessica Alba was quoted as saying the following about her culture:
“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.”
Very very sad. It seems as though she has been taught to be ashamed of her cultural heritage. This reminds me of that movie Rabbit Proof Fence where ethnic cleansing was happening. I was a bit traumatized from watching that! Even though she has lost the Spanish language, culture extends far beyond that. It’s too bad she appears to be pretty shallow and clueless, but maybe she’s just insecure about who she is.
5 babblicious comments:
she sounds ignorant! that is no way to identify herself in front of the media! it is a shame that her last name is alba!
I don’t know, she kind of has a point. If a Mexican baby was adopted by WASP parents it wouldn’t grow up to identify as Latino either, and if her parents and grandparents took pains to raise her in an “American” culture and not to speak Spanish, well… in what sense is she Latino, as compared to the adopted baby?
First, all of the quotes were pulled out of context from different interviews. The lack of context needs to be considered before passing judgment.
My mother is half Swedish. Her father was the first generation born on U.S. soil, in 1900. This was before all caucasians in America were lumped into one big ethnic group. My grandfather felt the pressure of being different, and he wanted his children to grow up being all “American” without the same difficulties. He never taught them a word of Swedish, and generally ignored his cultural roots. The same could be said of my Irish grandmother (also second generation) though of a lesser degree.
So, I can see where Alba’s parents and grandparents are coming from. I wish I’d had more of my grandfather’s heritage passed down, but it is what it is. Passing judgment on Alba for identifying as an “American,” though, is unwarranted in my opinion.
WEll if you ignore and try to hide your culture by being someone else than you really need a slap in the face.
Im mexican born there raised here in the US.I speak spanish,im teaching my baby boy spanish hell im teaching my ANGLO HUSBAND spanish
so who is she to be ashamed of her culture.
but whatever.i hope she knows that alot of ppl lost all respect for her.
i never liked the woman but now i depise her!
before all you people pass judjement on anyone ,including alba you have to atleast try and be in her shoes.One ,she grew up here,second she’s raised her whole life to identify with american culturel,not even being tought of any spanish.So,how is she ever supposed to identify herself as a mexican american.